Purpose Of Heart - Josiah

Josiah - Child King
PURPOSE OF HEART

The various periods in the life of Josiah are strongly marked. “In the eighth year of his reign, he began to seek after the God of David his father”; “in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem”; and “in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God.”

In all this we can mark the progress that always results from a true purpose of heart to serve the Lord. “The path of the just is as a shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Such was the path of Josiah; and such can be our path, too, if only we are influenced by the same earnest purpose. It does not matter what the circumstances may be. We may be surrounded by hostile influences, as Josiah was; but a devoted heart, an earnest spirit, a fixed purpose, will, through grace, lift us above it all, enabling us to press forward from stage to stage in the path of true discipleship.

From a reading of Jeremiah 1-12, we are able to form an idea of the condition of things in the days of Josiah. There we meet with such passages as: “I will utter My judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken Me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands. Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.” “Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the Lord, and with your children’s children will I plead. For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing. Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but My people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.”

Also, in the opening of Jeremiah 3, we find the most terrible imagery used to set forth the base conduct of “backsliding Israel and treacherous Judah.” Harken to the following glowing language: “Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thy heart. My bowels! my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment. How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? For My people are foolish, they have not known Me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. I beheld the earth, and lo, it was without form and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by His fierce anger” (Jer. 4).

What vivid language. In the vision of the prophet, the whole scene seems reduced to primeval chaos and darkness. In short, nothing could be gloomier than the aspect presented here. In order to form a correct judgment of the times in which Josiah’s lot was cast, these opening chapters should be carefully read and thoughtfully considered. The times were evidently characterized by every stage and form of deep seated and wide-spread corruption. High and low, rich and poor, learned and ignorant; prophets, priests, and people – all presented an appalling picture of hollowness, deceit, and heartless wickedness.

But why dwell on this? Why multiply quotations in proof of the low moral condition of Israel and Judah in the days of King Josiah? Mainly to show that no matter what our surroundings may be, we can individually serve the Lord, if we have purpose of heart to do so. In darkest times the light of true devotedness shines most brightly, being thrown into relief by the surrounding gloom. The very circumstances that indolence and unfaithfulness use as a plea for yielding to society’s wishes furnish the devoted spirit with a plea for standing against it. The state of public morals around Josiah was treachery, deceit, corruption, and violence. What about religion? Errors and evils in every imaginable shape – some instituted by Solomon and left standing by Hezekiah. Their foundations had been laid amid the splendors of the reign of Israel's wisest and wealthiest monarch, and the most pious and devoted of Josiah’s predecessors had left them as they found them.

Who was Josiah that he should presume to overturn such venerable institutions? What right did this raw and inexperienced youth have to set himself in opposition to men so far above him in wisdom, intelligence, and mature judgment? Why not leave things as he found them? Why not allow the current society to peacefully flow on through channels that had conducted it for ages and generations? After all, disruptions are hazardous – disturbing old prejudices is always risky.

These and a thousand other questions may have filled the heart of Josiah; but his answer was simple, direct, clear and conclusive. It was not the judgment of Josiah against the judgment of his predecessors, but the judgment of God against all. This is a weighty principle for every child of God and every servant of Christ. Without it, we can never make headway against the tide of evil flowing around us. This principle will sustain us in the terrible conflict waged against evil. Like Josiah, we, too, are called on to lay an axe to the root of old prejudices, and shake the foundation of opinions and doctrines that have held almost universal sway for centuries. How is this to be done? Is it by setting up the judgment of Christians against the judgment of creeds and dogmas, religious systems and traditions, councils and ministers, bishops and professors? No; that will not bring about reformation. It is not Christian versus society, but Holy Scripture versus error.

We should ponder this. It is a grand and important lesson for our age, as it surely was in the days of Josiah. We long to see the supremacy of Holy Scripture; the paramount authority of the Word of God; the absolute sovereignty of God’s revelation reverently accepted throughout the length and breadth of the religious world. We are convinced that the enemy is diligently seeking, in all quarters and by all means, to undermine the authority of the Word, attempting to weaken its hold on the human conscience. We seek to raise a note of solemn warning, setting forth the vital importance of submitting, in all things, to the inspired testimony – the voice of God through Scripture. It is not sufficient to render merely a formal assent to that popular statement, “Speak where the Bible speaks; remain silent where the Bible is silent.” We seek more than this. We seek to be governed absolutely by the authority of Scripture – not by our fellow-mortal’s interpretation of Scripture, but by Scripture itself. Only in this way can the conscience yield a true response to the teachings of the God’s Word.

