What do you think of the quote above? When was the last time you experienced the kind of conviction Moody describes?

King Josiah was described as a man who did what was right in the eyes of God, but when he heard the words of God written word, his response was personal –

And when the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, “Go, inquire of the LORD for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do according to all that is written in this book.”

2 Kings 22:11-13

In the ancient world, tearing your clothes represented sorrow and in this instance, Josiah was deeply convicted of his personal sin, the sin of his fathers and the sin of his people who had forsaken God’s commands in favor of following false gods and so he responded with repentance.

Later, the LORD responded to Josiah –

“Because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the LORD, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the LORD

2 Kings 22:19

Paul describes the results of the kind of deep conviction-

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

2 Corinthians 7:10

We can learn from Josiah’s example by examining our own hearts and responding humbly before God.