Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1917-08-18
LESSON FOR AUGUST 19
FINDING THE BOOK OF THE LAW

WOTQ.-HSa 1lJ.l6.
I. The Book Of the Law Found wv.
14-17), /. The occasion ". 14). 1t was
found while the work Of repairing the
temple was going on. At what part In
the temple we do not know; perhaps
in the treasure house, for it was 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. 1t is
strange that the high priest was igno-
rant Of the place where the law was
found. 1t is a sad comment upon the
moral and spiritual condition of priests
and kings, since they were appointed
guardians of Gods law. It is, however,
always true that when one does not
want to have his life ordered by the
Bible he will put it out of his sight.
The disappearance Of the Bible from
our homes, and the neglect of it in our
study, is certain sign of evil in our
lives. Be assured, however, that
though the law of the Lord be removed
from our sight it 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 it hath been sent.
8. Its disposition ". 16). Hilkiah
gave the law to Shaphan the scribe,
who delivered it 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 ". 49,.
This was a 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
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 anxi-
ETY. was to know what was Gods pur-
pose as to the nation in view of their
idolatry. 1t 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. %, 3O). 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 it's boosted knowledge, fine
church equipment and cultured minis
try, is for the Word of God to be
brought to the ears of the people.
III. The Effect Of the Reading of the
Law. wv. 2O-2S; 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 to
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
ESTABLISHMENT before the Lord. The
king first saw his own sins and con-
fessed them. 1t is a good sign when
one sees his own shortcomings and
failures, and not primarily those of
others.
2. The king made inquiry of the Lord
through Huldah the prophecies wv. %
2S). His supreme motive in this in
quiry was to find out whether there
was sorue way to avert the awful judg-
ments which were impending, as set
forth in the Word Of God. After all.
the human heart instinctively turns
from threatened woe to inquire wheth-
er there is not 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 to 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 be 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 it's awful apostasy.
3. The king made covenant wv. 81,
32). This was to the effect that he
would walk in the commandments Of
the Lord. He also made the people
stand to this covenant. He no doubt
acted from the sincerity of his heart.
4. Further reforms ". 33). Josiah
now reached out as far as the national
boundaries, took away their abomina-
tons and made Israel to serve the
Lord their God. The fact that the book
had been lost. The way it had been
lost is not definitely set forth, but nu-
merous ways may be suggested. The
Bible is lost book to many protesting
Christians today, maybe through lack
of interest in it, willful neglect or neg
lect through the stress of life's bust
ness and pleasures May we not each
one inquire as to whether our Bibles
IRE lost?