“Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, ‘Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.’ And Shaphan read it before the king” (2 Kings 22:10).
The ancient ritual of Kriah involves tearing one’s clothing in an expression of anger or grief and goes back at least as far as the pa- triarch Jacob, who tore his clothes when he thought his son Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. King Josiah practiced Kriah when he heard the words read from the
Book of the Law and realized that his people had been desecrating the law of God. It appalled him that they had gone so far astray, and he tore his clothes and wept. He sensed that his people were in real danger of reaping the terrible consequences of disobedience to God’s laws.
He immediately sent several trusted individuals to Huldah, a prophetess of God. Josiah was desperate to know whether it was possible to avoid the judgments of the Lord. But he feared it might be too late.
Josiah was right. Things had gone too far for too long. God sent word to him that the punishments mentioned in the Book of the Law would indeed play out against his people. But God commended Josiah for his tender and humble heart and told him that he wouldn’t see these punishments carried out.
King Josiah, determined to reform his country, made a great effort to turn people from their idolatry by destroying all the images and places of idol worship across the land. But he knew they had to go deeper. Recognizing that true reformation required a change of heart, he invited all the people to a worship service. With great emotion, he read them the Book of the Law, and many people chose to seek forgiveness.
Josiah lived in a depraved culture, but he didn’t let that deter him from doing right. His good example was like a shining light that made an eternal difference for many people. What impact will your example have on others today?
Dear Jesus, may Your love and goodness shine from my heart today and draw others to You.
