2 Kings 22:11, 19 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes….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.
During the repairs to the temple, a scroll had been found. They brought it to king Josiah and read it to him. It was most likely the Book of Deuteronomy, or at least a part of it. He heard these words of Moses (the Word of God), and he was convicted of the gross sin of the people and the neglect of God’s Word. As a result, he humbled himself before the Lord, tore his clothes as an outward sign of inward repentance, and wept before the Lord because of the egregious sin of the people. Therefore, he would die in peace before the Lord brings evil upon this place.
Josiah realized that the kingdom had neglected God’s Word, the Law of Moses as written in Deuteronomy, and when he heard the Word it brought him to sorrowful repentance and a humble seeking of Mercy. God blessed Josiah and stayed the judgment.
The Word of God is powerful to bring about the same response in us: repentance and faith. The Holy Spirit uses the word of Law and Gospel to convict us of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. We respond to the Word and the Spirit by tearing our clothes (repenting), humbling our self (glorifying God), and begging mercy for the sake of Jesus Christ. He forgives and saves.