The Holly Chieftain

IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Sunday School Lesson
(By Rev. P. B. Fitzwater.)
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.)
Copyright, 1922
LESSON FOR MAY 21
HILKIAH'S GREAT DISCOVERY
LESSON TEXT.-II Chron. 34:14-33.
GOLDEN TEXT.-Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. -Ps. 119:105.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Deut. 6: 6-9; Josh. 1:8; Col. 3:16; II Tim. 2:15; 3:14-16.
PRIMARY TOPIC.-How the Lost Bible Was Found.
JUNIOR TOPIC.-Hilkiah Discovers the Lost Bible.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC. -How to Make the Bible Our Own.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC. -The Authority and Influence of the Bible.
About a hundred years elapsed between the reformation under Hezekiah and that of Josiah. Some time during this time the book of God's law had been lost. Two wicked kings had reigned in this interval. The Lord had given Hezekiah much wealth. His son Manasseh, coming into possession of his father's property. and being ungodly. would naturally neglect the Bible, if not purposely try to put it from sight. Those who do not obey the law of God, are usually interested in putting it out of sight.
I. The Book of the Law Found (vv. 14-17).
1. The Occasion (v. 14). It was while repairing the temple during Josiah's reformation that the law was discovered.
2. The Book Delivered to the King (vv. 15-17). Upon making a report to the king of work done, the king was told of the finding of the book of the law by Hilkiah, and the book delivered to him.
II. The Effect of the Reading of the Law (vv. 18-28).
Shaphan the scribe read the law before the king.
1. The King Rent His Clothes (v. 19). As the law was read before him he was led to realize more seriously the awful extent of the nation's departure from God. He knew that sin merited punishment. The function of the law is to reveal sin. The man who will honestly hear the demands of God's law will fall upon his knees before God and cry for mercy. The rending of the royal robes indicated that the king was penitently sorrowful.
2. The King Sent a Deputation to Make Inquiry of the Lord (vv. 20, 21). The king included himself in the guilt before God. "Go inquire for me and for them that are left, for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon us." His sense of sin was so keen that he sent them to inquire as to whether there was any means of averting the judgments of the Lord. Instinctively the human heart turns from God's threatening judgments to a means of escape. The soul that sorrows for sin inquires for a way of escape. The law prepares for the gospel. The law is our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. The soul under condemnation inquires. "What must I do to be saved?"
3. The Message of Huldah, the Prophetess (vv. 22-28). (1) Confirmation of what the law said (vv. 22-25). She said that all the curses written in the law must fall. for the sins had been so flagrant that God's wrath could not be restrained. Destruction was hanging over Jerusalem and it was too late to avert it. It was not too late to repent to obtain mercy from God, but the outward consequence of sin must be realized. This finds fulfillment on every hand today. The murderer must hang. His soul may go directly to heaven, provided he has accepted Jesus Christ. (2) Acceptance of Josiah's repentance (vv. 26-28). Because of his tenderness of heart and deep penitence, the Lord said he should be gathered to his grave in peace, and should not see all the evil to be brought on Jerusalem and its people. What Huldah said was true even though Josiah died in battle (35: 23-25). When God accepts a man and forgives him, his death is a peaceful one even though it may be on the battlefield. God's presence is with him and he thus will go straight to the heavenly home.
III. The Law Obeyed (vv. 29-33).
1. The King Read the Law (vv. 29, 30). He gathered together the inhabitants of Jerusalem, including the priests, Levites and elders, and read unto them the law.
2. The King Made a Covenant Before the Lord to Keep His Commandments and Testimonies (vv. 31, 32). This was done sincerely-with all his heart and soul. He caused all that were present to stand to it.
3. The king took away. all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to Israel (v. 33). All the days of the king they departed not from following after the Lord.
He Will Save You.
When you feel as if things were dragging you down into the depths will you remember that the Lord Jesus Christ is at your side? All human help may seem very far away; but He is not far away. Even through the noise of the storm He can hear the faintest cry, "Lord save me, I perish." and He will save you to the utmost.
Adversity.
Adversity is the first path to truth.-Byron.