Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-07-28

Huldah answered the kings query. Yes
all that had been spoken in the law he
had heard read should certainly come
to pass; but because he had shown the
right kind of repentance. he himself
should escape. He should die in peace,
and be gathered with his fathers; but
the people and the land should suffer
Does this not prove conclusively that the
people did not repent as they should, but
that their reformation was only skin
deep? Had they really repented, would
not God have been just as merciful and
gracious to them as to Josiah? Butsince
they did not really repent, did His JUS
tice not require, make it Imperative
that He do as He had said He would do?
Josiah was saved, but the people were
not: because Jasiah gave God a chance
to exercise His mercy, while the people
forced Him to execute justice. Man, God
loves you; He is waiting to be gracious;
He will not force you to accept His
blessings, but II you do not choose them
and persist in rejecting them, there Is
nothing for Him to do but let the curses
fall. Give God a chance to do for you
all that His love prompts
THE READING OF THE BOOK.
Josiah called a concourse of the people,
and standing beside pillar in the tenn
pie he read to them the words of the
book Then he made covenant with
God before the people, swearing to do
Gods will as revealed He made the
people covenant with him to keep the
law In their loyalty to the king whom
they loved they stood to affirm their
willingness to do 1t.
Then Josiah, according to the law, In
stiuted the passover The one in Heze-
kiah's time had been the greatest In
the history of Judah up to that time, but
the first one Josiah celebrated was great
err than all. There had been none like
1t since the days of Samuel.
Josiah also reinstated the service or
the temple, according to the Book. The
priests and Levites were instructed as
to their several offices and times of SER
vice; and as nearly as he could do 10
Josiah followed the directions Moses
had given.
Not satisfied with this, he made mis-
sionary journey. Throughout all the
land of Judah and Israel he went, de-
stroying all traces of idolatry and re-
claiming the land and people for Je-
hovah. Part of the book of jeremiah
describes some of the incidents con-
nected with this tour. Witchcraft, for
tune telling and such dark practices
were destroyed, and everything that a
man could do to turn the people away
from sin he did. The inspired record of
him is that there was no king like
unto him before him, who turned to the
Lord with all his heart, and with ali
his soul, and with all his might. accord
ing to the word of Moses: neither after
him arose there. any like him" When
Josiah died, jeremiah wept for him ;.ano
as long as the kingdom lasted the sing
ers, men and women, sang a lament for
him regularly
What was it that made Josiah the
greatest king Judah ever knew? Others
had been exceedingly pious men; others
had stood for God against idols; others
had fought great battles. Josiah stud
led and obeyed the Book
MyTfriend, is your Bible lost? 1t may
not be on your bookshelf. or in your
trunk, or on your library table unused,
as the manner of some is; you may
read it every day. and yet it be as good
as lost If you do not obey It,
If you obey the words God has spoken
in His Book, you shall be as great as
Josiah, for greatness consists not in
earthly. but in heavenly preferment
Eat the Book; make it a part of your
self every day, and each day you may
be able to say to your Father, Thy
word have 1 hid in my heart. that 4
might be kept from SHINING against
Thee"