The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1947-06-05
2IsEIlGlG REFORMS SUCCEED

2IAEsIItG REFORMS SUCCEED
o,LEsSO" TENTH Kings 22:lo, II; 23:1.5.
MEMORY sELEcTioN-Gtve me under.
s'a0d;Hs, and I shall keep tay law-Psalm
1881.
God can bring blessing out of the
most unp"omisiag Of circumstances.
Yes, and men can make chaos out
CT Gods greatest gifts.
The good Josiah became king at
eight years Of age, and was sur
rounded by cody counselors who
helped him become an outstanding
ruler for Cod When he was sixteen
ne had real religious experience
Gil Chron. 34:3), and at twenty he
began to purge Judah and Jerusa-
lem of idols and wickedacss.
Ia Book Found and Read (22:10,
Il; 23:l, o.
The Word Of God had been neg
lectcd for about sixty years. How
sad! Yes and how sad that in our
homes the Bible is so often neg
lected-on 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 it as
we'll 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 rr1Iers of +ha nnonlo
need to return to Gods Word in our
dav. It is all too often NEGLECTED. in
the council chambers Of Tho nations
Josiah was moved bv what he
read to real repentance. He realized
that the Judgment of God must
come, Inouirv at Jerusalem brouoht
word from Huldah tbc nronbetosc
that it would come. but not in
.JOsiah's dav
The kina was not content IN l-oon
this word to himself and insisted
that il be read
. R,, +I,o ,o1ioio,,- loodore
Tho nrinste and tba nronba4s who
were douhIv ouiI+v in no6Inctina il
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 economies and
pohtlcs, 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
5. BY the people.
Applying that to our day, it is
>rue that the Bible IS our best seller,
that 1t IS available to every home,
and that most decent households
have not one but many Bibles. But
are thcy 0elhg feaG! Inc answer IS
OBVIOUSLY TO- LEI correct tnat
oleaollI 9i'ta'loh' heao your blOIe'
Ill. "A Book 8eileVed and Prac-
lced (23:3-5, 2l).
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.
/. Tie king made a covenant with
Cod
Standino in . prominent nlaco h.
fore his neonle ha hun1blv and
eolonnIv rnnewed bie conservation
10 the Lord and nromised to
abide nv his Word with al his heart
and soul " q crch q laadnr coT1d
not but inspire his people to do the
same.
What a 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.
Tho oriacte cae+ ont +be ;do,e
WV 5l
Tho kino reonirod this of Them
and tbov 1rocoadod time to c1eaneo