prophets and kings-第69章
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He found him in a desert land； And in the waste howling wilderness； He led him about； He instructed him； He kept him as the apple of His eye。〃 Verses 7…10。
But Israel 〃forsook God which made him； And lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation。 They provoked Him to jealousy with strange gods； With abominations provoked they Him to anger。 They sacrificed unto devils； not to God； To gods whom they knew not； To new gods that came newly up； Whom your fathers feared not。 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful； And hast forgotten God that formed thee。
〃And when the Lord saw it； He abhorred them； Because of the provoking of His sons； and of His daughters。 And He said； I will hide My face from them； I will see what their end shall be： For they are a very froward generation； Children in whom is no faith。 They have moved Me to jealousy with that which is not God； They have provoked Me to anger with their vanities： And I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people； I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation。〃
〃I will heap mischiefs upon them； I will spend Mine arrows upon them。 They shall be burnt with hunger； and devoured with burning heat； And with bitter destruction。〃
〃For they are a nation void of counsel； Neither is there any understanding in them。 O that they were wise； that they understood this； That they would consider their latter end！
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How should one chase a thousand； And two put ten thousand to flight； Except their rock had sold them； And the Lord had shut them up？ For their rock is not as our Rock； Even our enemies themselves being judges。〃
〃Is not this laid up in store with Me； And sealed up among My treasures？ To Me belongeth vengeance； and recompense； Their foot shall slide in due time： For the day of their calamity is at hand； And the things that shall come upon them make haste。〃 Verses 15：21； 23； 24； 28…31； 34； 35。
These and similar passages revealed to Josiah God's love for His people and His abhorrence of sin。 As the king read the prophecies of swift judgment upon those who should persist in rebellion； he trembled for the future。 The perversity of Judah had been great； what was to be the outcome of their continued apostasy？
In former years the king had not been indifferent to the prevailing idolatry。 〃In the eighth year of his reign； while he was yet young；〃 he had consecrated himself fully to the service of God。 Four years later； at the age of twenty； he had made an earnest effort to remove temptation from his subjects by purging 〃Judah and Jerusalem from the high places； and the groves； and the carved images； and the molten images。〃 〃They brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence； and the images； that were on high above them； he cut down； and the groves； and the carved images； and the molten images； he brake in pieces； and made dust of them； and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them。 And he burnt the bones of the priests
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upon their altars； and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem。〃 2 Chronicles 34：3…5。
Not content with doing thorough work in the land of Judah； the youthful ruler had extended his efforts to the portions of Palestine formerly occupied by the ten tribes of Israel； only a feeble remnant of which now remained。 〃So did he；〃 the record reads； 〃in the cities of Manasseh； and Ephraim； and Simeon； even unto Naphtali。〃 Not until he had traversed the length and breadth of this region of ruined homes； and 〃had broken down the altars and the
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groves； and had beaten the graven images into powder； and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel；〃 did he return to Jerusalem。 Verses 6；7。
Thus Josiah； from his earliest manhood； had endeavored to take advantage of his position as king to exalt to principles of God's holy law。 And now； while Shaphan the scribe was reading to him out of the book of the law； the king discerned in this volume a treasure of knowledge； a powerful ally； in the work of reform he so much desired to see wrought in the land。 He resolved to walk in the light of its counsels； and also to do all in his power to acquaint his people with its teachings and to lead them； if possible； to cultivate reverence and love for the law of heaven。
But was it possible to bring about the needed reform？ Israel had almost reached the limit of divine forbearance； soon God would arise to punish those who had brought dishonor upon His name。 Already the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people。 Overwhelmed with sorrow and dismay； Josiah rent his garments and bowed before God in agony of spirit； seeking pardon for the sins of an impenitent nation。
At that time the prophetess Huldah was living in Jerusalem； near the temple。 The mind of the king； filled with anxious foreboding； reverted to her； and he determined to inquire of the Lord through this chosen messenger to learn； if possible； whether by any means within his power he might save erring Judah； now on the verge of ruin。
The gravity of the situation and the respect in which he held the prophetess led him to choose as his messengers to her the first men of the kingdom。 〃Go ye；〃 he bade them；
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〃inquire of the Lord for me； and for the people； and for all Judah； concerning the words of this book that is found： for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us； because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book； to do according unto all that which is written concerning us。〃 2 Kings 22：13。
Through Huldah the Lord sent Josiah word that Jerusalem's ruin could not be averted。 Even should the people now humble themselves before God； they could not escape their punishment。 So long had their senses been deadened by wrongdoing that； if judgment should not come upon them； they would soon return to the same sinful course。 〃Tell the man that sent you to me；〃 the prophetess declared； 〃Thus saith the Lord； Behold； I will bring evil upon this place； and upon the inhabitants thereof； even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read： because they have forsaken Me； and have burned incense unto other gods； that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands； therefore My wrath shall be kindled against this place； and shall not be quenched。〃 Verses 15…17。
But because the king had humbled his heart before God； the Lord would acknowledge his promptness in seeking forgiveness and mercy。 To him was sent the message： 〃Because thine heart was tender； and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord； when thou heardest what I spake against this place； and against the inhabitants thereof； that they should become a desolation and a curse； and hast rent thy clothes； and wept before Me； I also have heard thee； saith the Lord。 Behold therefore； I will gather thee unto thy fathers； and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in
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peace； and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place。〃 Verses 19； 20。
The king must leave with God the events of the future； he could not alter the eternal decrees of Jehovah。 But in announcing the retributive judgments of Heaven； the Lord had not withdrawn opportunity for repentance and reformation； and Josiah； discerning in this a willingness on the part of God to temper His judgments with mercy； determined to do all in his power to bring about
