Passaic City record., 1891-06-13
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JUNE IA.
Lesson Text: The Book of the Law
Found. III Chronicles, xxxiy.,
14-2S-GoIden Text. Psalm
cxiI, documentary.

INV Va OtAC Lulu %AhCh W MUSES. hcZtktdu
cleansed and repaired the temple and
restored the worship of the true
God. He also kept great passover for all
Israel, and many from Asher Manasseh and
Zebulun came to Jerusalem co join in the
celebration of it Xxx, 10 IL. This was
followed by a great obstruction of idolx
throughout the land and thus Hezekiah
wrought good and right and truth before
the Lord, and did it with all his heart xxi,
!, 20, 2I.
He was succeeded by his son Manasseh,
who reigned fortv-fve years, and for part
of his reign tried to do as much for the devil
as his father had done for God: but being
taken prisoner and carried to Babylon, he
repented and became changed man and be-
ing restored TO his throne and kingdom. he
sought to restore the worship of the true
God. His son Anon reigned two years and
did evil He was succeeded by Josiah his
son, in whose reign our lesson is found.
Is. II have found the book of the law in
the house of the Lord" Thus said Hilkiah,
the priest, toShaphan, the scribe as he gave
him the book. 1t is probable that this is the
book referred to in Deut. xxi, 4-26, and il
so it would be nearly 800 years old. David
and others had made good use of it, but it
had been for the most part neglected. and as
useless as many family Bible to-day lying
upon parlor table.
16. .'And Shaphan carried the book to the
king" As Shaphan went to report to the
king concerning the accomplishment of the
work he took the book with him, having first
read it for himself Oil Kings xii, 81. But
before he refers to the book he gives ac-
count of the work that it is being faithfully
accomplished Josiah. the king, was in
terested in the contents of this book, and was
already acting according to some of its pre-
cepts, although he was not acquainted with
its fell instructions, and Shapnan no doubE
knew that he would be glad to see the book
and know it better. But his giving faith
full account of work faithfully done before
speaking of the book is very suggestive. Ii
you desire to give the word of God to one
who is ignorant of it, it will be much more
apt to be received and read it. as business
man. your life testities to its effect upon your.
self in producing faithful service.
II. ''They have gathered together the
money that was found IL che house of the
Lord, and have delivered it into the hands
of the overseers, and to the hand Of the
workmen.n A remarkable statement is made
concerning the workmen at this time. as
well as ehe workmen In the days OF that
other king who began to reign when but
boy. 1t is said that 40 reckoning was kept
with the men into whose hands they gave
the money because they dealt faithfully uI
Kings xii, IS: xxi, q. We do not read
that there was any lack os money, or any
urging the people to give or any extraordi-
nary efforts 10 raise he necessary amount;
but the needs being mentioned, and the place
for holding the offerings indicated. the vol
antary gifts of the people proved sufficient
for the work. God will always thus provide
for his own work whenever he is relied upon
IS. '.Hilkiah the pri1st hath given me a
book. And Shaphan read il it before the
king Nothing SO grand was ever read be-
fore peasant or king as the word of the King
of Kings, and no greater honor could be con-
ferred upon any mortal than to be mouth.
piece for the Lord God of Hosts.
10. And 1t came to pass, wnen the KING
had heard the words of the Law, that he rent
his clothes" By the law is the knowledge
of sin Rom. ill.,. 2W. and es Josiah heard the
law of the Lord he saw as he never had be-
fore how great the sins of the nation were.
His heart rrembled at the word, and there
fore he was a blessed man lisa. Xvi, p.
What contrast between this king who rent
his clothes when he heard the word of God,
and that other king who, when the word was
read to him, cut it with penknife and threw
it into the fire (Jer. xxxyi., 22-24
90 q. Go, inquire OF the Lord for me.
and for them that are left in Israel and in
Judah, concerning tbe words OF the book
that is found" These men were appointed
by the king to ascertain more fully concern
ing these words Here is a priest and king,
but prophet is wanted who will make plain
the word of the LORD.
ssGreat is the wrath of the Lord that is
poured out upon US, because our fathers have
not kept the word of the Lord to do after all
that is written in this book There is more
than enough in any of the last six chapters
of Deuteronomy or in Lev XVI. to cause
J Josiah TO have uttered these words; and it
was manifest to all that many of these curses
had already actually come upon the land
and upon the people because OF their sins.
% And Hnkiah and they that the king
had appointed went 10 Huldah. the prophe-
in fha aIOhraerth Af
Josiah's reign or five years after jeremiah
began to prophecy (Jer. l., p, and we won
der that they did not go TO hlm. Zephaniah
also prophesied in Josiah's reign tzeph. l.,
Il, but for some reason the messengers go TO
Huldah, who dwelt in Jerusalem. 1t may
be that neither of the others was in the city
at the time This is the only connection il
which her name is found in the Scriptures.
md it is only mentioned here and in II King4
xii, II
33 'sAnd she answered them, Thus saith,
,he Lord God Of Israe,, tell We the man that
sent you TO me- These men were only the
messengers of King Josiah, taeir business
and carry back a correct answer. Happy are
all messengers who are privileged to carry q
. Thus saith the Lordw
"a Thus saith the Lord, Behold I will
bring evil upon this place. all the curses that
are written in the book" There comes a
llIDe WQeQ. DOtu III Tie tl AdbiOQS
and of individuals Gods spirit ceases TO
strive tGen. vi, -, and the long restrained
judgments are allowed to fall This is still
the day of mercy, but soon the Lord Jesus
shall be revealed from heaven in vengeance
On them that know not God and obey not the
gospel III Thess l., :, s..
25. Because they have forsaken me. and
have burned incense unto other gods" Many
were the entreaties by Moses and Joshua not
to forsake God, and solemn the warnings as
to what the result would be if they forsook
Him (see Deuu XXI. 16, l.; Josh. xiv,
20 And yet that very thing they did, so
that the prophets ann Psalms are full OF
because Israel forsook the God
of their fathers.
26 And as far as the king of Judah, who
sent you TO inquire of the Lord, so shall We
say unto him." The evil spoken of was to
come upon the ungodly people, but the Lord
knowetn them that are His I'll Tim. IL, I'D,
and no evil can befall them.
~ Because thine heart was tender, and
thou didst humble thyself before God when
hou heardst His words" The Lord is nigh
unto them that are of a broken heart. A
broken and conrrite heart, o God. thou wilt
not despise God resisteth the proud, but
giveth grace to the humble.
IS. .'Behoid, I will gather thee TO thy
- IL ELr-