The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-08-10
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON COMMENTS
FOR AUGUST l3.
Subject: Josiah and the Book of the Law,
IL. Chron. xxxlv., 14-28-Go1den Text,
Psa. cxix., 16-Memory Verse, 81
Commentary on the Days Lesson.

n.
Commentary on the Days Lesson.
I. The book of the law discovered
Tvs. HIS. IA. Brought out the
money" 1t would seem that the book
of the law was found by the high
priest in the treasury where the money
was kept. Found" This expression
indicates that the allusion is to some
thing already known, not to anything
that had come to light for the first
time. Book of the law The name
given to the five books Of Moses. The
book of the law cannot mean anything
else, either dramatically or hiStori-
cally, than the Mosaic law, 1.-The PEN
tateuch." so designated in Chronicles,
Ezra and Nehemiah The temple copy,
deposited. according to Deut. 81: 26. by
the ark of the covenant. which had
been lost under the idOlatrOus kings
ManaSseh and Anon. Given by
Moses" This statement has led many
to believe that it was the ancient auto
graph copy which came from the hand
of the great lawgiver. This, kitto
thinks. was one reason why its discov-
cry made such an extraordinary i'm
pTeSSlOI. Ia. bclINtltu lile booh.
Shaphan was the private secretary OF
the king and had charge Of his books
and records. The book found was Il
parchment roll. Books were few and
precious.
lG. II. "Brought-word back" Bez
fore Shaphan delivered the new foun2
book to the king he reported to hit
concerning the business on which he
had been sent at first. He told the
king that they had faithfully per-
formed the work committed to them
and that the money had been properly
paid out. IS. "a book" Shaphan
had already read the book. or portions
of it e Kings %: s., and no doubt fully
understood its character. but he did
not tell the king that it was the book
of the law: he spoke Of it as book
and allowed the king to form his own
opinion as to its Importance. Read
therein" (R. W That is, Shaphan read
portions of the book. OF course he
read at the kings command. Josiah
was anxious to know the truth and the
nature of the law he had been trying
to obey.
II. The effect on the king Tvs. 1920.
10. king had heard" Those who
hear Gods word so often can scarcely
conceive the effect the reading OF the
law would have on this yOrng king as
he listened to it for th first time
Rent his clothes" Brought face to
face with the awful curse Of God, pro-
nounced nearly q thousand years be-
fore on the nation, for the very sins
which had characterized the reign or
his father and grandfather, amaze
ment took possession Of him. He rose
from his throne. rent his clothes, hum
bled himself before the Lord and wept
e Kings %: 19). He rent his clothes
partly in grief and horror. like Reuben
(Gen. 81: 29) and Job Il: POI; partly in
repentance, like Ahab Il Kings p: 20.
20. king commanded" The king APP
pointed delegation of five to inquire
of the Lord. This was truly honorable
and imposing delegation, and was in
dicative Of the kings profound earnest
ness and anxiety. q. Go, enquire
The king saw that this was matter
Of great Importance. and he desired to
know from Jehovah Himself exactly
what to do. He felt deep anxiety for
himself and also for his people-the
ten tribes as well as the two. Great
wrath" He heard its distant rumb-
lings like the coming OF fiery lava
food. in the boards Of the SythianS.
enforced by the prophecies Of Jeremiah
and Zephaniah. Our fathers etc.
Anon and Manasseh had led the peo-
,olo oil n n
law he had just heard read Josiah saw
that the nation was doomed.
III. Huldahs faithful message Tvs.
22-2S). 22. "Huldah." Ali we know
of this celebrated woman is recorded
here and in the parallel history OF
Kings. But this short narrative has
immortalized her name. Probably the
two prophets, jeremiah and Zephan-
iah. were absent from the city. But
God is not Strengthened in His instru-
mentS. He can use a woman to speak
for Him as we'll as man. an humble
person as we'll as an exalted one. HUI
dab had the full prophetic gift, and
spoke as boldly. confidently and
promptly as would Isaiah or jeremiah.
Keeper of the wardrobe" There
seems no doubt that the robes here al
luded to are the robes Of the priests,
which are called by the same Hebrew
word in Exod. IS: 2-4 and many subse-
Guent passages. In the college" IN
the second quarter" r. V. This re-
fers to q part of the city of Jerusalem
which was known by that name. %.
Tell We the man." Her answer to the
deputation was fearless, and seeming
ly abrupt. "a. Bring evil The
judgments of God. This place" Je-
rusalem. "All the curses See Deut
%: 1926; %: 15-6S.
%. Have forsaken Me-" This was
the gist of their offense, the thing that
was objectionable. Against this were
all the chief warnings in the law
Deut. %: 25-2S, etc. and the prophets
(Judg. 10: 13: Kings 8: 0; Isa. /: 4;
Jer. / 1G. etc). 1t was not merely that
they broke the commandments, but
they turned from God altogether. and
"cast Him behind their back" Shall
not be quenched" For such state OF
things there is mo remedy q Chron.
Sc: 1G), and this was the state of things
reached by the Jews. 26-2S. The pro-
phetess in these verses sends person.
al word of comfort to the king. Be
cause he had humbled himself and in 4
true spirit of repentance had wept be-
fora tho T ord hecouSe of the wicked