Key Verse: 2 Kings 22:18 ““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.” What does it mean to have a tender heart? The 22nd chapter of 2 Kings is one of my favorite chapters in the book. In this chapter we get a brief overview of the beginnings of Josiah’s reign. We are told that he was a good king, and that like David he truly loved the Lord. He became king during a dark time in Judah’s history. The wicked king Manasseh had lead the people of Judah to worship false gods and engage in terrible sinful acts. During the 18th year of Josiah’s reign Hilkiah the high priest, rediscovers the law of the Lord. It appears that it had been lost or hidden at some point in this history of Judah. Hilkiah and Josiah read it, and they discover just how wickedly they had been living, and they learn that God will judge for their behavior. Josiah begins to pray to God, and God hears his prayer. It is because of Josiah’s, tenderheartedness towards the Word of Lord and due to his repentance that God withholds his judgment until after Josiah’s reign. If someone is tenderhearted towards God, it means that their heart feels the conviction of God’s Spirit, and they aware of His direction in their life. We need more Christians who are tenderhearted towards God’s message and direction. Most of us are not tenderhearted to the Holy Spirit because we don’t want to be. We are afraid that if we allow ourselves to listen to His guidance, and to truly follow Him, we will not like where takes us. When one examines church history it is the people who were tenderhearted towards God who make the biggest impact for His kingdom. Make a commitment today to allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you. Allow Him to convict your heart and repent of what He convicts you about!
