When you know who’s in charge and control…
humbling yourself shouldn’t be difficult
'When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord ’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.”
Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.
She said to them, “This is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all the idols their hands have made, my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.’ Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord , ‘This is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people—that they would become a curse and be laid waste—and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord . Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.’ ” So they took her answer back to the king.' 2 Kings 22:11-20
when josiah heard that disaster was to come on he and the people for disobeying God by following man-made gods and worshipping these idols, he understood the gravity of their turning away from the One and Only God and humbled himself before The Lord. as it was said in verse 19, josiah’s heart was responsive.
how often do i find myself in opposition to what i, too, know is true and right and don’t do it. while i have in the past gone astray purposely, and may unconsciously have turned my heart away from The Lord from time to time, how great is the love of our God to forgive and not destroy me when i come into repentance and change my ways.
king josiah followed the ways and footsteps of his father, david, which pleased The Lord. he did what was right and did not stray from the path. working on not straying as that has led me to unpleasant places in my life and the journey was hard and it took long to get back on track.
i feel the two observations in these verses are: 1) how do you feel when you hear The Word of God and it is different from how you and the people you love have been living your lives; 2) what do you do afterward, knowing you aren’t truly following it?
josiah understood that death was around the corner if they continued the way the did. disregarding, disrespecting, and dishonoring God. from the time he heard what was written, his heart began to change immediately as he understood the gravity of their actions, so he came to The Lord contrite and humbled.
this is the same posture i need to have when coming to King Jesus; telling him what i did wrong and need help in/with, asking for forgiveness, then working on truly changing my life and for those around me.
dear Heavenly Father, may i stop and examine my heart, my mind, my life, when i hear Your Word and know that i am not living according to it nor am in alignment with. i defer to Your Will, Your Way, so please help me along the path of life you created for me and teach me to stay the course. may i always come with a heart of humility, a spirit of reverence for who you are. i love you and accept the corrections i need to make in my life. to you goes all the glory and honor Father God, in Jesus’ name i pray, amen!