Lesson for March 30, 2008 — 2 Chronicles 34:15-33

By Amy Dueckman

In a letter not long ago, my cousin expressed gratitude for what he referred to as the “good Mennonite stock” he’d come from, even though he doesn’t attend a Mennonite church. He appreciated that all his grandparents and great-grandparents on both sides were solid Christians who had passed down a godly legacy to the next several generations.

Not so with Josiah. He had come on the throne at age 8 after a succession of wicked kings, including his father and grandfather, who were not faithful to the covenant. While still a teenager, Josiah begins to seek the God of his heritage. He tears down the idols to Baal and purges the altars and incense stands from the land. Then he restores the temple, brings out the book of the law and begins to read it.

Though Josiah is doing right in God’s eyes, he feels convicted because the words of the book reveal how far the previous generations strayed. He is so repentant that he tears his clothes in grief.

The sins of the fathers

No matter how we may wish to distance ourselves from the sins of previous generations, their long-term effects are inescapable. In an address to new Canadians in March 2007, John Ralston Saul of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship said this: “The moment you are sworn in as a Canadian citizen you inherit the total basket. . . .

“You are now responsible, not just for the good things but for all the mistakes we’ve made. The fact that you weren’t here when we made those mistakes doesn’t let you out of responsibility. . . . It’s part of the package. You may well say that that’s not fair, but who said it was fair? It just comes with the citizenship.”

Now, wait a minute! I want to say. I’m a new Canadian myself, and that’s not what I signed up for. I was not here when the head tax was imposed on Chinese immigrants. I did not take the land away from the aboriginals. My ancestors weren’t even in Canada. Don’t blame me!

But on closer reflection, I recognize the truth in these words. I, along with all citizens, bear some responsibility for injustices imposed on others in our midst, past or present. If we don’t, who will? It is always up to the current generation to try to correct the mistakes of the previous ones.

Accepting responsibility

As king, Josiah also takes responsibility on behalf of all the people for their collective sin. God is angry, for sure, and says through the prophetess Huldah: “My anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched” (2 Chron. 34:25). Josiah doesn’t argue about how unfair it is that God is angry, even when he is trying to follow the right path. He just humbles himself, acknowledges the sin and makes a covenant to lead his people in following God.

God honors Josiah’s attitude of humility and repentance (verse 27), promises to listen to him, and promises that Josiah will go to his grave in peace. In turn, Josiah makes a covenant before the Lord to lead his people in righteous ways and to follow God’s commandments, regulations and decrees (verse 31). This will be the legacy of his generation.

Josiah’s call to faithfulness is an inspiration to us also to be faithful. As Josiah took responsibility to right a wrong, ask today how you can right a wrong, even if you did not commit it. What will be the legacy of your generation?