Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-11
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

enter into His service. When Josiah
consecrated his life to the service OF
Jehovah he did not realize how God
would require him to institute reli-
gious reformation that would purify the
city of Jerusalem and Judah. and ex-
tend throughout the territory former
ly ruled by the kings of Judah. but
from which the ten tribes had been
removed to Babylon. The problem pre-
scented by the religious pollution could
not be solved in a day The task was a
continuous one which required con-
slant perseverance throughout his
whole reign.
A more complete record of his re-
Kings. %. which must be studied in
connection with this lesson II 1t is 10
be understood. The high places. which
Manasseh had spared, were ruthlessly
removed: the Asherah, or mystic tree.
with its filthy emblems. which Manas-
sch had originally placed in the temple,
only to remove it after his Conversion.
but which Anon had replaced, was COM
pletely destroyed.
There was a remarkable coterie of
men about the court who helped to
mold the kings program and assist ed
him in carrying out his drastic efforts TO
remove from the nation every form OF
idolatry. immortality and iniquity.S The
kings personal efforts were supple
mented by Shapan. the secretary: Hill
kiak, the priest: Huldah. the prophet
ess. and her husband. Shallum, the
keeper OF the royal robes. whose in
fuence also nodded Jeremiah, who, like
Josiah. grew up in the royal court.
From the words of this great messen-
ger of God and his colleagues. Zepha :
niah, Nahum and Habakkuk. the politi-
cal and moral condition of the nation
when Josiah inaugurated his reforms
can best be ascertained.
The destruction of the heather places
of worship did not purify the hearts of
the people. There are things when these
reforms need to be repeated in the
lives of men. The application of the
blood of Christ is the only way by
which sinful pollution can be re-
moved. The presence and power of the
Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer
Will make the same fit dwelling place
for the Lord Jesus by removing the
secret shrines and sins that cling to all
and transform the character OF the
Christian into the likeness of the
Christ. The weakness of most refor-
nations is that they destroy without
substituting something to take the
place of the evil that has been re-
moved. While Josiah was success
as destructive reformer, he was more
successful in his constructive work as
the restorer Of the worship of God.
Josiah was no mere iconoclast, he
had a vision. and that demanded not
only the purifying of the capital and
country. but also the restoring of the
pure worship of Jehovah. He had not
been discouraged by the difficulty of
reforming the nation. but he probably
was compelled to delay the re-estab-
lishment of the temple worship on ac-
count of the invasion of the Scythian
hosts that overran the east and passed
along the seacoasts until they were
bribed by the Egyptians to return to
their home. north OF the Black sea
The contest between Babylon and
Ninevah gave Josiah an uninterrupted
period during which time he carried
on his religious reforms. which re-
CURED the restoration of the temple
for their completion. The secret of
personal and national prosperity is
found in spiritual religion and divine
worship.
The manner in which community
cares for their religious meeting
houses furnishes a correct standard By
which to judge their character. Two
centuries >had passed since the temple
had been reraired in the days of Joash.
Evidently the house of God was in a
terrible condition: there must have
been great gaps in the walls that need
Cd "hewn stones" and the beams Of
the roof and the floor must have ben
removed to make room for the intro
duction Of fa'se gods and idol worship.
No one who really loses God can en-
dure seeing the houae. set apart for
Him lying in ruins Josiah and his
coterie of religious friends had not
temple. because they haGs been making
systematic effort TO secure contribu-
tions for the restoration of the temp!e
throughout the nation during their re-
vival efforts for the publication of the
nations religious life. The success of the
reformation was established by the gen
erous gifts that had been systematically
collected for the repairing of the temple
The man who REFUSES to give of his
ealth. time. talents. Obedience and
loyalty to either Christ or to His coun-
try cannot claim to love the Lord or
His nation. The soul who loves the
Savior and democracy willingly gives
of their best for the advancement of
the Kingdom of God among men
The methods of Josiah furnished n pre-
cedent that enabled Josiah through the
assistance of faithful commission. hon
est collectors and the hearty co-opera-
ton OF the workingmen. whose efforts to
carry out the plan placed before each
one on the trestle board We're established
by the confidence placed in them by the
commission. who trusted their honesty
and integrity by refusing to accept any
accounting of the funds placed In their
hands 1t will prove to be an interesting
study for the students of this lesson to
notice the names OF the three civic officers
who with the cody priest, Hilkiah,
worked together TO restore the temple
for the glory of God and re-establish the
apiritual worship of Jehovah. The menu