Mexico Missouri message., 1917-08-09

The reign of Josiah is in striking
and pleasing contrast with that of
many of his predecessors, especially
that of his father, Anon, and grand
father, Manasseh.
!. Time Of Beginning ". y. 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 q life may go.
Each individual has 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 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.
II. The Character Of He Reign
". p. "He did that which was right
In the sight of the Lord, and walked
in the ways Of David his father, and
declined neither to the right hand nor
| to the left" He not only maintained
outward order and decorum as to the
worship of God, but doubtless at heart
desired to please God.
III. Joslah's Reformation In the
Kingdom wv. 80. He first set out to
root out idolatry from the land. This
was 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
1t 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 and
strewed it upon the graves Of those
who had been offering unto them.
3. He burned the bones Of the
priests on their affairs ". 81. He not
only showed no pity for them, but he
manifested a decided fierceness in the
execution Of his task.
A. He extended this destruction to
certain districts in the northern king.
dom. 1t was not until all this was
done that he returned to Jerusalem
wv. 8, y. His reformation thus be-
gan at home, but was extended to the
widest extent of his kingdom.
w. Josiah Repaired the Temple
wv. S-13). Having rid the land of its
idolatry, he set himself to the repair.
ing of the temple which had been sc
long neglected. This neglect, coupled
with gross abuses at times, made II
to be sadly in need of attention.
1. His deputies ". 81. This work
he intrusted to committee Of three
Shaphan, the royal secretary IL
Kings 22:3); Masseiah, mayor Of
Jerusalem; and Joah, the recorder, the
historian of the nation. In the matter
of Kidding the city and country OF
idolatry Josiah took the lead in per
son, but now the work had gone fal
enough forward that he could work by
deputy. He chose his deputies from
among 'Iaymen" instead of the priests
2. Method of procedure wv. 9-13)
(a) Collection of money ". 81. i
would seem that for some time collec
ton of money for temple repairs hat
been going on. Perhaps it was begur
in connection with the destruction Of
idolatry some six years before. The
agents In this work were the Levites
They collected 1t from all over thu
kingdom, even giving the remnant o.
Israel an opportunity for fellowship
In this matter. This shows us tina
religious interests of the people should
, be sustained by all the people adherinl
J thereto.
(b) Money placed into the treasur!
". 81.
J Hilkiah, the high priest, was tn
treasurer. From this treasury tn
, Overseers drew the money and paid 1
: to the workmen who repaired the tenn
pie.
(c) The overseers ". 12). ANON
the overseers were certain skilled mu
sicians. The duty Of these overseer
was to exercise supervision over tn
carpenters, builders, and other art
sans, and the helpers of aii classes
The musicians, by skillful music, in
cited the workman to diligence an