The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-08-17
LESSON FOR AUGUST 19
FINDING THE BOOK OF THE LAW

GOLDEN IEAI-l Will not forget tn
word.-Psa. 1915.
I. The Book of the Law Found "
HID, 1. The occasion ". 14). 1t wa
found while the work of repairing tn
temple was going on. At what part 1
the temple we do not know; perhap
In the treasure house, for it was foun
while bringing out the money to pa
or near the ark, for the law was usual
ly kept In or by the ark.
2. BY whom ". 14). Hilkiah, tn
high priest, was the finder. 1t 4
strange that the high priest was igno
rant Of the place where the law wa
found. It is a sad comment upon thu
moral and spiritual condition Of priest.
and kings, since they were appointed
guardians Of Gods Law. 1t is, however
always true that when one does mo-
want to have his life ordered by the
Bible he will put 1t out of his sight
The disappearance Of the Bible from
our homes, and the neglect of it in ou1
study, is a certain sign Of evil in our
lives. Be assured, however, that
though the law of the Lord be removed
from our sight 1t shall sooner or later
come before us to judge us. God has
declared that his Word shall not return
unto him void but shall accomplish that
whereunto 1t hath been sent.
8. Its disposition ". 16). Hilkiah
gave the law to Shaphan the scribe,
who delivered 1t to the king along with
his report as to the disposition of the
money which had been collected
II. The Book Of the Law Read wv.
| IS, 20. 30). 1. To the king ". 18).
| This was most impressive scene, the
king listening to the reading of the
law of God. 1t 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
ETY. was to know what was Gods pur-
pose as to the nation in view of their
idolatry. It is sensible thing to make
oneself intelligent as to~his RESPONSE
bilities, even to know what judgments
shall befall those who have turned
from God. One should know the worst
while there is time yet to escape his
wrath. for repentance is the only door
Of escape from perdition.
2. To the people wv. 90, BOY. At the
direction of the king the priests, elders
and all the people were called together
to hear Gods Word read. This was as
it ever should be. People have right
to hear what God has to say to them
as well as the king. To keep the people
ignorant of the Word Of the Lord is
great crime. The crying need Of the
age, with all its boasted knowledge fine
church equipment and cultured minis
try, is for the Word of God to be
brought to the ears of the people.
Ill. The Effect of the Reading Of the |
Law. wv. 2O-28; 1889. When Gods |
Word is intellIgently read and under !
stood there is bound to be an impress !
sion made.
1. The king rent his clothes ". 19). |
The man who will honestly listen 70 /
the reading Of Gods Word will be
brought to his knees, for he will be con-
victed of sin, and will take the place of
before the Lord. The
king first saw his own sins and con-
tossed them. 1t is good sign when
\ Tee oh |
and not primarily. those Of
others.
2. The king made inquiry of the Lord
through Huldah the prophecies wv. % |
~. His supreme motive in this in
,uiry was to find out whether there
vas sorae way to avert the awful judg-
nents which were impending rs set
orth in the Word of God After all,
he human heart instinctively turns
rom threatened woe to inquire wheth-
4 there is not way Of escape. Along
ide of the flaming, laundering Sinai
vas placed the Levitical system of
Law and grace are not far
The law becomes our school
1aster to bring US to Christ. Through
Iuldah the message came that God |
ad taken account Of all their sins and
hat Judgment must fall, but Josiah
,ould be spared the sight Of all Gods
of wrath. The penitence Of
he king turned aside Gods wrath
rom himself, but the nation would be
bliged to suffer for its awful apOstasy.
8. The king made covenant wv. 81,
p. This was to the effect that he
'ould walk in the commandments of
re Lord He also made the people :
and to this covenant. He no doubt :
ated from the sincerity Of his heart.
4. Further reforms ". 33). Josiah
DIV reached out as far as the national
)undaries, took away their abomina-
ons and made Israel to serve the +
ord their God. The fact that the book
; the law was found implies that it
i'd been lost. The way it had been
st is not definitely set FORTH but nu- :
erous ways maybe suggested. The F
Ible is a lost book to many processing
nristians today, maybe through lack
interest in it, willful neglect or neg
ct through the stress Of life's bust :
,ss and pleasures. May we not each =