A Selfless Heart for God and God's People

2 Kings 22:3-23:30; Psalm 1; Proverbs 18:11-12

 

When King Hezekiah was told that the Babylonians would one day overcome Judah, take away its wealth, and deport some of his descendants, his response was somewhat selfish: "The word of the LORD you have spoken is good," Hezekiah replied. For he thought, "Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?" – 2 Kings 20:19. Told about coming destruction, he was concerned only for his own life.

 

But King Josiah was different. He was horrified when he realized how much the Judeans had disobeyed God. He knew they were due for punishment. And his heart’s response was right. This is the message he received from God through a prophetess:

 

"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, `This is what the LORD says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and provoked me to anger by all the idols their hands have made, my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.' Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, `This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people, that they would become accursed and laid waste, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD. Therefore I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.' " – 2 Kings 22:15-20

 

So his heart was right. And he would not see the destruction.

 

But for Josiah, that was not enough. He wanted to put all the nation back in a right relationship with God. Everyone needed to be saved from God’s wrath. So he brought God’s Word to the people:

 

He went up to the temple of the LORD with the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets--all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the LORD. The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD--to follow the LORD and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant. – 2 Kings 22:2-3

 

And once he had led the people to a renewed covenant with God, he led them to forsake anything that might lead them away from God. He cleared the temple of various idols, got rid of pagan priests, burned Asherah poles, dealt with male shrine prostitutes and women who served other gods, desecrated the high places, broke down shrines, desecrated an altar of child-sacrifice, removed horses dedicated to the sun, destroyed chariots dedicated to the sun, destroyed altars built by the kings of Judah, desecrated high places built by Solomon, and even went up into Israel to deal with the false worship that the Israelite kings had set up by destroying altars, desecrating high places and killing false priests (2 Kings 22:4-20). And after all this destruction, he led the people to celebrate the LORD’s Passover (2 Kings 22:21-23). Josiah continued to root out mediums, spiritists, household gods and idols from Judah and Jerusalem (2 Kings 22:24-25).

 

Josiah’s heart was selflessly devoted not only to God, but to God’s people, too. He wanted them all to know God and be saved from destruction.

 

Father, may we all be so selfless even though we don’t all have the clout Josiah had to make such sweeping changes. May we do what we can to know You ourselves and to help others know You. May we start with our families, but may we also remember our co-workers, our neighbors, our relatives, our clubs – whoever we have the opportunity to turn toward You, may we help them know You for their own good! May it not be enough for us to know that we are safe; may we seek everyone’s safety.