Vulnerability of some
Some enter this world as gentle children and grow into vulnerable young adults in a harsh world that works against them. We have all felt pain when insulted or assaulted, but for those gentle ones among us, it is more than pain – it is absolute agony. Such a one feels deeply the faintest breath of unjust or searing criticism – opening deep wounds. We can dismiss them as those who simply won’t grow up, but that reveals a misunderstanding on our part, and it grieves them all the more. It isn’t that such gentle ones are hypersensitive in a spoiled or self-centered way – they come into this world with a greater capacity for feeling than most of us possess.

The vulnerable come to us and will believe our every word and if they trust us they will give us their hearts. They don’t know how to keep something in reserve; that capacity isn’t in them, and to the vulnerable among us, when we break our promises, we break their hearts. To become impatient with them; curtly demanding that they “get over it!” simply adds torture to torment. And we should never forget that such actions on our part give them grief that will not last only a few months – that will heal by and by. No; some tender and believing souls never recover, carrying the pain day and night. Yes, they will function, but it will be a deeply sad pilgrimage. The pain will not always be excruciating, but though it hides, it will never be far away and without warning it can steal the sun from their sky. For the vulnerable there are no carefree days. Shy to begin with, they can easily be driven far within themselves; running away from the possibility of rich life; afraid and too deeply hurt to come out into the light.

So, if one like that comes to you, and trusts you, make no promises that you are not going to move heaven and earth to keep. If someone like that comes to you and he opens his/her heart to you, do not go in if you don't mean to stay, because people like these are ill-equipped for a harsh world.

This is what we hope to vividly illustrate in our brief look at the child King, Josiah, particularly in the transactions of his eighteenth year, which we now consider. This year is memorable, not only in the history of Josiah, but in the annals of Israel. It was signalized by two great facts: discovery of the book of the law and celebration of the feast of the Passover. Stupendous facts – that have left their impression on this interesting period, rendering it pre-eminently fruitful as instruction to the people of God in all ages.

It is worthy of note that discovery of the book of the law was made during the progress of Josiah’s reformatory measures, affording one of many proofs of that great practical principle that “to him that hath shall more be given”; and again, “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine.” “Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God. And when they came to Hilkiah the priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God...And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses. And Hilkiah the priest answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. And Shaphan carried the book to the king...And Shaphan read it before the king. And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes” (2 Chr. 34:8-19).

We have here a tender conscience bowing under the action of God’s Word. This was a special charm in the character of Josiah. He was a man of humble and contrite spirit, who trembled at the Word of God. We need to know more of this! It is a valuable feature of the Christian character. We certainly do need to more deeply feel the weight, authority, and seriousness of Scripture. There was no question whatsoever in Josiah’s mind regarding the genuineness and authenticity of the words Shaphan read in his hearing. We do not read of Josiah asking, “How am I to know that this is the Word of God?” No; he trembled at it; he bowed before it; he was smitten down under it; he rent his garments. Did he presume to sit in judgment on the Word of God? No; he allowed the Word to judge him.

This is the way it should always be. Something that needs man’s judgment is not the Word of God; but if Scripture is in truth the Word of God, then it must judge man – so it is and so it does. Scripture is the Word of God, and it judges man thoroughly. It lays bare the roots of his nature, opening up the foundations of his moral being. It holds up before us the only faithful mirror through which we can see ourselves perfectly reflected. This is the reason why man does not like Scripture; cannot bear it; seeks to set it aside; delights to pick holes in it; and dares to sit in judgment of God. The same is not usually true of other books. Man does not often trouble himself to discover and point out flaws and discrepancies in Homer or Herodotus, Aristotle or Shakespeare. However, Scripture judges them – judges their ways, their lusts. There is a power in Scripture: “The word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His Sight; but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:12-13).

