Tag: King Josiah

Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 36 (day one)
Two different men. Two very different hearts.    2 Kings tells the day that the Law was read to King Josiah.  He torn his clothes as a symbol of grief.  He commanded his servants to inquire of the Lord for the possibility of mercy.  “Because great is the wrath of the Lord against us because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book.”  (2 Kings 22:13)  A different response from Jehoiakim in Jeremiah 36.  As his servants read him the same words (the words that he and his nation had systematically ignored) Jehoiakim took a knife and sliced away columns of writing that he then placed in the fire for burning.  “The king and all his attendants who heard these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes.”  (v 24)  “This is the man to whom I will look, to him who is humble and contrite, who trembles at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2)  God help us!