Scripture Daily

Context No. 2012 of 4322 · 2 Kings

Context · Reflection

2 Kings 22:8-13: in context

8Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the LORD’s house.” Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hands of the workmen who have the oversight of the LORD’s house.” 10Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has delivered a book to me.” Then Shaphan read it before the king. 11When the king had heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. 12The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, 13“Go inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found; for great is the LORD’s wrath that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that which is written concerning us.”

During repairs to the temple in Josiah's reign, the high priest finds the book of the law, long neglected and lost. It is read before the young king; and when Josiah hears the words of the law, he tears his clothes. He is stricken, grieved, aware of how far his people had fallen from what the book required. He sends at once to inquire of the LORD, saying, great is the LORD's wrath against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book. God's word, heard at last, pierced and moved him.

What marks Josiah is the tenderness of his response to God's word. He might have heard the long-neglected law read and remained unmoved, or been annoyed at its demands, or set it aside as the concern of an earlier age. Instead, when he heard it, he tore his clothes, stricken and grieved, taking its words to heart, humbled by how far his people had strayed. His heart was tender toward God's word, responsive, moved to grief and repentance rather than hardened or indifferent. He did not hear it unchanged; it pierced him, and he turned. There is something to desire in this tender responsiveness to God's word. We can hear God's word and remain unmoved, indifferent to its call, unstirred by its warnings, letting it wash over us without piercing us, our hearts hardened by familiarity or resistance. Josiah shows a better way: a heart soft toward God's word, that hears it and is genuinely moved, grieved by its rebukes, stirred to repentance, taking it to heart rather than holding it off. And Scripture tells us that God honors such a heart. To this one I will look, God says, to him who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at my word. God draws near to the tender, responsive heart that takes his word seriously and is moved by it. This searches how we hear God's word. Does it find in us a tender heart, responsive, moved to grief where it rebukes and to repentance where it calls, taking its words to heart as Josiah did? Or does it meet a hardened, indifferent heart that hears without being pierced, that lets the word pass without turning? The blessing belongs to the tender heart. When we hear God's word, may it find us responsive as Josiah was, soft rather than hardened, moved rather than indifferent, taking it to heart and letting it turn us, for God looks with favor on the one who trembles at his word.

When I hear God's word, does it find in me a tender heart, responsive and moved, grieved where it rebukes me and stirred to repentance where it calls, as Josiah tore his clothes at the words of the law, or does it meet a hardened, indifferent heart that hears without being pierced, and can I ask God for the soft, responsive heart on which he looks with favor, that trembles at his word?

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