July 31st~Tear Your Robe

Jeremiah 5:20-6:30

2 Kings 22:3-20


2 Chronicles 34:8-28

We continued some of Jeremiah’s prophecies concerning the people of Judah, which sound a lot like the declarations of Isaiah. The people have rebelled against God, their judgment is coming, and the end is near. However, Jeremiah’s message was different than Isaiah’s in that it was the last one God would send. “This is your last warning, Jerusalem. If you do not listen, I will empty the land... I am filled with fury and I’m weary of holding it in” (6:8-11).

God’s patience with His people had reached its end and He was now ready to pour out His wrath upon them. However, one man was able to postpone this judgment because of his humility and repentance, the young king, Josiah. Josiah was the last of the good rulers of Jerusalem. With his leadership, Judah’s destruction was delayed. What happened?

When King Josiah ordered the Temple to be re- stored, one of the priests found the Law of God which had been given to Moses. When the Law was brought to Josiah and read aloud to him, he realized that he had inherited a wayward kingdom, one that had forgotten its origin and, thus, had lost its way. It grieved him deeply to know that God’s people, who had such a bright beginning had neglected their responsibilities, shamed themselves, and disappointed the Lord.

Josiah’s response to hearing the words of the Lord and understanding the sins of His people was to tear his clothes. Tearing one’s clothes was a sign of sorrow, grief, or despair. It was a common practice among the Jews, first mentioned when Jacob and Reuben tore their clothes over the loss of Joseph (Genesis 37:29, 34). Josiah was deeply bothered by the apostasy of the nation and the Lord noticed his concern, “You were sorry and humbled before the Lord when you heard what I said against the city and its people... You tore your clothing in despair and wept before Me in repentance. So I have indeed heard you. You will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this place. I will not send it until after you die and have been buried in peace” (2 Kings 22:19, 20).

Daily Reflection

Though we live in a different age, we are not different than those who lived during the time of Josiah. Somehow we expect to find peace and prosperity by following our own way, when, in reality, the ways of man only lead to dead ends. We cannot expect the effects of peace and prosperity while we ignore the cause of them, that is the gracious hand of God. We cannot ignore the instructions of God’s Word without expecting the penalty for doing so. With obedience there is blessing, but, with defiance and disobedience, there are consequences.

We are similar to the people of Judah. We have clothed ourselves with our own righteousness. We have placed confidence in our own abilities, and in our own reasoning and wisdom. We think that we know better than God, that we don’t need His help or His Word in our land. Even in the Church, we have become deaf and blind; we have strayed from pure doctrine and embraced that which is false. What is good, we now call evil, and what is evil, we now call good.

It is time for us to tear our robes and humble ourselves before Almighty God. It is time to repent of our national sins and admit that we are guilty of apostasy, turning our backs on Him. If we respond, as Josiah did, perhaps the Lord will spare us, even restore to us His favor. What about you? Whose robe of righteousness are you wearing — yours or His? Consider your ways and commit to being a glory to your God. Tear your robe of self-righteousness and walk humbly in obedience.

BiAY.org | Day 212 — 153 Days to Go