New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-08-10

The reign OF Josiah is In striking
and pleasing contrast with that OF
many OF his predecessors, especially
that Of his father, Anon, and grand.
father, Manasseh.
|. Time Of Beginning ". y. He ~.
cended the throne when only eight
years OF age. AT this tender age he
evidently had q sense Of the import OF
the service OF Gods house. This
sense must have been strong to en-.
able him to withstand the corrupt in
f%luences OF his surroundings. The pre-.
vailing idOlatry influenced this boy,
but Influenced him in the opposite way
In which boys are usually Influenced.
1t aroused his hatred for 1t. This
serves to demonstrate the fact that
circumstances do not necessarily tic.
termine the direction n life may go.
Each individual las the ability TO de.
terinine the course of his life; and
moreover, his responsibility so TO do.
1t Is n most periiOus thing to no
thrust into such n prominent position
while SO young, However, sometimes
such responsibility has n SOLDERING ct.
feet, calling forth ones latent powers.
That his aspiration for God and tho
right was genuine Is proven by tho
fact that he persisted therein for thlr.
ty-one years, the entire length Of his
reign.
u. The Character Of His Reign
". y. "He did that which was right
in the sight OF the Lord, and walked
in the ways of David his father, and
declined neither to the right hand nor
to the left" He not only maintained
outward order and decOrum rs to tho
worship of God, but doubtless ut heart
desired to please God. Though a ten.
der youth in a position Of honor and
trust, he was not ashamed Of his IA.
theirs. He did not regard their ways
as too %nntiquated for him. The fact
that he did not decline to the right
hand nor to the left shows that he was
acting from n heart purpose and net
through the influences Of his surround.
ings. 1t is to be noted that he dit
that which was right In the sight OF
God, not merely his fellOwmen. Doubt.
less many could have been found who
could have pointed out mistakes Of his
life. He definitely and positively al
dressed himself to seeking after t:o.t
". -. He did this while yet young.
He did not belong to that class who
think they can live for self while
young. and when old they will seek
after and serve the Lord. He did this
while he could give God the benefit
Of his u%nimpaired strength Of body and
mind. Much can be expected Of such
youths.
10. Josiah's Reformation In the
Kingdom wv. 80. He first set out To-
root out idolatry from the land. This
was a prOdigiOu, task, requiring great
courage and skill. He did this with n
strong hand. Without pity he swept
out from the land these denominations.
In the execution Of this task, he
/. Broke down the affairs of Bnaitm
". ~. This form Of ldOlatry was first
brought into the land by Jezebel ' hen
she married Ahab. The images seem
to have been such rs would appeal to-
the sensual nature Of men therefore,
it was but natural that the YrOssest
licentiOus practices should be assO.
ciated with this worship.
.. He broke in pieces the groves,
carved images, and molten images w..
~. He ven made dust Of them and
strewed 1t upon the graves Of those
who had been offering unto them.
3. He burned the bones Of tho
on their affairs ". 81. He not
only showed no pity for them, but he
manifested n decided f%ierceness In the
execution Of his task. He also dis.
his contempt for them, for aC>
brand Of infamy could be inn.
posed than the digging up Of the bones
Of the u%nfaithful priests and burning
them upon the very affairs which had
been used for this idOlatrOus worship.
4. He extended this destruction to
districts in he northern king.
II was not until all this was
lone that he returned to Jerusalem
ivy. 6, ~. His reformation thus be.
at home, but was extended to the
extent of his kingdom.
". Josiah Repaired the Temple
wv. S-l3). Having rid the hand of it's
dOlatry. he set himself To the repair
ng of the temple which had been 80
ong neglected. This neglect, coupled
With gross abuses at times. made ia
O be sadly in need of attention.
l. His deputies ". 81. STlis work.
le intrusted to n committee Of three
the royal secretary tl
Kings % 81 Masseiah. mayor OF
.erusalem and .JOAh. the recorder, the.
Iistorian of the nation. In the matter
( Kidding the city and country ~
Josiah took the lead In per
but now the work had gone far
nough forward that he could work by
equity. He chose his deputies fron,
mong "laymen" instead of the priests.
=. Method of procedure (vv, DID.
NJ Collection of money ". 9). ~
'ould seem that for some time collec4
on of money for temple repairs had
cen going On. Perhaps IL was begun
! connection with the destruction Of
some six years before. The
gents in this work were the levjtps.
hey collected 1t from all over tho
even giving the remnant 90
'rael an opportunity for fellowship
this matter. This shows us that
interests of the people should
? sustained by all the people adhering