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The Long-lost Law Book Discovered
The prophets’ messages regarding the Babylonian captivity did
much to prepare the way for a reformation in the eighteenth year
of Josiah’s reign. This reform movement came about unexpectedly
through the discovery of a portion of Holy Scripture that had been
misplaced and lost for many years.
Nearly a century before, during Hezekiah’s first Passover cele-
bration, provision had been made to read the book of the law publicly.
Observing the statutes recorded in the book of the covenant (a part of
Deuteronomy) had made Hezekiah’s reign prosperous. But during
Manasseh’s reign the temple copy of the book had become lost.
Hilkiah, the high priest, found the long-lost manuscript in the
temple while the building was undergoing repairs. He handed the
precious volume to Shaphan, a learned scribe, who took it to the
king with the story of its discovery.
Josiah was deeply stirred as he heard for the first time the warn-
ings recorded in this ancient manuscript. Never before had he real-
ized how Israel had been urged repeatedly to choose the way of life,
that they might become a blessing to all nations. See
Deuteronomy
31:6
. The book held many assurances of God’s willingness to save
those who would place their trust fully in Him. As He had worked in
their deliverance from Egyptian slavery, so would He work mightily
in placing them at the head of the nations of earth.
As the king heard the inspired words, in the picture set before him
he recognized conditions similar to those existing in his kingdom. In
these prophetic descriptions of departure from God, he was startled
to find plain statements that the day of disaster would follow and
that there would be no remedy. He could not mistake the meaning
of the words. And at the close of the volume, in telling of future
events, Moses had declared:
“[Israel] forsook God who made him,
And scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation. ...
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