2 Chronicles 34.19 19 And when the king heard the words
of the Law, he tore his clothes. (ESV)
I’ve often wondered about this clothes-tearing thing –
was it a learned behavior or did they just happen to do it when something big
happened? It seems more like an ism
than an act. Clothes-tearing seemed
to be reserved for special occasions. Clothes-tearing seemed to mean: THIS IS A
BIG DEAL!! I wonder if when they heard the news they threw a clothes tearing
ceremony, or if it was more spontaneous than that?
Josiah was the last great king in Jerusalem; the whole
thing fell apart after he died; the nation of Israel collapsed. As David had
set the tone for kings during his reign, Josiah was the last one to rule in
that manner.
Josiah had a heart to restore the Temple and set about to
do so; his officers and the high priest got about the business of sweeping out
the Temple, making repairs and attempting to restore some of its original
glory. One day they found a copy of the Book of the Law, and brought it to the
King. This was like giving food to a starving man, water to one dying of
thirst, or a gentle touch to the lonely and bitter – King Josiah, was blown
away and as a result, tore his clothes.
The significance of such an action is huge because in
those days clothing (and modesty) were very important in such societies. (A
rich man would have more than one pair of socks…). For the king to tear his
clothes meant something momentous had happened; everyone in the city would know
about it. Man! Something big has happened
to get him to do that! It was a big deal. Clothes-tearing was reserved for
very special occasions.
I think it meant something like: I cannot hide myself in the face of such news (or events). I think
it was a response of utter self-rejection to something bigger and beyond. (Not
necessarily, but usually bad.)
We don’t tear our clothes these days. We shout, we clap
our hands, we cry out, we weep, we moan. But we don’t tear our clothes. We don’t
do something so big that everyone knows about it. We don’t make a big deal about
big deals. (Okay, not everybody, but I include myself in that group.)
Nowadays, we have to go to great lengths to make a big
deal about big deals. We organize a walk. We write books. We get on the radio.
We go to Washington, D.C. It’s not exactly clothes-tearing but it gets the job
done. (Thank you Bo and Nita)
But what happens when we are utterly broken by God? What
do we do then? When is the last time that happened? To you? To me? To what
lengths are we willing to go to show God has clobbered us with such news that
it overwhelms us in sorrow and remorse? And we repent?
Father God,
Heal my heart and
make it clean
Open up my eyes to
the things unseen
Show me how to love
like You have loved me
Break my heart for
what breaks Yours
Everything I am for
Your kingdom's cause
As I walk from
earth into eternity*… Amen
*Hosanna –
Hillsong United
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