II Kings 22:19,20

Josiah began to reign when he was only eight years old. When he was eighteen years old, he ordered the Temple of God to be renovated. And during the clean-up a copy of the Law of Moses was found. And when Shaphan read the book, it was only then that everyone realized how much they had been neglecting to obey God’s Word! So Shaphan asked the prophetess, Huldah what would happen to Judah? Huldah said that judgement was coming. But she went on to say in II Kings 22:19,20 Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD. Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again. Judgement was coming because of Judah’s sin, but because Josiah repented, the judgement would not come until he died. Josiah would live a long, peaceful life and after he was buried with King David, his great ancestor, only then would the judgement come. God punishes sin, but God honors repentance.