Josiah's Find

One of my favorite men of the Old Testament is Josiah. His name means “whom Jehovah heals”. In so many ways, King Josiah is a representation of the climate and culture of the church toady. Josiah’s wicked grandfather Manasseh did everything he could to bring the wrath of God upon the people of God. He desecrated the temple, worshipped pagan gods, sacrificed his sons to false gods, etc. His wickedness was so great, that God recorded that Manasseh was more wicked than the pagan that inhabited the promise land before the children of Israel entered the promise land.

Because of Manasseh’s wickedness, God promised certain wrath to the children of Israel. God told Manasseh that the evil that would come to Jerusalem and Judah was so great that it would cause both the ears of them that heard it to tingle. It was the worst of times. Despite God’s justified wrath, he allowed Manasseh and his son Amon to reign in Jerusalem. This reminds me of the climate today. Just as in the days of Noah many really don’t believe judgment is nigh. The bible even predicts this kind of apathy as the Day of the Lord approaches. While 1 Thessalonians 5:9 is clear that we are not appointed to wrath, it doesn’t mean that God’s judgment and subsequent redemption of Israel is not once again at the door.

Luke 17:26-30
And as it was in the days of Noe[Noah], so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

In the midst of God’s justified wrath is a glimmer of grace. Just as we find space for repentance in 2 Peter 3. In a chapter dedicated to informing us of the pending wrath and reconciliation, God places a wonderful admonition to repent while there is still opportunity.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

We see the character of God in his restraint. Just as He forgave the thief on the cross, so to, he forgives those who turn to him with a broken heart. It is our receptiveness to God’s promises that really dictates relationship with him. Josiah began his reign as a youth of only eight years old. He didn’t really have a life outside of being king of Jerusalem and Judah. His mother or whoever brought him up must have done a good job, for when Hilkiah was cleaning out the temple and found a copy of the book of the law, he delivered it to Shaphan to read before the king and to King Josiah’s credit, he received the word as it is in truth the very words of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13). It was Josiah’s attitude toward the Word of God that ensured his success and the salvation of God’s people, if only for a short 31 year reign of this king.

2 Kings 22:19-20
Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD. 20 Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.

Because Josiah’s heart was tender, the Lord paused his disciplinary action upon the nation of Israel, to afford Josiah and the people of Israel a revival. Once again we see the mighty character of Christ who would rather suffer God’s wrath himself, than allow us to go head long into damnation.

Today we live in a time much like Josiah’s. According to Revelation 3:17-20, it is a time of misplaced priorities. We say one thing (we are rich and increased with goods), while the spiritual reality is another. We think we are covered, clothed, yet before God we are stitchless and ashamed. It is a time when the religion Goes on unencumbered because we have discovered the systems that work to draw people to our churches, yet all too often Jesus is not in the service. A time when personal worship is crowded by a myriad of other gods and the Word of God is scarcely found in the conscience of those who claim to be the very temple of God. A time where Christ is present, yet few have consulted his mind to consider what he says about our place in history.

Oh that we would once again discover the power of our relationship with God in His Word. That alone is the source of revival. That today is the call of Christ, as he stands at the door and knocks asking us to once again open the rusty hinge of the Word of God and lay our eyes afresh upon his promises. He desires that we are truly filled with His riches and clothed with his righteousness.

It was a wonderful day when Hilkiah and Shaphan found the book of the law. It was even more wonderful when it was read before the Lord and received. Because these men found the Word, Josiah, Jerusalem and Judah found grace and mercy in the sight of the Lord.

Christmas season is upon us. In the midst of our religious and traditional holiday, I pray everyone discovers the Word of God fresh and new as the greatest gift we have every received is found in the coming of Christ to this earth to die for our sins. It is the gift of the Word of God that seals the promise of eternal life to all that call upon his name.

Coat Of Many Colors

This Christmas my nephew was proud to wear his letter jacket because it represented the sacrifice he made to earn his varsity letter and the paches that went with his senior season. It also identified him with his school and his family football heritage. Seeing him proudly display his jacket reminded me of the day we will someday stand together at the throne clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

Genesis 37:3
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

What a wonderful gift for Joseph! What a wonderful type of Christ! It reminds me that Jesus Christ is our righteousness. We are clothed with rightesousness because Jesus Christ is our righteousness. Just as Joseph's brothers did not understand the love of their father for his son Jospeh, so Israel didn't understand the love of The Father for His Son Jesus. Fortunatly for Jacob and his son's Joseph was a forgiving benevolent brother and son. Of course he was a clear type of Christ who was killed by his brothers only to resurrect and return to redeem them from thier sin.

We are still living this story as it relates to Israel, but for those of us who place our faith in the Son of God, we are saved! I hope you are clothed in Jesus righteousness and not the filthy rags of self righteousness. If you are a Christian you will proudly wear your coat of many colors no matter what people think of it.

A Christmas Gift For God

Proverbs 23:26
My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

If you are looking for the perfect gift for the one who loves you more than life itself (I'm talking about God the Father not your mother), you will want to examine Proverbs 23:26. In this passage we find that God wants us to give him our heart unconditionally. No need to try and clean up first, God will clean you as you submit to his Lordship.

Though I gave Christ my heart over 20 years ago, it still pleases God when I purpose to give my heart to Him and Him alone. It reminds me of the old hymn "come thou fount of every blessing". Part of the words to that hymn plead, "prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Now take my heart and seal it, seal it for thy courts above." What a blessed song and what a blessed setiment.

This Christmas don't forget to give your heart to Christ! Have a Merry Christmas!