The Carlisle independent., 1917-08-09
LESSON FOR AUGUST 12
JosIAH's GOOD REIGN.

LESSON TEXT-II Chronicles 34.l-l5
 GOLDEN TEXT-Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.-Eecles. 12:1
 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.
 l. Time of Beginning (v. D. 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. It aroused his hatred for it. This serves to demonstrate the fact that circumstances do not necessarily de- termine the direction life may go. Each individual has the ability to de- termine the course of his life; and
 
 It is most periious thing to be thrust into such a prominent position while so young. However, sometimes such responsibility has sobering ef- 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 His Reign (v. 9. "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. Josiah's Reformation in the Kingdom (vv. SD. 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 abominations. In the execution of this task he
 1. Broke down the altars of Baalim (v. 4). 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 (v. 4). 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 altars (v. ). He not only showed no pity for them, but he manifested decided fierceness in the execution of his task.
 1. He extended this destruction to certain districts in the northern king dom. It was not until all this was done that he returned to Jerusalem (vv. 6, ?. His reformation thus be- gan at home, but was extended to the widest extent of his kingdom.
 ". Josiah Repaired the Temple (vv. S-13). Having rid the land of it's idolatry, he set himself to the repair ing of the temple which had been so long neglected. This neglect, coupled with gross abuses at times, made it to be sadly in need of attention.
 1. His deputies (v. S). This work he intrusted to a committee of three Shaphan, the royal secretary 1I Kings p :3); Masseiah, mayor of Jerusalem; and Joah, the recorder. the historian of the nation. In the matter of ridding the city and country of idolatry Josiah took the lead in per son, but now the work had gone far enough forward that he could work by deputy. He chose his deputies from among ''laymen" instead of the priests.
 ?. Method of procedure fvy. 9-13). (a) Collection of money (v. 9. It would seem that for some time eollec- ton of money for temple repairs had been going on. Perhaps it was begun in connection with the destruction of idolatry some six years before. The agents in this work were the Levites. They collected it from all over the kingdom, even giving the remnant of Israel an opportunity for fellowship in this matter. This shows us that religious interests of the people should be sustained by all the people adhering thereto.
 (b) Money placed into the treasury (v. 9).
 
 Hilkiah, the high priest, was the treasurer. From this treasury the overseers drew the money and paid it to the workmen who repaired the tenn pie.
 Co The overseers (v. 12). Among the overseers were certain skilled mu- sicians. The duty of these overseers was to exercise supervision over the carpenters builders, and other arti- sans, and the helpers of all classes.