The Power of Humility in the Fight against Sin

“Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the LORD.” (2 Chronicles 34:27)

This is the example of Josiah, king of Judah, and how he responded when the book of Deuteronomy was read to him. Let’s examine each element of his response to the national sin of Judah. It’s a wonderful template for how each of us should deal with sin in our own lives.

Your heart was tender – Josiah listened attentively to God’s word. He was easily impressionable to it. It wasn’t just a historical record, and it wasn’t a message that someone else needed to hear – he recognized it as God’s message to him, and he took it seriously. It left its impression on his heart. When he heard the judgments that it contained, he responded with fear and a genuine repentance.

You humbled yourself before God – Josiah didn’t belittle the sin of the nation, or his personal sin (Josiah, as Davidic king of the Jewish nation, was the ‘federal head’ and bore some spiritual responsibility for the sins of the people). He didn’t list extenuating circumstances to explain why it wasn’t a ‘big deal.’ He didn’t justify, but he took full responsibility. He acknowledged all of this to God. He accepted his position as a responsible sinner worthy of judgment before God.

[You] have torn your clothes and wept before me – Josiah’s heart attitude of humility expressed itself in outward actions. He demonstrated repentance through his deeds. By tearing his clothes and weeping, Josiah made a statement. While he may be the king of a nation, his position before God was that of a sinful man. He tore his kingly clothes, showing how little they mattered. He wept – literally crying tears of sorrow – in an action that no one would consider ‘kingly.’ But he did this because sorrow was appropriate, and sin is something that grieved his heart, as it does for all of God’s people.

I also have heard you – The response of God is to accept this genuine repentance. Josiah did nothing to earn, merit, or gain God’s favor. God still had full reason to condemn this king and his ungodly nation. But because God’s character is gracious and full of compassion, he gives precious promises to those who humble themselves. He promises to accept those who are genuinely repentant.

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