April 16, 2026 - 2 Kings 22-24

“Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. A nd he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left” (22:1-2).  That’s the sort of biographical reflection we all hope to receive upon our deaths.  Of course, Josiah was far from perfect.  And, in his day, the kingdom was ever further removed from perfection.  In Josiah’s day, the book of the law was discovered and, upon hearing the words of the book, Josiah cried, “Great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us” (22:13).  Because of Josiah’s humbling of himself in repentance, the Lord spoke to him:  “Because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the LORD, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the LORD.  Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place” (22:18).  The kings who followed – Jehoiahaz, Jehoiakim, Zedekiah – were unfaithful, and the kingdom fell.  Lesson:  We do not, must not, follow the crowd; rather, like Josiah, let us always be found faithfully following the Lord.

Oh, for that tenderness of heart,

That bows before the Lord;

That owns how just and good thou art,

And trembles at thy word.

Oh, for those humble, contrite tears,

Which from repentance flow;

That sense of guilt which, trembling, fears

The long-suspended blow!

Saviour! to me, in pity give,

For sin, the deep distress;

The pledge thou wilt, at last, receive,

And bid me die in peace.

Oh, fill my soul with faith and love,

And strength to do thy will;

Raise my desire and hopes above,

Thyself to me reveal.­   –Charles Wesley (18^th century)