“A Responsive and Humble Heart”

7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the L ORD, whose trust is the L ORD. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” - Jeremiah 17:7-8 In the Lord: 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 10 “I the L ORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” - Jeremiah 17:9-10 In One’s Self:

Josiah was 8 yrs. old when he became king. His Grandfather and Father were very bad kings in Judah’s history. An Amazing King He was the 15 th of 19 Kings for Judah and the last to seek and serve God. At 16, Josiah began “to seek the God of his ancestor David.” (2 Chronicles 34:4) He dedicated himself to purifying the worship of the people of God. At 26, he organized repairs to the Temple. While working in the Temple, the priest, Hilkiah, found the Book of the Law.

4 He ordered that the altars of Baal be demolished and that the incense altars which stood above them be broken down. He also made sure that the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images were smashed and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5 He burned the bones of the pagan priests on their own altars, and so he purified Judah and Jerusalem. 6 He did the same thing in the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, even as far as Naphtali, and in the regions all around them. 7 He destroyed the pagan altars and the Asherah poles, and he crushed the idols into dust. He cut down all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Finally, he returned to Jerusalem. - 2 Chronicles 34:4-7 Preparing Hearts and Minds

The Blessings of a Godly Leader After a 60 yr. absence, the Book of the Law was found. (Since Hezekiah) After cleansing the land of the pagan, idolatrous allowances of his forefathers… Finally, Josiah returned to Jerusalem. At 26, he organized repairs to the Temple. 11 When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair. 12 Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaiah the king’s personal adviser: 13 “Go to the Temple and speak to the L ORD for me and for the people and for all Judah. Inquire about the words written in this scroll that has been found. For the L ORD ’s great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do.” 2 Kings 22

The Blessings of a Godly Leader Josiah’s response was immediate – grief and desperate inquiry of the Lord. 14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter), and they talked with her. - 2 Kings 22:14 Josiah, wanted his whole cabinet to hear the Lord’s response. 16 ‘This is what the L ORD says: … 17 my people have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to pagan gods, and I am very angry with them for everything they have done. My anger will burn against this place, and it will not be quenched.’ - 2 Kings 22:16-17

…BUT, 19 because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the L ORD, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the L ORD. 20 Therefore, behold, 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 disaster that I will bring upon this place.’ ” And they brought back word to the king. - 2 Kings 22: – School Prayer removed 1963 – Public Bible reading prohibited 1973 – Abortion legalized Current – We are reaping what we’ve sown.

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. - 2 Chronicles 7:14