The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-12-24
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught BY Study Of the Inter-
national Sunday School Lesson Appointed for
Jan. 3, 1856. XII. 20 lib.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures az
indicated above. Also read CHI. "a: 1, =, SILL
1t is tho year s24 B. c. Josiah is King OF
Judah. The name of MS father was Anon OF
his mother, Jedidab; of his grandmother, Adaiah.
de was descendant, not a son, ". y of Da-
vid. He became King when eight years old,
and ruled 81 years. During his reign Hilkiah
| was High Priest and Shaphan the Scribe.
As King he resembled his ancestor David.
He was straightforward in all his dealings.
Even when eight years old he set out to be a
King like the great PSalmist, fearing to do
evil and learning to be holy. (Ch., 81: 81 At
IL years of age he demanded a complete reno
walton of the temple, freeing of the Capital of
every heather reminder, the destruction of
idols and their places of worship, q thorough
clearing out from Judah and all the neighbor-
ing territory of heather groves, affairs and
images He even defied and defiled the idola-
trous affairs by strewing them with the bones
of the very priests who had offered sacrifices
thereon to Baal. e CHI, 34:37)
When &c years old he undertook the work of
repairing the temple. The building committee
consisted of Stephan, the Scribe; Maaseiah,
tne uoNerHOr (hdyOFJ Vi tne 1anltal, ana Joan,
the Recorder q Ch., 81: 81 The overseers
named were Jahath, Obadiah Zechariah, and
Meshullam. q Ch 81: 12.) Carpenters, build
ers, masons and artifcers q Ch., "a IL. were
employed. (V g. The moneys were raised
by free-will offerings made by the people, (V.
a. aud were expended in buying timber and
hewn stones and paying wages. Besides funds
paid in at the temple, sums were collected from
the territory before occupied by the tribes of
ManaSsah and EnhraIn1 az we'll DC from of
judah outside of Jerusalem and from Benja-
min. All Jews who remained in Palestine after
the captivity of the Ten Tribes contributed.
All the workmen were diligent and honest.
(V:7)
From Deu., 81 24 &C. we find that Moses
book, viz, the Pentateuch, or first five books
of the Bible, was put at the side of the ark
in the Holy of HOLES of the tabernacle
and ultimately of the temple. Dur
ing the reign of Ahaz, Manasseh, and
Anon, the Word of God had been greatly
neglected and, indeed, attempts were made to
destroy it. 1t cannot be supposed all copies
were lost. Probably none were made. During
such days the Scriptures would be more or less
mutilated and changed. 1t was providential a
copy was preserved in the temple, which, being
correct, might serve to set right any future
copies following reformation in religion. That
was a rare copy, valuable and precious. When
first missed there must have been great grief to
the more devout. We cannot tell whether it
were hidden by an enemy, and SO mischiev-
ously, or by friend to protect it from harm at
the hand of wicked Kings. We do not know
for how long time it had been concealed.
Moneys having been raised to repair the tenn
pie, wOrkmen were engaged. At length, in the
process of renovation, the High Priest, Hilkiah,
CHANGED to discover the book. He passed it
over to Shaphan, the Scribe, who read it. Then
he took it to the King and read it to him. The
matter could not have been wholly new to
Josiah. Shaphan, having read it, knew the
contents we'll and had reason for making the
selection he did to read to the King. 1t is
thought the part thus chosen was Deu., chap
tiers 23-31. They tell of Gods covenant with
the people on the Moabite Plains and are full
of fearful threatenings against any who dis
obey Gods laws. Josiah takes it all to him
self. He knows how wicked the inhabitants
of Judah have been. He feels certain such
people cannot escape. He is anxious to know
what the sequel will be, and so cOnsults Heaven
through person known to share pentifully of
the prophetic spirit. The good suffer ON &C
count of the wicked. The present generation
is forced to bear the evil consequences of peo-
pie in their graves.
The finding of the original copy of the Pen
tateuch made the contents deeply impressive.
The Scriptures had been greatly neglected, and
it is possible Josiah was not fresh in all their
parts. Then the Scribe, who was evidently
held in great esteem by the King, coming
to Josiah on purpose to show the book
and to read a selection to him, made the
message very personal 1t cut like a two
edged sword. Heb, 4:12) Not only was
the Kings conscience stirred up at his
personal sins, but he was filled with appre-
tensions of fearful consequences to his King
dom. Ee foresaw the evils that were destined
to come down on the inhabitants of Judah He
recalled also the fate of the Ten Tribes. He
was so moved that he could not conceal his
feelings, and his hands clutched his clothing,
tearing his garments. The rending of the ap-
parel was customary expression of sorrow or
fear.
This lesson cannot be studied without stirring
US up to several practical duties.
1. Do not discourage early piety. Josiah,
while yet young, began to seek God. q Ch.,
34:3.) At II he set to work to revolutonize
the whole Kingdom-to expurgate idOlatry.
We remember our Savior went up to the tenn
pie to attend the passover when - years old
prov, 20: H. One is competent to take on
himself church obligations when entering his
teens. A youth of such age can comprehend
baptsmal vows and assume them. Mothers
have much to do with childhood pety. Con-
sidering the evil propensities of his father We
can infer the holy promptings of Josiah were
due largely to his maternal side Hence, per-
haps, the reason why her name is preserved.
2. Be 80 right as to pass for such even in
Gods opinion. (V.2)
g. Emulate the great and good. David was
always kept before the Jewish youth (V y as
Washington is held as an example to each
American boy.
a. Keep the straight way. (V2) Do not
deviate from holiness by going to the right
hand or to the left of the true course The
straight way has evils on both sides, and so it
is dangerous to step from the narrow path. The
middle way is safe.
5. Give generously to religious purposes Do
not be stinted in church repairs and improve
ments.
6. Pay hired help fairly and promptly
(V. 81
7. Be faithful employes-honest Do not
require watching. Obey superiors. ". 81
8. Good bookkeeping is duty. (V.7D 1t is
best that accounts be kept. Let no room be
left for suspicion. We cannot commend the
overseers for handling moneys so carelessly.
8. Scatter Gods Word. Never let it be hid
den. A wonderful Providence has always pre-
sided over the Bible. All attempts to blot it
out have failed. Study the Bible. Read it,
and read it to others. (Vs. 8, 10.) Look out
for Gods threatenings No wonder Josiah
trembled as Shaphan read. Fear to do evil.
10. Each man has play somewhere, secularly
and religiously. The bearers of burdens (2 Ch.,
the porters as the scribes the doors of the work
(V. 81 as the officers. q Ch., "a: 49,
IL. Reading Gods Word, if you fail to under
stand it, seek light. Josiah could not fully
comprehend the selection which Shaphan read,