The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1911-07-27

II
| GOLDEN TExT--rhy word have / hid
III mine heart. that I might not sin
against thee."-Psa. 1871.
TIME-B. G. 621, In the 18th year Of
Josiah's reign. when he was rs years old.
Stage Nv Of the last lesson
Jerusalem
PERSONS Josiah the king. Huldah
the prophecies. HillSiah the high priest.
snaphan the scribe or secretary.
With hundreds OF millions Of Bibles
In existence and several millions more
printed every year, it is somewhat diff.
ficult for us to imagine how knowledge
OF the written Bible, and of the exact
tenor Of its teachings could be lost
Some facts will help US to understand.
There were at that time very few
copies OF the sacred books in exist.
ence. They were very expensive. It
was customary for these copies to be
kept In the temple. while the copy
which according to the law was
made for the use OF the king, would
most certainly have persisted under
such kings as Manasseh and Anon.
Very few Of the people could read the
law even II 1t had been within their
reach. A modern illustration is the
case Of Europe before the reformation,
where even In the monasteries the BIZ
BILE was almost an unknown book. Lu.
Their was twenty years old before he
ever saw copy.
1t Is plain that the finding of this
book was not the discovery OF some
thing unknown before, but the rescu.
ing OF the temple copy of the law from
the hiding place in which 1t had long
LAIN" It must have been the ancient
copy Of the law. and not book writ
ten. as some critics think, by unknown
persons in the reign of Manasseh,
never seen or used among the Jews
before. That an unknown book with
no authority behind 1t should produce
the effect on Josiah and his people,
which this book Of the law produced.
borders on the absurd Moreover many
Of the laws must have been familiar to
Josiah for they had been acted upon
by his ancestors In every reform, and
by himself in the reforms he began six
years before, in the twelfth year of his
reign. It would have been impossible
to impose upon the people, and make
them believe that new book, never
before heard Of, was the law Of their
kingdom from God.
When they brought out from the old
chests in the temple the money con.
fri fnH We xryIf til, H.
deposited In the safest hiding place,
Hilkiah the priest, who had charge OF
the money, In searching the chest
found at the bottom book of the law
OF the Lord, the law given by Moses.
Hilkiah delivered the book to Shap-
han, King Josiah's secretary of state,
as the fitting person to show it to the
king. When Shaphan reported the
contributions and the work on the tenn
pie. he brought the book with him, told
how it had been found, and read it to
the king.
The king heard the book read, and
he assembled the elders and priests,
and the Leyites. They made a public
covenant and pledge. The king him
self first made public. covenant be-
fore the Lord, to walk after the Lord,
and to keep his commandments, with
all his heart.
This was very similar to the great
meeting under Joshua on the slopes of
Mount Ebal and Gerizim eight centu-
ries before. on taking possession OF
the Promised Land The same motives
were presented, and the same cove
nant made. And the king might we'll
have said to the people as Joshua did:
'Ye are witnesses against yourselves
that We have chosen you the Lord. to
serve him." And they said, I'VE are
Witnesses"
The covenant was made under the
power Of the strongest and best mo-
tives that could be brought to bear
upon them. when their minds were up
lifted into. clearest vision. above the
smoke and clouds Of earth. That was
the right time to make decision. God
has given us feelings on purpose to
move us to decide Alright.
Josiah restored the regular temple
services under the priests and LIE.
vites; and he celebrated a passover,
such as had not been celebrated from
the days of the judges that judged Is.
rael. nor in all the days of the kings
Of Israel. nor Of the kings OF judah.
From all parts of the land the people |
focked up to the renovated temple and
Joined with every demonstration OF
gladness IN the eight days. festivity
prepared for them. Thirty thousand
males Of full age attended. During all
these days the services of the temple |
choir we're brought into requiistion-
the singers Of the famous clan OF |
Asaph chanting, in relays, the psalms
for the season, appointed centuries be-
fore by David. Asaph and Jeduthun.
The Bible may be lost today by neg
lecting it-neglecting to read 1t daily. |
family reading and prayers. /
Eeglecting to read its stories to little
children. BY disobeying it. Disobey-
ing its precepts dulls the conscience,
and the whole moral nature. so that II |
may be said, Eyes have they, but |
they see not. ears have they but they
hear not"
BY being so absorbed in worldly |
things that while he heareth the word |
with his ears, "the care of this world. |
and the deceitfulness of riches, choke
the word. and he becometh unfruit |
full" BY keeping the Word far from