2 Kings 22:13

Go ye, and inquire of the Lord for me.

This order is equivalent to. command to seek the presence of. prophet. There were two of this order in Judea at this time of whom we know, Jeremiah who had begun to prophesy five years before (Jeremiah 1:2), and Huldah, the wife of Shallum.. For some reason unknown to us they went to the prophetess. Then followed. solemn public reading of the law and. national repentance and reformation. The whole nation renewed its covenant with Jehovah, and the, king proceeded to carry into execution the diving precepts.

PRACTICAL AND SUGGESTIVE.

1. Elijah in Israel, Josiah in Judah, and Luther in Europe, were all restorers of the word of God. Idolatrous princes and nobles in the one case, and in the other idolatrous priests had wrested it from the people. The ignorance of Christendom of the Divine law before Wickliffe and Luther gave it to the people was as great as that of the Jews before the reformation of Josiah.

2. There is no better proof of spiritual decay than neglect and ignorance of God's word; there, is no better proof of spiritual revival than an increase of interest in its study.. religious age is always. Bible reading age.

3. Too often the Bible is lost. Sometimes it is lost in the temple or church; buried under the rubbish of creeds, traditions of men, human dogmas and opinions which have usurped its place. If it were brought forth from the rubbish and read the people would be, astonished. Sometimes it is lost in the home, covered with the dust of disuse, buried under the love of the world. It should be sought out, brought forth, and made the man of counsel. To refuse to hear the voice of God is. proof of idolatry.

4. In times of sorrow or perplexity we should always "inquire of the Lord." We may not have the Urim and Thummim, or be able to consult. prophet in person, but we can go to the throne of grace. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him."

5. The day of grace may be sinned away. Josiah's piety and repentance stayed but did not avert the ruin brought on Judah by disobedience. There is. point beyond which "no place for repentance" can be found, "though sought carefully with tears." "Seek the Lord while he may yet be found." All "who seek him early shall find him."

6. Josiah from. child walked in the fear of the Lord. The man will be what the boy was, only more fully developed. "On the mantel-shelf of my grandmother's best parlor, among other marvels, was an apple in. phial. It quite filled up the body of the bottle, and my wondering inquiry was how it could have been got into its place. But the apple remained to me an enigma and. mystery. Walking in the garden. saw. phial placed upon. tree, bearing within it. tiny apple, which was growing within the crystal. Now. saw it all. The apple was put into the bottle when it was little, and it grew there. Just so we must catch the little men and women who swarm our streets, and introduce them within the influence of the Church; for, alas! it is hard indeed to reach them when they have ripened in carelessness and sin."-- Spurgeon.