The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1911-07-20
JOSIAH'S
DEVOTION TOGOD
\ Sunday School Lesson for July %, 1911
Specially arranged for This Paper
LESSON TExT-II Chronicles sNl-1a.

LESSON TExT-I Chronicles sN1-1a
MEMORY vERsEs--1, &
GOLDEN TExT-"Remember now thy
Creator in the days OF thy youth"-Ecci.
1871.
TIME-Josiah began to reign B. c. sss,
in the 345th year of Judah as a separate
kingdom.
He reigned 81 years, TIL B. C. COS.
PLACE-Judah and Jerusalem But his
reforms extended over o. considerable part
OF the territory of the Northern Kingdom
which had become extinct in 722-71s, 80
years before Josiah came to the throne
Josiah was the grandson of Man
asseh, whose career we studied in our
last lesson. He was born at Jerusa.
lem, B. c. GAG. His father was Anon,
who followed the example OF his IA
theirs earlier years. He reigned but
two years, when he was murdered by
his courtiers In his own palace. The
people rose against the conspirators
and made his eight-year-old son king
in his place. Josiah's mother was
Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah.
They belonged in Boscath, town near
Lachish in southwestern Judah, in the
plains toward the Mediterranean sea.
While King Anon was an idolater, and
his court was corrupt, 1t is possible
that Josiah's mother kept the true
faith.
He began to reign when he was
eight years old. Like his grandfather,
Manasseh, he must for several years
have been guided, and his kingdom
controlled by his mother or by prime
ministers. The worshipers Of Je-
hovah must have been In control at
the palace, the wise and religious
teachers of the true God and the true
religion. SO that for the first sixteen
years of his life the young Josiah must
have been under good Influences, while
he also would know of his fathers
tragic death, and his grandfather's
sins, sufferings, and repentance. And
his ancestor, David, was ever before
him as his ideal. his hero, his saint.
About the time when Josiah was
twenty years old. and in the twelfth
year Of his reign, when he had begun
his reforms, there came an invading
host from the far east like a cyclone,
an overwhelming scourge. jeremiah
foretells them in vivid pictures. But
Herodotus tells us who they were, the
Scythians from the regions over eau
casus, vast nameless hordes of men,
who sweeping past Assyria, Jun
checked, poured upon Palestine. We
can realize the event from our knowl-
edge of the Mongol and Tartar inva-
sions which in later centuries pursued
the same path southwards. Living in
the saddle, with no infantry nor chart
OTIS to delay them, these Centaurs
swept on with a speed Of invasion
hitherto unknown. In $50 they had
crossed the Caucasus, by 626 they
were on the borders Of Egypt.
The prophet, jeremiah, describes in
picturesque terms this invasion. The
lion is come up from his thicket;;"
The destroyer OF nations is on his
way" Behold he cometh as clouds,
and his chariot shall be as the whfrl-
wind" Their culver is an open sep
ulcher, they are all mighty men"
"They are cruel and have no mercy;
their voice roareth like the sea; and
they ride upon horses, set in array
as men of war against thee"
It is easy to see how this terrible
invader, coming SO near, just as Jo-
siah was beginning his reforms, must
have interfered with his plans.
Josiah began his reformation in his
twelfth year, but the invasion of the
Seythians soon after this beginning
interferred with the work. The saw
age and cruel host came close to-
Judah's borders. Scattered bands may
reigned. Defenses must be strength
ened Outsiders rushed to Jerusalem
and the fortified cities. How far the
reformations had progressed we do
not know. But the chronicler having
recorded the beginning simply goes
on with the story, as Is frequently
done by historians.
The restoration Of the Temple was
intrusted to committee Of three
Shapan, the secretary of state; and
Maaseiah, the governor Of the city,
the mayor of Jerusalem: and Joah
the recorder. the keeper Of the rec
ords, the historian. The temple built
by Solomon, was completed 800 years
before. 1t was repaired by Joash 240
years before Josiah began his restora-
ton. The ravages of time, with neg
lect and abuse during the sway Of
idolatry must have rendered It sadly
In need of repair 1t was during these
repairs that the Book of Law was
found.
The work interrupted by the Scyth-
Ian hordes is now resumed with great
ly increased intensity and enthusiasm,
through the new conservation Of king
and people, due to the finding of the
Book Of the Law.
The first condition of salvation for
individuals or nations Is the putting
away Of sin at any cost. The second
is the building up of the good. He
that confesseth and forsaketh shall
find mercy.
One of the greatest REVEALS Of re-
ligion ever known was begun IN meet
ings where the pastor called upon his
church members on FAST day to con-
fess and forsake their sins. How
many Of you," he asked, have neg
lected your family prayers?" Several