" ' . . . because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,' says the LORD."
This verse (above) is in reference to the excellent king of Judah, Josiah. When Josiah heard the Scripture read to him, he immediately responded, with faith and repentance. When Josiah inquired of God, as to the judgments pronounced on the land, the king greatly humbled himself before the Lord.
This is a wonderful encouragement for the church today. Things in our nation, and in the world generally, are not good. But, so long as be-
lievers are thoroughly pierced by God's word, and are melted in heart by the Spirit of Grace, there is full hope even concerning the temporal issues of life. On top of that, through this process, the souls of churchmen are made more like Christ.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Places and conditions are happy or miser-
able as God grants His gracious presence more or less." --Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict"]
