Devotions: Humble Prayers and Tender Hearts

 

“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 should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the Lord.

2 Kings 22:19 New American Standard Bible 1995

 

While Hezekiah was a godly king, one of the best, his son Manasseh was probably the worst. The things he did and decreed were horrific and abominable. As a result (mainly due to the deaths he caused of so many babies and children as idol sacrifices) God declared that Judah would be destroyed and exiled. His son Amon was just as evil and reigned only two years before his people assassinated him. Amon’s son Josiah, however, was a good king, possibly even better than Hezekiah and David (see 2 Kings 23:25). Some of the things he did were to rebuild the temple, destroy all pagan altars and reinstate Passover. During the rebuilding of the temple, the priests found the books of the Law and prophecy. When Josiah heard of the prophecy against Judah because of Manasseh, he mourned bitterly. But because his heart was truly broken over their sin, God relented and delayed judgment so that Josiah would not see it. That was the kind of faith he had. Because he had a tender heart that was humble and broken by sin God was moved. It was not enough to remove curse completely but it did save his generation. (2 kings 23:26, 24:3-4)

There are two lessons here. First: that having a humble, tender heart to the ways of God, one that is obedient out of love and zeal for God, can move mountains and bring miracles. The second is that God will not relent judgment on a nation that praises the murder of the innocent. It is something that He takes very seriously and if we love Him we should too. God’s judgment was delayed by the penitent heart of one man. What if this were the response of many broken over the sin of our country? What if our prayers brought a revival that turned the tide?

 

 

 

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