Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-08-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR AUGUST s.

FOh AUVUSI D.
Subject: Josiah's Good Reign, II. Chron.
xxxiv., 1-13-Go1den Text, Eccl. kill,
1-Memory Verses, 1-3-Commentary
ON the Days Lesson.
/. Josiah's character Tvs. 1, p. /.
"Josiah." The fifteenth king of judah
mot counting Athaliah the usurper),
son of Anon and Jedidah. He was
married at the age of thirteen to Ze-
budah. 2. "Did-right" He grew up
into noble life in spite of the worst
influences of an immoral and idOla-
trous court and the example Of an idol
atrous father. "In the sight" etc. he
was right not only outwardly before
men. but in his heart before God.
"Ways of David" The character of
David was the standard by which the
sacred historians were in the habit OF
trying his successors q Kings IL: 4; z
Kings ID: 3; IS: 3; 2 Chron. %: 1; 20:
q. David was regarded as the model
king q Kings IA: 8; 10: 81. "The ways
of David" which are here particularly
referred to were those into which he
was led by his religious character and
zeal. "His father" His ancestor.
..Turned not aside" Or. W This
phrase implies an undertaking obe-
dience to all the commandments.
II. Idolatrous images destroyed Tvs.
80.
3. Eighth year." When he was
sixteen years old. Began to seek.
II is quite wonderful to see this young
man in the midst of the temptations or
an idolatrous and corrupt court, begin,
ot the first dawning Of his manhood,
TO serve the Lord with all his heart.
Those dwelling under unfavorable IN
fuences should take courage. began
to purge" The condition of things IN
Judah and Jerusalem at the time OF
.Iosiah's conversion was most deplor-
able. For nearly seventy years IDOL
airy had prevailed. In the twei1th
year of his reign, and the twentieth
wear of bis age, Josiah set out In ear
nest to destroy the idolatry of his king
dom. In 2 Kings %: 3 the date given
is the eighteenth year Of his reign:
-"High places" 1t was the practice or
the heather to erect affairs for their
idolatrous worship on the tops OF hills
or mountains, supposing they were
nearer heaven. "GrOoves." The ASH
erim."
4. "They brake down." etc. The
temple was cleansed of idols, the moi
ten images idol affairs and Asherlm
were ground to powder and their dust
sprinkled on the graves Of their wor'
| shippers in the kings presence. 0.
Burnt the bones" This was predict
ed of Josiah more than 800 years be-
| fore this time Il Kings 10: /, y. Inc
bones of the idolatrous priests. with
the one exception of the prophet OF
Bethel (see l Kings 10: l. &c; 2 Kings
%: 1918, were disentombed and
burned upon their own affairs.
&. "In the Cities" etc. The northern
kingdom was now under the Assyrian
government, but the remnant OF Israel
maintained close relations with judah
and looked to them as their natural
protectors. Josiah used his influence
and what power lie had in removing
the idols from the land Of Israel. The
| Assyrians probably did not trouble
| themselves about his religious proceed
ings. Assur-bani-pal, King Of Assyrla,
left his kingdom in such a disturbed
state that his hold on Palestine re-
Taxed, and thus opportunity was given
to Josiah for his reforms with their
mattocks." SIN their ruins K. V.
Josiah overthrow idolatry in the cities
named, which were many OF them IN
ruins.
III. The temple repaired Tvs. S-13).
3. eighteenth year." When he was
twcnty-six years old. This was the
wear i'm which the great work begun
six years before was carried fully out.
"Purged." The purging Of the temple
had PROBABLY been the first work. From
purging be proceeded to repairs, and
these had evidently been carried on
for some considerable time before this
particular occasion. "Shaphan.
Called scribe in 2 Kings %: 3. "Maa'
seiah." Not elsewhere mentioned
Recorder" An officer of high rank IN
the Jewish state, exercising the func'
lions not simply Of an annalist, or
maker of records. but Of chancellor OIL
president of the privy council. His
title has reference to his office as adj
wiser of the king. Repair the house
The first work was to clear away the
impediments and purge out the eviis
that had gathered in and about the
house of the Lord. o. "Hilkiah." Sor
of Shallunl and grandson of Zadok Il
Chron. 6: -, Isl. Delivered the
money" The temple had not been re
paired since the time Of Joash, 200 OF
more years before this, and 1t was III
doubt in q bad condition. The arrange
ment for receiving money appears tt
have been the same as that adopted by
Joash e Kings -: 9-12), when ches
was placed in the temple into Which
the people put their offerings. lie
yites-had gathered" The money wa
collected. not merely at the temple, bu
also by collectors who visited all part
of Judah and Israel for the purpose o
soliciting contributions. This work ap
pears ia have been done well and thor
oughly. 10. The money was placed il
the hands of the overseerS ana the.
paid it to the workmen.
II. "To floor the houses" ITO MAX
beams for the houses" r. V. BY "th
houses" we are to understand til
houses and chambers of the priests il
the temple and its courts.
13. In this verse we are tod "of til
Levites there were scribes, and Off
GERS, and porters." Here we have com
to new order of things. An order. Q
scribes, forming a distinct division Q
the Levitical body, has been instituted
When Hezekiah employed men to cop
the uncollected proverbs Of Solomo
prov. %: u. class of scribes mus
have been instituted. 1t is probably
the rise of this class that we are il
debted for the preservation Of so man
prophecies of Hezekiah's time.