Passaic City record., 1898-12-03
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR DECEMBER f..

g. 'sI have found the book of the law in
the house of the Lord By comparing II
Ohron. xxxiv.. IA, it looks as II it might
have been an original copy OF the law.
Josiah was the last good king OF Judah;
and he reigned thirty-one years. In the
thirteenth year of his reign Jeremiah be-
gan to prophesy and continued prophet
of the Lord for forty years DER. L., 2, 81.
It Is written of Josiah In III Kings xxiii.,
as, that there was no king either before OF
after him who like him turned to the Lord
with all bis heart and soul and might:
in the Lord (II Kings xviii, 81. Josiah be-
gan to reign at the age Of eight years.
When he was sixteen, he began to seek
God. When he was twenty, he began to
cleanse the land of idols. When he was
twenty-six, he repaired and cleansed the
that had been kept since the days OF
Samuel QI Chron. xxxiv., $, y; xxxv., 49,
19). 1t was while they we're working at
the temple that they found this book of the
law.
9. shaphan the scribe reported to tha
king that the money which had been gath
cred in the house OF the Lord had been de-
livered to the overseers of the work, and
Ii is said that they we're so faithful that
no reckoning was made with them OF the
money Oversees 4-O. We do not read OF
any lack OF funds for the work, for the
who is all suf1cient) was upon His faithful
people.
10, II. shaphartold the king q the book
that had been found, and read 1t to him,
and when he heard 1t he rent his clothes.
Josiah was possessed of poor and con-
Elsa. Xvi, 2; lvii., 15). 1t is written In Ex.
tx, 4, 'tThen were assembled every one
that trembled at the words of the God OF
Israel because Of the transgresslon."
Many are Indifferent to the word OF God
and never read it or hear it read. Many
who read 1t do not give heed to It. Many,
even OF those who are supposed to be
preachers of the word, dishonor 1t by
doubting it and questioning It, while but
few comparatively tremble at 1t like Josiah.
IL, 10. go ye, inquire of the Lord for
me and for the people. and for all Judah.
found.n AThe priest and scribe and others
were thus commissioned by the king. It
may have been such passages as Deut.
xviii, 1887; Lev. XVI, 1916, that SO
stirred Josiah, but whatever portions spec
tally effected him he evidently believed
what many protesting Christians do not to.
day believe, that there is such thing as
the wrath of God and that it Is a very seri-
Gus matter not to believe and obey the
words of the Lord. To set ones heart
dpon and observe to do the words Of the
law was said to be their life, but If one
would not hearken God had said that He
would require it OF him (Deut. xxxii., 46,
Al; xviii, 19). A common form OF unbelief
now Is that God is too good to punish any
one and that there is no place of fire and
birthstone either for the devil or his fol-
lowers.
II. "They went to Huldah the prophecies
who dwelt in Jerusalem, and they COM
muned with her." So there were at other
times Deborah and an Anna who knew
the Lord better than others (Judg. w.. 4;
Luke H., 36). God has His hidden ones to
whom He reveals Himself and whom He
uses to instruct others when His time
comes. 1t may be Joseph In a prison, or
a Daniel who has been crowded out by
younger and more progressive party, an
Elijah at some cherith, or Stephen or
Philip ready for any manner of service.
Wherever you are be sure that you are
learning to know God, for in due time He
will call you.
Is. 'sThus saith the Lord God of Israel,
Tell the man that sent you to me-" She
had no words Of her own for them, no
opinions or Suggestions, no words of peace
full f1attery, but only faithful message
from the Lord, regardless of what they
might think of it or Of her. When God has
a messenger whom He can use, He always
gives message. He said to Moses, Il will
be with thy mouth and teach thee what
thou shalt say"
w
king of Judah hath read" Every purpose
of the Lord shall be performed, for hath
He said and shall He not do 1t? Or hath
He spoken and shall He not make it good7
(Jer. H., 20; Mum. xiii, 19). All that God
purposes to do is as good as done, for He is
able to carry out all His plans; there Is
nothing too hard or wonderful for Him.
He cannot err, neither can He fail nor be
discouraged. He did not fail to lay upon
His dear Son all our sins. He will not fail
to let His wrath fall upon all who despise
- His Son and His love.
II. "My wrath shall be kindled against
, this place and shall not be quenched."
This because they forsook God and wor-
shipped the works Of their own hands. They
forsook the fountain Of living water and
made themselves cisterns which could hold
no water (Jer. H., 13). We think it strange
that Israel could possibly turn from the
living God to worship idols of wood and
stone. Yet in the so-called service of God
among us there is great turning from
the simple worship Of God In spirit and
truth to that which Is possibly worse than
the idols of Israel.
18. 10. because thine heart was ten
der and thou hast humbled thyself before
the Lord, when thou heardest what I
spake." Although wrath would surely
fall upon the nation, yet upon Josiah and
such as humbled themselves before God
there would be mercy. At one time the
Lord said that though Noah, Daniel and
Job were in the city, they would deliver
but their own souls by their righteousness.
Again He said that, though Moses and
Samuel stood before Him, His mind could
not be toward Israel (Ezek. xiv, IA; Jer.
xv., y. There came time when all that
certain righteous ones could do was to
sigh and cry because Of the sins which
fhev loathed but could not prevent. On