New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-08-17
INTERNATIONAL.
LESSON
(By REV. =. Il. FITZWATER. =. D.,
Teacher OF English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago.)
Copyright. 1917, Western Newspaper UniOn-)
LESSON FOR AUGUST 10
FINDING THE BOOK OF THE LAW.

jul q VIII Iol IEt IL
word.-Psa. 1916.
!. The Book Of the Law Found tvv.
14-17). !. The occasion ". 14). II was
found while the work of repairing the
temple was going on. At what part Ia
the temple We do not know; perhaps
in the treasure house, for ii VA found
while bringing out the money to pay
for the repairs. Perhaps this was IN
or near the ark, for the law was usual
ly kept in or by the ark.
2. BY whom ". 14). Hilkiah. the
high priest, was the finder. II IL
strange that the high priest was igno-
rant Of the place where the law was
found. 1t is Il sad comment upon tho
moral and spiritual condition of priests
and kings, since they were appointed
guardians of Gods law. II Is, however,
always true that when one does not
want to have his life ordered hy the
Bible he will nut 1t out Of his sight.
The disappearance of the Bible from
our homes, and the neglect OF II In our
study, IS II certain sign of evil III ouF
lives. BE assured, however, tIIat
i'iSi II u " ~ i'it Nv ~ bI'N'Nh
from our sight it shall sooner or later
come before US to judge US. God has
declared that his Word shall bot rtturD
unto him void, but shall accomplish TINT
WhereuntO it hath been q
3. Its disposition (v. 1G). Hilkihh
CAV the law to Shaphan the scribe,
who delivered it to the king along with
his report rs to the disposition of the
money which had been collected.
u. The Book of the Law Read wv.
IS, 90. 3U. l. To the king ". 1S).
This was n most impressive scene, The
king listening to the reading Of the
law of God. II was the proper thing
to do, for those appointed by God to
rule over the people should be anxious
to know the will of God concerning
them. The pious king, believing in It
as Gods Word, was anxious to know .
Gods thought concerning the nation.
His interest became intense, as he was
made conscious of the apostasy of his
people from Gods law. His chief aDxi-
ETY. was to know what was God's pur-
pose as to the nation in view of their
idolatry. 1t Is n sensible thing to make
oneself intelligent as to his RESPONSE
bilities, ever to know what judgments
shall befall those who have turned
from God. one should know the worst
while there is time yet to escape ms
wrath, for repentance is the only door
of escape from perdition.
.. To the people wv. 20, 800. At tho
direction of the king the priests, elders
and all the people were called together
to hear Gods Word read. This was az
it ever should be. People have a right
to heal what God has to say to them
rs well as the king. TO keep the people
ignorant OF the Word of the Lord II Il
great crime. The crying need of the
age, with all its boosted knowledge. fine
church equipment and cultured minis
try, is for the Word Of God t. be
brought to the ears of the people.
~. The Effect Of the Reading Of the
Law. wv. POPS; 31-33). When Gods
Word is i%ntelligently read and under
stood there is bound to be an impress
sion made.
l. The king rent his clothes ". 100.
The man who will honestly listen TO
the reading Of Gods Word will be
brought tO his knees, for he will be con
victed of sin, md will take the place Of
reimbursement before the Lord. The
king first saw his own sins and con,
fessed them. 1t Is n good sign wleI.
one sees his own shortcomings ana
failures, and not primarily those Ui
others.
.. The king made inquiry of the Lore
through Huldah the prophecies wv. q
2S). His supreme motive in this IL
quiry was to find out whether there
was sJr1e way to avert the awful judy
ments which were impending, as set
forth in the Word of God. After all.
the human heart instinctively turns
from threatened woe to inquire whetb-
er there is not a way Of escape. Along;
side of the flaming, laundering Sinai
was placed the Levitical system OF
offerings. Law and grace are not far
removed. The law becomes our school
master 10 bring us to Christ. Through
Huldah the message came that GOD
had taken account of all their sins and
that judgment must fall, but Josiah
would he spared the sight of all Gods
visitation of wrath. The penitenCe of
the king turned aside Gods wrath
from himself, but the nation would be-
Obliged to suffer for its awful apostasy.
3. The king made a covenant wv. 81.
32). This vas TO the effect that he