The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1911-07-28

/
In mine heart, that l might not SIN
against thee"-Psa. 11s:11
| TIME-B. c. 621, in the 18th year OF
Josiah's reign, when he was rs years old.
| Stage Nv of the last lesson.
PLACE-The Temple and Palace at
| Jerusalem.
PERSONS-Josiah the king. Huldah
the prophecies. HillSiah the high priest.
| Shaphan, 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 it's 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. 1t
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.
1t is plain that the finding of this
book twas not the discovery of some
J thing unknown before, but the rescu-
ing of the temple copy of the law from
! the hiding place in which it had long
lain" 1t 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.
When they brought out from the old
! chests in the temple the money con-
tributed for repairs, which had been
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 Josiahs 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 1t had been found, and read it to
the king.
The king heard the book read, and
he assembled the elders and priests,
and the Levites. They made public
covenant and pledge. The king him
self first made a 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.
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 a decision. God
has given us feelings on purpose to
move us to decide Alright.
Josiah restored the regular temple
services under the priests and Le-
vites; and he celebrated 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
fiocked 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 were brodght 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.
Neglecting family reading and prayers.
Neglecting to read its stories to little
children. By disobeying 1t. Disobey-
ing its precepts dulls the conscience,
and the whole moral nature, so that It
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
daily life, so that all its blessed truths
are admired, but not geared on to right
action.
By making the Bible unattractive.
have heard a number Of ministers read
the Bible so poorly that people were
not interested in 1t, listened careless
ly, and liked it less than if it had been
unread. Then the printing of the Re-
vised Version is so solid as to be I'M
attractive and difficult to use. By les
SEEMING its authority. 1t makes a vast
difference in the power Of the Bible,
whether it is received as only the
thoughts of men, or as message from
God. By neglecting all the light that
is shining upon it from many sources.
Find the Bible-Get acquainted with
1t. Read 1t. Study it. Know what is
in It. One Of the best things in the