Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-08-10


and pleasing contrast with that of
many of his predecessors, especially
that of his father, Anon, and grand
father, Manasseh.
!. Time of Beginning ". u. He as
cended the throne when only eight
years of age. At this tender age he
evidently had a 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
fluences 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 de-
termine the direction a life may go.
Each individual las the ability to de-
termine the course of his life; and
moreover, his responsibility so to do.
1t is a most perilous thing to be
thrust into such a prominent position
while so young. However, sometimes
such responsibility has q 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
fhn eyir Of hn I ord
l the ways of David his father, and
leclined neither to the right hand nor
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 ten
der youth in a position of honor and
trust, he was not ashamed of his IA
Tiers. 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 a heart purpose and not
through the influences of his surround
ings. 1t is to be noted that he did
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 ad-
dressed himself to seeking after God
w. 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.
III. Josiah's Reformation in the
Kingdom wv. 80. He first set out to
root out idolatry from the land. This
was a prodigious task, requiring great
courage and skill. He did this with a
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
it 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 an(
strewed it upon the graves of those
who had been offering unto them.
8. He burned the bones of th,
priests on their affairs ". 81. He no
only showed nc. pity for them, but HI
manifested a decided ferceness in thu
execution of his task. He also dis
played his contempt for them, for NJ
greater brand of infamy could be i'm
posed than the digging up of the bone
of the unfaithful priests and burning
them upon the very affairs which hat
been used for this idolatrous worship
4. He extended this destruction t
certain districts in the northern king
dom. 1t was not until all this wa
done that he returned to Jerusalem
wv. 6, y. His reformation thus be
gan at home, but was extended to tn
widest extent of his kingdom.
w. Josiah Repaired the Tempt
(vv. S-13). Having rid the land of it
idolatry, he set himself to the repair
ing of the temple which had been S
long neglected. This neglect, couple
with gross abuses at times, made
to be sadly in need of attention.
| (xy
he intrusted to a committee of three
Shaphan, the royal secretary q
Kings 22:3); Masseiah, mayor {
Jerusalem; and JOah, the recorder, tn
historian of the nation. In the matte
of Kidding the city and country {
idolatry Josiah took the lead in pc
son, but now the work had gone ia
enough forward that he could work b
deputy. He chose his deputies frOl
among "1aymen" instead of the priest
.. Method of procedure wv. 9-13
(a) Collection of money ". 81.
would seem that for some time collie
ton of money for temple repairs ha
been going on. Perhaps it was begu
in connection with the destruction
idolatry some six years before. III
agents in this work were the Levite
They collected it from all over Il
kingdom, even giving the remnant
Israel an opportunity for fellOwsh
in this matter. This shows US TIL
| religious interests of the people shou
\ be sustained by all the people adherir
4 thereto.
(b) Money placed into the treasu
i ". 81.
4 Hilkiah, the high priest, was Il
i treasurer. From this treasury t
Overseers drew the money and paid
to the workmen who repaired the tel
pie.
(c) The overseers ". 12). Amo
= the overseers were certain skilled m
e sIcians. The duty of these oversee
e was to exercise supervision over t
Is carpenters, builders, and other ar
r" sans, and the helpers of all class
s. The musicians, by skillful music,
n cited the workman to diligence a
c. activity, thus tightening the burde
j. of their toll. Music in the soul VIII
working bpnrS n very vital relati(