“When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes” (2 Kings 22:11 ESV).
We live in a nation that has lost its way. Apostasy, rebellion, and increasing godlessness only deepen the despair many Christians feel. When we survey the political landscape, things seem only grimmer.
Identifying the problems is easy enough. But how do we solve them? What is the way forward out of this mess?
We need to read the law and tear our clothes.
Josiah was one of the few kings in Israel or Judah who “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” (2 Kings 22:2). In the midst of deep national rebellion, he instituted aggressive reforms to bring God’s people back to Him. However, the first step in this process seemed to happen by accident. Hilkiah, the high priest, found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord. It was brought to Josiah and read aloud by his secretary, Shaphan. Upon hearing the words of God’s law, Josiah tore his clothes, acknowledged the sin of the people, and inquired of the Lord. When he did, he learned that judgment was imminent (2 Kings 22:13-17).
In Scripture, tearing one’s clothes was a symbolic act of grief, mourning, or deep sorrow and an outward expression of true repentance. We can only imagine what Josiah, the man charged with leading God’s people to love and honor Him, must have felt when he heard the law of the Lord. As you read the story, you can almost see the hairs on his neck stand up.
Many professing Christian political leaders in the United States acknowledge the terrible state of our country (the murder of unborn children, reckless spending, and lawlessness at the borders are just a few examples). The difference between them and Josiah, however, is simple: Josiah heard God’s Word, humbled himself, and acted on his repentance (2 Kings 23). Christian leaders in the civil sphere today often fail to do this. Because they don’t, we should expect continued judgment from God, who is not mocked (Galatians 6:7).
But this is not just about political leaders. Where is the repentance among God’s people? Have we, as the church, been too content with political pragmatism instead of demanding godliness from those in authority? Have we ourselves neglected to tear our own clothes in sorrow over our national sins?
There are many identified problems, but where are the torn clothes?
It is time for believers to take the role of Hilkiah and Shaphan. We must recover the application of God’s Word in our own lives first, then declare that Word to those in power. No form of Christless conservatism or incremental course correction will lead to national repentance and righteous change. Only the double-edged sword of God’s Word will cut to the heart (Hebrews 4:12) and lead to true repentance.
So let us not merely diagnose the nation’s ills. Let us read the law, tear our clothes, and call others to do the same. “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
