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the city or the temple, but rendered homage to Jehovah. V. 24. Familiar spirits. An ancient form o f spiritism, largely imposture. An ex ample is seen in the story of the witch of Endor whom King Saul consulted. Wiz ards. Literally, “wise men,” always join ed with those who have familiar spirits. Isaiah says that they “peep and mutter.” They pretended to gain a knowledge of the future by communication with the spir its of the dead. Teraphim. These perhaps were used for the purposes o f magic and not as objects of worship. Some have thought that they were merely good luck images. All the abominations. Many vile and lascivious practices accompanied heathen worship. Confirm the words o f the law. Josiah’s reformation was based upon the Scripture, accepted without reservation as o f divine authority. This gave his reforms a sure foundation. IV. The King’s Photograph (23:25). Like unto him . . . no king before him. Similar honor is given to Hezekiah (2 Ki. 18:5). These two noble men were among the very best of Judah’s kings. Turned to Jehovah with all his heprt . . . soul . . . might. That is, all o f his affections, his mental or spiritual nature, and his physi cal powers were consecrated to Jehovah. According to all the law o f Moses. , The Jewish nation gave special honor to Moses as the mediator of the law. Neither after him. Four kings reigned between Josiah and the fall of Jerusalem. They were all wicked rulers. * * * L esson Q uestion ^ 22:1. How old was Josiah when he be gan to reign? How long did he reign? What was his mother’s name? What may we infer as to her character? V. 2. What is said about Josiah’s char acter? In whose sight did he do right? Does that mean that he was indifferent to what men thought of his actions? In what sense was David his father ? In what ways was he like David? V. 8. What position had Hilkiah ? Shap- han? What was a scribe’s duty? What was the book of the law? Where was this book of the law found? 23:1. Who took the lead in the new reformation? Whom did he summon to him? Was this a large and representative gathering ? V. 2. To what place did the king go? Do kings and rulers who go to the house o f God set a good example? What classes of people were gathered together? From what book did the king read? Do rulers honor their own office by honoring the Word of God? V. 3. Had God made a covenant long before this with Abraham? Was this cov enant renewed with Abraham’s descen dants? Had this covenant been broken by the people through sin? Did Josiah now lead the people in the renewing and re establishing of this covenant? What did Josiah promise Jehovah that he would do? How did the people show that they agreed with the king’s action? V. 21. What event did the annual feast of the Passover celebrate? To what event did the Passover celebration look forward (1 Cor. 5:7). Vs. 22, 23. In what senses was this con sidered the greatest Passover ever cele-
the bondage o f sin, and from the Cross he starts in every advance to new conquests. 7. It is not pleasant to be disapproved of men, but it is tragic- to displease God. Do what is right in the eyes, o f the Lord even though all men may be offended. 8. The world’s great men who know not God are soon forgotten. The man who loves God supremely, walks steadfastly in His ways and serves Him “with ail his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might” will live on in the memory of men and will gain eternal reward. 9. How fortunate is that people whose ruler or rulers dare to lead thenj boldly in the worship of God! 10. Josiah was a great man, viewed from any angle. He was great in his love o f Jehovah, great in his moral rectitude, great as a worshiper, great as a servant of God. Jehovah was the center o f all his thoughts and activities.- Christian great ness is attained by the one who learns to Say, “ Christ is all and in all.” * * * G olden T ext I llustration At a certain English port the harbor lights are so arranged that when the pilot of an incoming vessel sees them all in line, shining as one light, he knows his vessel is in the deep-water channel which will lead him safely into the harbor. Keeping the single light in view, he is able, to pilot the vessel safely into the harbor, however dark the night. The teaching o f the Word of God (Psa. 119:105), and the inward impulse of the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:6) point in one direction. The servant of Christ, guided by their light, may "go for ward" (Ex. 14:15) assured that he is in the right channel. — o — Josiah’s Rare Find 2 Kings 22:1-7, 10; 23:1-3 Memory Verseht“ Thy word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psa. 119:11). Approach. —Josiah recognized the lost Bible as a hidden treasure. We too, may “lose” our Bible, by indifference, neglect, carelessness, or disregard of its teachings. Lesson S t o r y.—
BLACKBOARD LESSON P RIESTS I 7 / ENT TO HEAR ROPHETS \X/ EOPLE VV OROS Of THE LAft). {V/ORD ■ (^ÍO a RNIWG —Givery ■ B l OBSERVANCE- Commanded RESPONSE - Required '^DOCTRINES- Dependable brated up to that time? In whose honor was it celebrated? V. 24. Who were those who had famil iar spirits? What were the teraphim? What did the king do with all the idols and the abominations in the land? For what pifjKpose did he carry out this re formation?^ V. 25. In what respects was Josiah among the greatest of Judah’s kings? Of what other king is similar language used (2 Ki. 18:5)? What kind of kings fol lowed Josiah up to the time of the cap tivity ? * * * P ractical P oints 1. The grace of God is able to lift a godly young man above the handicap of an evil heritage and a bad environment. 2. Child rulers are ordinarily dangerous (cf. Eccl. 10:16). Josiah was an excep tion to the rule because he trusted in God and in wise human counsellors. 3. How pitiful the case of any people who have not the Word of God. The darkness of the middle ages was removed by the Reformation, and one of the great est agencies in preparing for the Refor mation was the giving o f the Bible to the people in the vernacular. 4. Boys and girls must be taught the Word of God if they are to have a foun dation upon which Christian character is to be builded. No satisfactory substitute for the Bible will ever be found. 5. The sinner is willful, going his own way. The true Christian is not obstinate or willful, but definitely chooses God’s way and, like Josiah, resists every tempta tion to turn to the right hand or to the left. 6. Israel marched out o f Egypt after the Passover (Ex. 12-13). They began the conquest of Canaan after celebrating a Passover feast (Josh. 5-6). Hezekiah and Josiah both made the Passover feast the occasion for a renewal of the covenant and a new advance with Jehovah. So at the Cross the Christian finds release from ISA I AMP 1 HL ight UNTOMY m l.G.h. SEPT. 7.
Josiah’s grandfather was Manasseh, who came to the throne at the age of twelve, succeeding H e z e- kiah. M a n a s s e h r e i g n e d f o r t y - five years, and for the greater part of that time he was wicked, although he repented n e a r the
close, o f his reign. His son, Amon, Jo siah’s father, was so wicked that his own servants murdered him two years after he became king. Then the people made Amon’s young son, Josiah, king. He was eight years old at the (ime and he reigned thirty-onie years. Doubtless Josiah had a godly mother. He was probably influenced also by Hil kiah, the high priest, who taught him about the true God, leading him to wor ship and reverence the Lord and His house. When Josiah was sixteen, he be gan thie work of destroying the altars and other evidences of idolatry. After clean sing the land of the heathen temples and idols, he began the task of restoring for
Our Great God Make thy petition deep, 0 heart o f mine, Thy God can do much more Than thou const ask; Launch out on the Divine, Draw from His love-filled store. Trust Him with everything; Begin today, And find the joy that comes When Jesus has His way I —Presbyterian Magazine.
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