TENDER HEARTS

" . . . your heart was tender . . . " (2 Chron 34:27, NKJV)"

JOSIAH WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years" (2 Chron 34:1). It is written that he did what was right in the eyes of God, and followed the example of David, declining "neither to the right hand, nor to the left" (v 2). In the eighth year of his reign, or when he was sixteen years old, "he began to seek" after God. In the twelfth year of his reign, or when he was twenty years old, he began a massive purging of idolatry in Judah and Jerusalem. He broke down the altars to Baal, groves and carved and molded images. He ground them to dust and scattered it upon the graves of those who sacrificed to them (v 3-4). He even burned the bones of the deceased priests upon their altars and "cleansed Judah and Jerusalem." He extended his crusade to the cities of "Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali." It is said of this time, "When he had broken down the altars and the wooden images, had beaten the carved images into powder, and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem" (vs 6-7).WHEN JOSIAH WAS TWENTY-SIX years old, he sent men to "repair the house of the Lord his God." Appropriate money for the task was given to them, and foremen were established for the completion of the work. Craftsman and builders, together with all of the required materials, were chosen, and "the men did the work faithfully" (vs 10-11).

IT WAS DURING THIS TIME that the workers "found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD" (v 15). The book was delivered to Shaohan and scribe, and he read it to king Josiah. When the young king heard the words of the Lord "he tore his clothes" (v 19). He called for the spiritual leaders and asked that they inquire of the Lord for him and the remnant of the people. He knew the wrath of God was upon the people because they had not kept His word (v 21).

GOD CHOSE A PROPHETESS, Huldah, to reveal to these men that His wrath was going to bring calamity upon the people, fulfilling the curses made against them in the Law. Our text was God's word to Josiah. God said "because your heart was tender . . . I also have heard you." He promised Josiah he would die in peace and his eyes would not see the calamities that were going to come upon the people (v 28). And why was such a gracious provision made for the king? "Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me."

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER is this. God chooses those with tender hearts, broken and contrite spirits, who tremble at His Word. These are the people to whom He is attracted, and whom He prefers. They are the ones He has chosen. This is consistently proclaimed in Scripture (Psalm 34:18; 51:17; 147:3; 1 Sam 16:7; Isa 66:2).

A TENDER HEART IS SENSITIVE to the Lord, immediately adjusting the course of life to God's will. It does not draw back from the Word, but runs swiftly to God, seeking to avoid the curse and obtain the blessing. It compels the individual to wage war against what is false, and get rid of what is wicked. Such a person may very well be spared from Divinely appointed calamities and judgments. There is something to ponder.

– Given O. Blakely