Review: Josiah’s Reformation

C H Spurgeon wrote that the Puritan Richard Sibbes ‘never wastes the student’s time. He scatters pearls and diamonds with both hands.’ This book is no exception – there is treasure on every page.

This series of four sermons is based on the words of the prophetess Huldah addressed to King Josiah as found in 2 Chronicles 34: 26-28. The theme is the human heart.

In the first sermon he shows the vital need for us to have a tender heart towards God. He outlines how we obtain a tender heart and how it can be preserved. He shows in particular that a heart touched by God does not simply desire salvation, but desires the Saviour himself.

The second and third sermons outline the nature of a tender heart. He talks about the art of self humbling and the art of mourning. He distinguishes between the false and the true.

The final sermon looks at the promise of a reward and of peace to King Josiah. He speaks of the blessings that flow from knowing Christ and of the peace that awaits us at death.

In a day when there is so much shallow teaching and superficial exposition of God’s word it is a delight to read the wise warm words of Richard Sibbes. Don’t be put off by the fact that it was written in 1629. The human heart has not changed nor has the remedy.

The text has been lightly edited to update the language and contains helpful footnotes to explain the occasional unusual word.

This article was first published on GoodBookReviews.org.uk. The site has been closed as of March 2019