Arizona sun., 1947-06-06

| eight years or age, anu was SUI
rounded by godly counselors who
helped him become an outstanding
ruler for God. When he was sixteen
he had real religious experience
QI Chron. 34:3, and at twenty he
began to purge Judah and Jerusa-
lem of idols and wickedness.
l. Book Found and Read (22:10,
II; 1871, q.
The Word of God had been neg
lected for about sixty years. How
sad! Yes and how sad that in our
homes the Bible is so often neg
lected-on a book shelf, or in a
trunk, or gathering dust on a living
room table. A lost Bible, and a
people living in sin! How much we
need to push aside the rubbish in
our lives and bring out our ''lost"
Bibles.
Observe that they not only found
the book, but they read it. That was
true Of the ones who found 1t as
well as Of those to whom they
passed it on. What good thought
we have there: read the Bible, yes.
but be sure to get someone else
reading it too.
In Josiah's day it was thus first
received
/. BY the King.
The ruler or rulers of the people
need to return to Gods Word in our
day. It Is all too often neglected in
the council chambers Of the nations.
Josiah was moved by what he
read to real repentance. He realized
that the judgment Of God must
come. Inquiry at Jerusalem brought
word from Huldah the prophecies
that it would come, but not in
Josiah's day.
The king was not content to keep
this word to himself, and insisted
that it be read
2. BY the religious leaders.
The priests and the prophets who
were doubly guilty in neglecting it
were now brought face to face with
Gods revelation.
Who will say that the great need
in America is not just this, that its
preachers and denominational lead
ers get back to the reading and
teaching Of Gods Word. Book re-
views, lectures in economics and
politics, discussions Of one world
almost anything but the Bible. Such
is the fare of many of our preach
ers. No wonder that they and their
people are spiritually starved.
Josiah knew what was needed
and the Word was now read
3. By the people.
Applying that to our day, it is
true that the Bible is our best seller,
that it is available to every home,
and that most decent households
have not one but many Bibles. But
are they being read? The answer is
obviously no. Let's correct that
dreadful situation. Read your Bible!
III. A Book Believed and Prac-
ticed (23:3-5, 2D.
Josiah saw that it was not enough
to read and rejoice over the Word
Of God. Something must be done
about it, and he did it.
/. The king made covenant with
God.
Standing in a prominent place be-
fore his people, he humbly and
solemnly renewed his conservation
to the Lord, and promised to
abide by his Word with all his heart
and soul ". 81. Such leader could
not but inspire his people to do the
same.
What blessing it is to us when
we hear of some man promi-
nent in the affairs Of the nation or
state who loves the Lord, and keeps
his commandments. He is not only
an inspiring example. but a real
witness for God.
2. The priests cast out the idols
WV. 4, 81.
The king required this of them,
and they proceeded thus to cleanse
the places Of worship and prepare
the way for true devotion to God.
Here again we say that when re-
ligious leaders get back to their first
devotion to God and put away the
empty PHILOSOPHERS of this world, we
shall see a revival.
What did the people do? Josiah
saw that they needed some positive
expression of their faith. It was not
enough to tear down the idols; they
must re-establish the true worship
Of God. So we find that
3. The people kept the Passover.
This was the great feast Of the
Jews which spoke Of redemption
from bondage. It pointed forward to
Christ the Redeemer from sin. He
is our Passover Il Cor. SD.
In. these dark and bewildering
days people are looking to Christian
leaders to prepare feast Of re-
membrance of the death Of Christ
and of his glorious redemption. Let
the people gather round him and,