Josiah—Finding God a Refuge
There is something deeply interesting in the whole of Josiah's reign, but especially so when the message was conveyed to him that the book of the law was found in the house of the Lord. "Shaphan read it before the king. And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes." His heart was not unmoved; he trembled at God's Word. In that light, what were his circumstances? That law made manifest Israel's rebellion, brought to light their guilt, revealed the judgment of God against sin, and filled Josiah's heart with sadness. Where could he flee for help? Only to God. It is blessed when the heart is made truly conscious of its condition by seeing it in God's light; there is a refuge in God. "There is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared.... Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption." Psa. 130:4, 7. Josiah sends to inquire of the Lord and receives this answer:
Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read.... But to the king of Judah which sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard; because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before Me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord. Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. (2 Kings 22:16-20.)
Such is the grace of our God! The bruised reed He will not break. He gives grace to the humble, and blessed is the man that makes the Lord his trust! Josiah might use the language of the Psalmist,
He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God.