Daily Devotionals

When Pigs Fly Week 3: Friday

You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said against this city and its people-that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord. So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. 2 Kings 22:19-20a

Because none of us are perfect, we will sometimes need to apologize. First, we must apologize to God and next to the people around us. This requires humility on our part. A prideful person does not often apologize, but a humble person will repent and admit their mistakes. In light of this, we must choose humility if we want to be willing to acknowledge and let go of sin in our lives.

Humility was one of the traits that King Josiah expressed throughout his reign as the king of Judah. In 2 Kings 22, one of the high priests discovered part of Scripture and read it to Josiah. The Scripture made it clear that the Israelites had been sinning and living against the Scripture that had been read. King Josiah was grieved at this realization. He asked Hilkiah, the High Priest, to go to a prophet and speak to God on behalf of himself and the Israelites. He also wanted a prophet to expound on the teaching in the Scripture that had been found. Hilkiah spoke with Huldah, a prophet, about this situation. She explained that the Lord was very angry with how the city of Judah lived. Ultimately, God would bring destruction to the city (verse 16). She added that because Josiah had humbled himself, the destruction would only happen after Josiah died. He would not experience this destruction. God was honored by the humility of Josiah, which led to his repentance.

 We would do well to model the humility of Josiah. None of us are above God's law, and none of us are immune from temptation. We have all sinned. When we humble ourselves and say, "I'm sorry," we can move f

Moving toward action

Take a few minutes to pray. Ask God to give you the humility to admit when you are wrong and mess up. Ask Him for the humility to apologize when necessary. Ask Him for the humility to love and serve the people around you. Then, as you go throughout your day, look for opportunities to express that humility.

Going Deeper

2 Kings 22:14-20

"So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Acbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to the New Quarter of Jerusalem to consult with the prophet Huldah. She was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, the keeper of the Temple wardrobe.

15 She said to them, "The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken! Go back and tell the man who sent you, 16 'This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this city and its people. All the words written in the scroll that the king of Judah has read will come true. 17 For my people have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to pagan gods, and I am very angry with them for everything they have done. My anger will burn against this place, and it will not be quenched.'

18 "But go to the king of Judah who sent you to seek the Lord and tell him: 'This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the message you have just heard: 19 You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said against this city and its people-that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord. 20 So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city.'"

So they took her message back to the king."