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JUNE 8, 1947 MAKING REFORMS SUCCEED 2 K i. 22:10, 11; 23:1-5, 21
out brilliantly against the black ho rizon of the coming captivity. In Josi ah, we see a king who made an honest endeavor to serve God. He rose above his heredity. No man is saved or lost because of a good or bad parental background. His spir itual state depends upon his personal attitude toward God. See John 1:12,13. “The book of the covenant which was found in the house of the Lord” (23:2). A solemn fact is suggested by these words. It is possible for the Word of God to become lost in the house of God. It was so in Josiah’s day and before that time. Through neglect and false teaching, it was set aside until it was no longer a vital part of Israel’s life. It had to be re-discovered. The same thing is possible in the church today. God’s Word may be so neglected for pomp, ceremony or worldly things, and false teaching substituted for its clear truth, that to all practical pur poses it becomes a lost Book. There never will be a spiritual revival un til this lost Book is re-discovered. "Bring forth . . . the vessels mads for Baal . . . Keep the passover” (28:421). Be f o r e wo rshi p there must be cleansing. The things of Baal cannot dwell with the things of God. This is true in the church. See First Corinthians ll:28, where self-examination is exhorted before worship at the Lord’s Table. It is also true in the individual life. Man cannot worship God with a heart that is full of sin. Compare Psalm 24:3, 4. “In the high places” (23:5). Spirit ually these were not high places but low places. Originally, they were all located on elevated places, but a study of them in their ffill develop ment reveals that they were utilized for all manner of evil practice in the names of heathen gods. Scrip ture and archaeology harmonize In establishing this fact. No wonder then that the prophets thundered against the high places. For the Children J o s ia h a n d t h e L o s t B o o k (2 K in g s 22:1-3, 18,19; 23:1-3, 25) M em o r y V erse : “Give me under standing, and I shall keep thy law” (Psa. 119:34). Have you ever played that you were a king? God’s Word tells us of a real king who was only eight years of age! When Josiah, for that was the name of this boy king, became eighteen, he sent word to T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
Outline and Expedition T h e E f f e c t o f t h e L a w ( 2 2 : 10 , 1 1 )
Josiah intended that his kingdom should honor the Lord and obey His commandments. But the law was lost, and none of the leaders knew exactly what would please the Lord. Finally a copy of the law was found in the house of the Lord, and brought to the king. When Josiah heard the words of the law, he "rent his clothes,” in dismay. He recog nized how far from God his kingdom had gone. He was convicted of the national sinfulness and distressed over the indifference of the people to God. T h e C o v e n a n t E n t e r e d (23 :1 -5 ) Josiah gathered all the people, with the priests and prophets, and read to them from the Book which had been found. Then he “made a covenant before the Lord," promis ing to “keep his commandments,” and perform the terms of the cov enant. To make this national change effective, all that pertained to Baal was brought from the house of the Lord and burned, and the idolatrous priests were “put down” and “cast out.” T h e L a w O b se r v e d (2 3 :2 1 ) The Passover, the memorial of the deliverance from Egypt, was the in itial sacrifice given by God to His people. It signified that they were to be a special people unto the Lord, separated from all others. It was al so a constant reminder to them that they stood before the Lord only up on the ground of shed blood. It was the blood that made the difference between them and all other nations and peoples. Remembering this would preserve them from their nat ural pride and protect them from associating with other peoples, and thus destroying God’s purpose for them. Alas! what is given to humble the hearts of believers is so often turned into a means of building up their egotism. Points and Problems "When the king had ■heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes” (22:11). Josiah’s attitude bespeaks a spiritual concern. His reign shines in marked contrast to those of his two predecessors, Manasseh and Amon, and also stands
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