When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes … He said, “Great is the LORD’s anger that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us” (2 Kings 22:11, 13).

King Josiah was one of Israel’s few good kings.  During his reign, he repaired the Temple in Jerusalem, removing the clutter of idols and images that had been accumulating there for centuries.  While that work was progressing, a scroll (“book”) was found: the Law of God!

When the scroll of the Book of the Law is discovered, it seems that no one had known it was even missing!   But when the book is read to the king, he immediately recognizes it for what it is: the righteous judgment of God pronounced upon God’s covenant-breaking people.

But note how the king puts it: “God is angry with us because our fathers have not obeyed … they have not done what is written there concerning us.”

Could God’s righteous judgments fall upon us because of what they did (or failed to do)?

In the years leading up to Josiah’s reign, the life of Israel had been increasingly colonized by pagan idols and images.  We might say that idolatry had become systemic, “baked” into the life of God’s people.  Small compromises here, small “accommodations” there, and pretty soon the LORD’s Temple had become populated with every idol in the neighborhood.  And with the idols come the idols’ ways of seeing things, the idols’ priorities and agendas, the idols’ values and vices.

Notice also how Josiah responds: he tears his robes and weeps before God.  He seeks confirmation and direction from reliable, trusted spiritual resources.  He leads the people in renewing allegiance to the LORD and the covenant.

And he goes about the work of dismantling years of neglect, apathy, disobedience, idolatry and injustice.  He must undo things that others did in their day but for which he knows he is responsible in his own day.  They may have done it; but we are responsible to repair the damage.  And that work of repair begins with repentance, repentance that we have not already begun, much less finished, the work of restoration and repair. 

The only finger he points is at himself and the people he leads.

Is there something “they” did that you know you are responsible to address, repair or restore in some way?  What might be your next step?