Tear Your Robe

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2022-23;%202%20Chronicles%2034-35&version=NIV

Today we read of King Josiah - one who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. It amazes me that from such a young age - from the word we can assume he was 16 years old - he began to seek God. Such wisdom from one so young! What was interesting to me is that while somehow he obviously knew of God and the ways of God, he was almost ignorant of what the book of the law said. Was this because only the priests read the book? Perhaps. But certainly the would have taught it to the people. I think it was more likely because so many previous generations turned away from God, that knowledge of what God's law said was practically inialated.

The word of God as written in the book of the law most certainly pierced the heart of Josiah, for the word says he tore his clothes when he read it. Many interpreters think that the book of the law was either a partical or complete version of Deuteronomy. This means that certainly Josiah read about the blessings that come with obedience and the curses that come from disobedience. Josiah knew immediately that his nation was in trouble. He recognized that the Isralites had for generations disregarded God's law. He knew and believed that God was a just God, and that disaster for his nation, especially without total reform, would mean total distruction. Josiah commited everything in him to bring about this reformation, but to no avail. He and his nation would suffer the effects of the disobedience of previous generations.

As I read this, I wondered how long our great national would walk in disobedience until people became ignornat of the law. I wondered how long our nation will survive before it faces great disaster. I wondered what we can do as Christians. I believe the answer is in knowing and proclaiming BOLDLY the Word of God to all we meet. We MUST NOT be ashamed of the gospel despite cultural pressure. We MUST NOT allow the culture to twist the word of God or make it into 'just a story' when it has the power to save, the power to change lives, when we know that the Word is God!

It is time that our robes be tornnand our lives dedicated to teaching generations about Christ.

Are you willing to be a Josiah?