The Brinkley argus., 1917-08-17
INTERNATIONAL. SUNDGYS0IOOL
 LESSON
LESSON FOR AUGUST 19
FINDING THE BOOK OF THE LAW

| LESSON TEXT-II Chronicles 34:14-93 l GOLDEN TEXT-I will not forget thy | word.-Psa. 119:16.
 [. The Book of the Law Found (vv. | 14-17), l. The occasion (v. 14). It 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 (v. 14). Hilklah, the
 high priest, was the finder. It Is
 strange that the high priest was igno-
 rant of the place where the law was found. It 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 (v. 16). Hilkiah
 gave the law to Shaphan the scribe, | ln1i fa bo irirp o1nnU with
 his report as to the disposition of the
 money which had been collected.
 II. The Book of the Law Read (vv. IS, 20, 30). 1. To the king (v. 1S).
 This was most impressive scene, the
 king listening to the reading of the
 law of God It 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 anxi-
 ety was to know what was Gods pur- | pose Us u tIlG lluliOLI III fltH Ol tliClA
 idolatry. It is a sensible thing to make
 oneself intelligent as to his respOnsi-
 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.
 9 To the people (vv. 29 30). At the
 direction of the king the priests, elders
 and all the people were called together
 to hear Gods Word read. This was as
 if nvnr ehnuld be paopln havo a right to hear what God has to say to them
 as well as the king. To keep the people 1 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 If try, is Tor the Word of God .o pe
 brought to the ears of the people, III. The Effect of the Reading of the Law. (vv. POPS; 31-33). When Gods Word is intelligently read and under stood there is bound to be an impress sion made.
 1. The king rent his clothes (v. 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 reimbursement before the Lord. The king first saw his own sins and con fessed them. It 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 (vv. 22- 2S). His supreme motive in this in- quiry was to find out whether there was some way to avert the awful judg- ments which were impending, as set forth in the Word of God After all, the human heart instinctlvely turns from threatened woe to inquire wheth- CT 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 iidI lhhfiA NAAbAAN bl tAA AlAtll 0lAln anu 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 a covenant (vv. 31, 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. f. Further reforms (v. 33). Josiah now reached out as far as the national boundaries, took away their abomina- tions and made Israel to serve the Lord their God. The fact that the book of the law was found implies that it had been lost. The way it had been lost is not definitely set forth, but nu- merous ways may be suggested. The Bible is q 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 busi-