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 copy of the book of the
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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
.
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