Middletown transcript., 1917-08-11
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNlAYSQl00L
LESSON
{By REV. P. B. FITZwATER. D. D..
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union.)
LESSON FOR AUGUST IL
JOSIAH'S GOOD REIGN.

JOsIAH's GOOD REIGN.
LESSON TEXT-II Chronicles 34:1-14
GOLDEN TEXT-Remember now thy
Creator In the days Of thy youth.-Eccles
12:1
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.
I. Time Of Beginning ". ~. He as
cended the throne when only eight
evidently had 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
1uences 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 it. This
serves to demonstrate the fact that
circumstances do not necessarily de-
termine the direction a life may 60.
Each individual has the ability to de-
termine the course of his life; and
moreover, his responsibility so to do.
1t is most perilous thing to be
thrust into such a prominent position
while so young. However, sometimes
such responsibility has a SOLDERING eff
feet, calling forth ones latent powers.
That his aspiration for God and the
right was genuine is proven by the
fact that he persisted therein for thir-
ty-one years, the entire length Of his
reign.
II. The Character of His Reign
". p. "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 as to the
worship Of God, but doubtless at heart
desired to please God. Though a ten
der youth in position Of honor and
trust, he was not ashamed Of his IA
theirs. He did not regard their ways
as too antiquated for him. The fact
that he did not decline to the right
hand nor to the left shows that he was
acting from q heart purpose and not
through the influences of his surround
that which was right In the sight Of
God, not merely his feliowmen. Doubt
less many could have been found who
could have pointed out mistakes Of his
life. He definitely and positively ad-
dressed himself to seeking after God
". 81. 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 unimpaired strength Of body and
mind. Much can be expected Of such
youths.
Ill. Josiah's Reformation In the
Kingdom wv. 80. He first set out to
root out idolatry from the land. This
was prodigious task, requiring great
courage and skill. He did this with q
strong hand. Without pity he swept
out from the land these denominations.
In the execution Of this task he
1. Broke down the affairs of Baalim
". ~. This form of idolatry was first
brought into the land by Jezebel when
she married Ahab. The images seem
to have been such as would appeal to
the sensual nature Of men; therefore
1t was but natural that the groSsest
licentious practices should be assO-
ciated with this worship.
2. He broke in pieces the groves,
carved images, and molten images ".
~. He even made dust of them and
strewed 1t upon the graves Of those
who had been offering unto them.
8. He burned the bones Of the
priests on their affairs ". 81. He not
only showed no pity for them, but he
manifested a decided f1erceness in the
execution Of his task. He also dis
played his contempt for them. for no
greater brand Of infamy could be i'm
posed than the digging up Of the bones
of the unfaithful priests and burning
them upon the very affairs which had i
been used for this idolatrous worship. |
4. He extended this destruction to
certain districts In the northern king |!
dom. 1t was not until all this was
done that he returned to Jerusalem
wv. 6, y. His reformation thus be- !
gan at home, but was extended to the
widest extent of his kingdom. |
w. Josiah Repaired the Temple
wv. 8-13). Having rid the land Of its
idolatry, he set himself to the repair /,
ing of the temple which had been so !
long neglected. This neglect, coupled
with gross abuses at times, made it
to be sadly in need Of attention.
/. His deputies ". 81. This work
he intrusted to committee Of three
Shaphan, the royal secretary III
Kings 22:3); Masseiah. mayor of
Jerusalem; and Joah, the recorder, the
historian of the nation. In the matter
Of Kidding the city and country of
ldolatry Josiah took the lead in per-
son, but now the work had gone far
enough forward that he could work by
deputy. He chose his deputies from
among "laymen" instead Of the priests.
2. Method of procedure wv. 9-13).