A tender heart

But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, in this manner you shall speak to him, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Concerning the words which you have heard— because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the Lord. Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place.” ’ ” So they brought back word to the king. – 2 Kings 22.18-20

Hilkiah told the men why Judah was where she was and what the needed to do to get back to God. But she also sent word for the king.

Hilkiah’s word to Josiah was this. Calamity was indeed to come the the nation. Though Josiah would bring about reforms and changes the people did not change and the sinful behaviour continued. Their hearts had been hardened.

But Josiah would be spared seeing all that destruction. It sound a bit strange unless we think about eternity, but God was going to allow Josiah to die and to be ‘gathered to his fathers’ in peace before the end came.

In other words we might see here that there are worse things than dying. I think what happens here is a foretelling of Christ’s victory over death. Death already have no fear for Josiah and it certainly should be no cause of fear for us.

Josiah was going to avoid the calamity because of his tender and humble heart. He was tender enough to obey God and do things His way.

I also think this might play into the notion that Jesus will return to take us out before the great calamity comes to pass.

Anyway, even so, come Lord Jesus.