Josiah found this to be so. The Word of God pierced him through and through. “And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the kings, saying, Go inquire of the Lord for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do after all that is written in this book.”

What a striking contrast between Josiah, with contrite heart, exercised conscience, and rent garments, bowing down under the mighty action of the Word of God, and our modern sceptics and infidels, who, with appalling audacity, dare to sit in judgment upon that very same Word. Oh that men would be wise in time, and bow their hearts and consciences in reverent submission to the Word of the living God before that great and terrible day of the Lord in the which they shall be compelled to bow, amid “weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

God’s Word will stand forever, and it is utterly vain for any of us to set ourselves up in opposition to it, seeking to find errors and contradictions in it, by our reasonings and skeptical speculations. “Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.” “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” “The word of the Lord endureth forever.” Therefore, it is useless for us to resist the eternal Word of God. We gain nothing; but oh what we lose.

We shall now proceed with a consideration of Josiah – Child King. “So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikitm, Achbor, Shaphan, and Assiah went to Huldah the phrophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikuah, the son of Hachas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter): and they spoke to her.”¹

The prophetic office being filled by a woman surely tells a tale. Things were low; but the grace of God was unfailing and abundant, and Josiah was so thoroughly obedient that he was prepared to receive communication from God through whatever channel God chose to reach him. It might seem humiliating for a king of Judah to counsel with and listen to a woman; but this woman was the depository of God’s Word, and that was enough for a humble and contrite spirit like Josiah’s. His one grand desire was to know and do the will of God, therefore, it did not matter what vehicle the voice of God used, he was prepared to hear and obey.

Be assured, this is the true secret of God’s guidance. “The meek will He guide in judgment, and the meek will He teach His way” (Ps. 25:9). If there was more of this blessed spirit of meekness among us, there would be less confusion, less controversy, and less striving. The meek are guided and taught by God; they see eye to eye with brethren; are of one mind; and speak the same thing – avoiding sad and humbling divisions.

The meek and contrite Josiah received a full answer from Huldah, the prophetess – an answer both for his people and himself. “And she answered them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell ye the man that sent you to me, Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah. Because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore My wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.”

This was the solemn reiteration and establishment of what this child king of Judah had already heard. But, this came as a direct personal communication – with fresh force, emphasis, and interest. It came enforced and enhanced by that earnest sentence, “Tell ye the man that sent you to me.”

Here was the gracious message directed to Josiah himself: “And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard: Because thy heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God when thou heardest His words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before Me, and didst rend thy clothes and weep before Me; I have even heard thee also, saith the Lord. Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again” (2 Chr. 34:23-28).

What powerful instruction and encouragement for us in this dark and evil age. It teaches us the immense value of deep personal exercise of soul and contrition of heart. Josiah could have considered things to be hopeless; that nothing could avert the mighty tide of wrath and judgment about to roll over the city of Jerusalem and the land of Israel; that his efforts might fail; that God’s purpose was settled; the decree sent out – in other words, he could have reasoned that a king should simply stand by and let things take their course. But Josiah did not reason this way. No; he bowed before God’s Word. He humbled himself, rent his clothes, and wept. God took knowledge of this. Josiah’s tears were precious to Jehovah, and even though the judgment of God would, in fact, run its course, yet the penitent escaped. And not only did Josiah escape, but he became the honored instrument through which the Lord delivered others, too. Josiah did not follow the influence of a pernicious fatalism, but in brokenness of spirit and earnestness of heart he cast himself on God, confessing his personal sins and the sins of his people. And then, when assured of his own personal deliverance, he sought deliverance of his brethren also. This is a fine moral lesson for every heart; one we desperately need to learn.

Footnotes:
¹ This Scripture quote taken from the NASB translation of 2 Kings 22:14. Why the delegation sought out Huldah rather than Jeremiah or Zephaniah is not known. Perhaps it was merely a matter of her accessibility in Jerusalem. “Second Quarter” was probably a section of the city located in newly developed area between the first and second walls in the northwest part of Jerusalem (see 2 Chr. 33:14; Zech. 1:10).