Be Lamented

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 35:25

Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah…

Jeremiah has been called “the weeping prophet.” He was known for lamenting. He was so good at it, that he authored the Book of Lamentations. Most of his lamenting was grieving over the sin and idolatry of his people. The lamenting mentioned here is different. He lamented over the death of Josiah because he was sad that Josiah had died.

Josiah was a good king. He sought to reform and revive the kingdom over which he ruled despite the evil trajectory it was following. He wanted to see his nation make a comeback, not just militarily or economically, but spiritually. The spiritual life of the nation seemed to be his primary concern. It is hard to find a leader like that, and even harder to lose one after you have one.

It is not surprising, therefore, that Jeremiah grieved when Josiah died. Godly people mourn the loss of godly people. Jeremiah was so saddened by Josiah’s death that he wrote a special lamentation for the occasion.

Mark Twain said, “Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.”  Pray that it will be so.