The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 395

in all his work. Such an example is full of instruction for our modern life. Never be a consenting party, even by your silence, to what your conscience tells you is wrong. Never consent, even by your silence, to anything dishonouring to God or not in accord- ance with his will. Never be a consenting party to anything that you would he ashamed of in the sight of God and men-to acts of injustice to others, to dishonesty or unfairness of any kind, to profanity, to neglect of Sunday observance, or any other form of prevailing wickedness. " 0 my soul, come not thou into their secret; with their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united." Like Josiah, we can never begin too soon, not only to serve God ourselves, but also to bring others to him. Like Josiah, let every 86rvant of God show the reality of his and her religion by deeds of usefulness, by bearing testimony age.inst sin, and by unwavering firmness in the ea.use of Christ e.nd duty. III. Josua's EARLY DEATH. Josiah died at an early age. He was mourned for with great lamentation. Some think that it is of him that Jeremiah, in his Book of Lamentations, speaks when he says, "The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Jehovah, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen." The passage perhaps indicates how great was the influence for good which Josiah exercised, and how much the people depended upon him as their leader and defender. His early death, before he had completed bis fortieth year, must have caused many to wonder at God's mysterious providence, But his work was done. He had really done the work of many lives in one. And so when servants of God are taken away in the prime of life-or prematurely, as we say-let us remember that God's ways are not our ways. In his sight their work is done. They have finished the work which he gave them t.o do. Let us so use the precious time which God has given us, that in our dying hour we shall not have to look back upon a wasted life. But let us live, a.s Josiah lived, a. life of holiness, of usefulness, "redeeming the time." And then when we a.re drawing near to the gates of death, we shall feel that for us they are the gates of heaven. We shall be able humbly and thankfully to say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept tho i~ith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day."-C. H. I. Vers. 1-20.-A monarch of rare virtue, and a God of retrfbutive f1utice. "Josiah was eight years old," et.c. There are two subjects in this chapter that arrest our atten- tion, and which are fertile with suggestions. L A MONARCH OF BABE VIRTUE. "Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem," etc. In this monarch we diacover four distinguished merits. 1. Religiousness of action. "He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord." This is the testimony of the historian, whoever he may be, and we a.re further told. "Josiah walked in all the way of David his father," Elsewhere we have given the biblical account of David's life.1 From that account it might, perhaps, be questioned whether to "walk in the way of David" was a. morally creditable life. But undoubtedly in the opinion of this writer, Josiah was a man whose activity was inspired by true religious feeling. Here we find him providing for the repairs of the temple. "And it ea.me to pass in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shapba.n the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshulla.m, the scribe, to the house of the Lord, saying, Go up to Hilkia.h the high priest, that he may sum the silver which ie brought into the house of the Lord. which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people : and let them deliver it into the hand of ~he ~oers of the work, that have !he oversight of the house of the Lord: and let them g1ve 1t to the doers of the work which is in the house of the Lord, to repair the breaches of the house." The king who provides for the religious instruction and worship of hie people proves thereby that he is under the influence of the religious sentiment. In repairing the temple, Josiah honours bis people, not only by a.llowing, but by encouraging them to co-operate with him in the noble work. He coerces none; all were left free, and they did their work honestly and honourably. "Howbeit there was no reckoning ma.de with them of the money that wae delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully." 2, Docility of mind. "And Hilkia.h the high priest said unto Shapha.n the scribe, I have found the book of the L9:w in the lwuae of the Lord. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. Anll 1 See • Commentar,1 : Book of Psalms,' vol. iil. on. x:m. 1-20.) TllE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. 445