2 Kings 22:12-23:14

“Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the LORD.” (2 Kings 22:19, NKJV)

King Josiah did more to restore the pure worship of Yahweh in Judah than any other king. He read the book of the Covenant (probably Deuteronomy) to the people and made a covenant with them that Yahweh would be their God and that they would keep His commandments. Then he cleansed the temple of all the articles and images made for pagan worship and burned them. He removed the idolatrous priests who burned incense on the high places. He destroyed Topheth in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom where they had sacrificed children. And Josiah did many other things to remove false worship and restore the true worship of Yahweh. There was no other king like him.

But where did all this reformation begin? It began with a broken heart. Like so many others before him, Josiah could have hardened his heart when he heard the words of the Law being read. Instead, his heart was tender, and He humbled himself before the LORD. He tore his clothes and wept before the LORD. God saw, heard and answered.

Are there things we see that break our heart? Has God made His Word alive to us? Then let us respond with a tender heart today and ask the LORD what He would have us do.