Chapter 38—Light Through Darkness
The dark years of destruction and death marking the end of the
kingdom of Judah would have brought despair to the stoutest heart
had it not been for the encouragements in the prophetic utterances of
God’s messengers. Through Jeremiah in Jerusalem, through Daniel in
the court of Babylon, through Ezekiel on the banks of the Chebar, the
Lord in mercy made clear His eternal purpose and gave assurance of
His willingness to fulfill to His chosen people the promises recorded
in the writings of Moses. That which He had said He would do for
those who should prove true to Him, He would surely bring to pass.
“The word of God ... liveth and abideth forever.”
1 Peter 1:23
.
In the days of the wilderness wandering the Lord had made abun-
dant provision for His children to keep in remembrance the words of
His law. After the settlement in Canaan the divine precepts were to be
repeated daily in every home; they were to be written plainly upon the
doorposts and gates, and spread upon memorial tablets. They were to
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be set to music and chanted by young and old. Priests were to teach
these holy precepts in public assemblies, and the rulers of the land
were to make them their daily study. “Meditate therein day and night,”
the Lord commanded Joshua concerning the book of the law, “that
thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for
then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have
good success.”
Joshua 1:8
.
The writings of Moses were taught by Joshua to all Israel. “There
was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not
before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little
ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.”
Joshua
8:35
. This was in harmony with the express command of Jehovah
providing for a public rehearsal of the words of the book of the law
every seven years, during the Feast of Tabernacles. “Gather the people
together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within
thy gates,” the spiritual leaders of Israel had been instructed, “that they
may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and
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