prophets and kings-第68章
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Yet I will rejoice in the Lord； I will joy in the God of my salvation。 The Lord God is my strength。〃 Habakkuk 3：2…6； 13； 17…19； margin。
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Habakkuk was not the only one through whom was given a message of bright hope and of future triumph as well as of present judgment。 During the reign of Josiah the word of the Lord came to Zephaniah； specifying plainly the results of continued apostasy； and calling the attention of the true church to the glorious prospect beyond。 His prophecies of impending judgment upon Judah apply with equal force to the judgments that are to fall upon an impenitent world at the time of the second advent of Christ：
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〃The great day of the Lord is near； It is near； and hasteth greatly； Even the voice of the day of the Lord： The mighty man shall cry there bitterly。
〃That day is a day of wrath； A day of trouble and distress； A day of wasteness and desolation； A day of darkness and gloominess；
〃A day of clouds and thick darkness； A day of the trumpet and alarm Against the fenced cities； And against the high towers。〃 Zephaniah 1：14…16。
〃I will bring distress upon men； that they shall walk like blind men； because they have sinned against the Lord： and their blood shall be poured out as dust。 。 。 。 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath： but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy： for He shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land。〃 Verses 17； 18。
〃Gather yourselves together； yea； gather together； O nation not desired； Before the decree bring forth； Before the day pass as the chaff； Before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you； Before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you。
〃Seek ye the Lord； all ye meek of the earth； Which have wrought His judgment； Seek righteousness； Seek meekness： It may be ye shall be hid In the day of the Lord's anger。〃 Zephaniah 2：1…3。
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〃Behold； at that time I will deal with all them that afflict thee： and I will save her that halteth； and gather her that was driven away； and I will make them a praise and a name； whose shame hath been in all the earth。 At that time will I bring you in； and at that time will I gather you： for I will make you a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth； when I bring again your captivity before your eyes； saith the Lord。〃 Zephaniah 3：19； 20； R。V。
〃Sing； O daughter of Zion； shout； O Israel； Be glad and rejoice with all the heart； O daughter of Jerusalem。 The Lord hath taken away thy judgments； He hath cast out thine enemy： The King of Israel； even the Lord； Is in the midst of thee： Thou shalt not see evil any more。
〃In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem； Fear thou not： And to Zion； Let not thine hands be slack。 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee Is mighty； He will save； He will rejoice over thee with joy； He will rest in His love； He will joy over thee with singing。〃 Verses 14…17。
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Chapter 33
The Book of the Law
The silent yet powerful influences set in operation by the messages of the prophets regarding the Babylonian Captivity did much to prepare the way for a reformation that took place in the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign。 This reform movement； by which threatened judgments were averted for a season； was brought about in a wholly unexpected manner through the discovery and study of a portion of Holy Scripture that for many years had been strangely misplaced and lost。
Nearly a century before； during the first Passover celebrated by Hezekiah； provision had been made for the daily public reading of the book of the law to the people by teaching priests。 It was the observance of the statutes recorded by Moses； especially those given in the book of the covenant； which forms a part of Deuteronomy； that had made the reign of Hezekiah so prosperous。 But Manasseh had dared set aside these statutes； and during his reign the temple
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copy of the book of the law； through careless neglect； had become lost。 Thus for many years the people generally were deprived of its instruction。
The long…lost manuscript was found in the temple by Hilkiah； the high priest； while the building was undergoing extensive repairs in harmony with King Josiah's plan for the preservation of the sacred structure。 The high priest handed the precious volume to Shaphan； a learned scribe； who read it and then took it to the king with the story of its discovery。
Josiah was deeply stirred as he heard read for the first time the exhortations and warnings recorded in this ancient manuscript。 Never before had he realized so fully the plainness with which God had set before Israel 〃life and death； blessing and cursing〃 （Deuteronomy 30：19）： and how repeatedly they had been urged to choose the way of life； that they might become a praise in the earth； a blessing to all nations。 〃Be strong and of a good courage； fear not； nor be afraid；〃 Israel had been exhorted through Moses； 〃for the Lord thy God。 He it is that doth go with thee； He will not fail thee； not forsake thee。〃 Deuteronomy 31：6。
The book abounded in assurances of God's willingness to save to the uttermost those who should place their trust fully in Him。 As He had wrought in their deliverance from Egyptian bondage； so would He work mightily in establishing them in the Land of Promise and in placing them at the head of the nations of earth。
The encouragements offered as the reward of obedience were accompanied by prophecies of judgments against the disobedient； and as the king heard the inspired words； he
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recognized； in the picture set before him； conditions that were similar to those actually existing in his kingdom。 In connection with these prophetic portrayals of departure from God； he was startled to find plain statements to the effect that the day of calamity would follow swiftly and that there would be no remedy。 The language was plain； there could be no mistaking the meaning of the words。 And at the close of the volume； in a summary of God's dealings with Israel and a rehearsal of the events of the future； these matters were made doubly plain。 In the hearing of all Israel； Moses had declared：
〃Give ear； O ye heavens； and I will speak； And hear； O earth； the words of my mouth。 My doctrine shall drop as the rain； My speech shall distill as the dew； As the small rain upon the tender herb； And as the showers upon the grass： Because I will publish the name of the Lord： Ascribe ye greatness unto our God。 He is the Rock； His work is perfect： For all His ways are judgment： A God of truth and without iniquity； Just and right is He。〃 Deuteronomy 32：1…4。
〃Remember the days of old； Consider the years of many generations： Ask thy father； and he will show thee； Thy elders； and they will tell thee。 When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance； When He separated the sons of Adam； He set the bounds of the people According to the number of the children of Israel。 For the Lord's portion is His people； Jacob is the lot of His inheritance。
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He found him in a desert land； And in the waste howling wilderness； He led him about；
