He tore his robes

“When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.” (2 Kings 22:11)

 

Josiah of the kingdom Judah was a righteous king to see rarely. Further, Josiah was only eight years old when he ascended to the throne. And yet he ruled well the kingdom of Judah for thirty-one years. The king Josiah ordered repair the temple of the Lord Jehovah. And in repairing of temple, Hilkiah the high priest discovered the Book of the Law from somewhere. Discovery of the Book of the Law was reported to the king Josiah, and the king after listening to the contents of the Book tore his robes right away. By listening to God’s Law, he learned what the cause of wrath which had been inflicted on his people was.

 

Characteristics of human is more inclined toward evil than good, so it is a quite easy for man to be familiar to the acts of injustice. Therefore, a righteous education is required thoroughly from an early age in order to be made into good human. Hidetsugu(1568~1595) who became Kanpaku after Hideyoshi who achieved the unification of Nippon in 16th century and caused the Imjin War against Joseon dynasty, finished his life by committing a miserable suicide of disembowelment. Although Hidetsugu, as Hideyoshi’s nephew in origin, became an adopted son to Hideyoshi and a victim of Hideyoshi’s tyranny, the wickedness of slaughter and obscenity Hidetsugu had committed was indescribable. That shows a fact that reigning place had made himself to be miserable like that.

How much would an eight-year-old boy know if he knew, even though a king? Nevertheless, he could become a wise king because his mother and his subjects assisted and served him with faithfully. About Josiah’s mother, there’s no particular record of her except that the name is Jedidah, daughter of Adaiah from Bozkath. However, we can guess that she would had educated the son Josiah rightly. Like that in general, parental heredity and teaching are absolutely important for the formation of personality. It is desirable of course the tendencies of both parents should be good, but if not, even one side should be good, and maternal tendencies are more important in general. This is because mothers have a lot of time to educate their children in the womb from before the birth and to take care of their children in the process of growing up.

What Josiah ordered importantly was the repair of the temple. Let’s think about the matter of repairing the temple from the New Testament standpoints of the Bible and theology. The temple taught by Jesus means the soul and the body of those who believe in Christ. Because Christ is same to God’s holy house in spiritual meaning. A Christian which is a part of the body belonging to Christ, can be named God’s holy temple. Therefore the affairs repairing Christ’s body the holy house is important above all for us now. The Book of the Law that had been neglected until then was found somewhere of the temple. This is like meaning that the Word of God has been neglected in me until now even though myself saved by the blood of Christ. I have not realized rightly until now the Word the God’s Law that was laid in front of my eyes and just near ears and mouth.

After listening to the Law found, Josiah tore his robes and repented greatly. The act tearing robes is an attitude of intense repentance. He realized that the Lord’s anger toward his people was because they had not followed the Word of the Law. If someone knows a cause of a problem, he can be in hope. With the enlightenment of King Josiah, the people could now have hope. The reason why the country and the world, as well as individuals and families, are suffered and confuse in all areas is too simple. This is because they try to live not receiving the gospel of God. They don’t try to know the Creator even though they were made by God the Creator. They are blessed with salvation but refuse to believe in Jesus. And they don’t like to follow and practice lessons of fairness and justice. Then the punishment that humans will receive is deserved and clear. But they resent and complain even while being punished. Now heartily, come toward the Lord Jesus for yourself to be saved.

 

To say to have joy rather than repentance hears plausible but it is a deceitful and wrong teaching. Because that’s a narcotic-like that falls people into hell. But the pleasure attained by sincere repentance is really valuable. Paul had made himself change into a new life in Christ every day even after had called as an apostle. Purify yourself to be a sacrifice created newly in Christ and give it to God every day.

 

(Written by Koonoh, Pastor of JDO Presbyterian Church in Korea, on June 20th 2021)