The National tribune., 1891-05-21

pointed gor May 81, 1897. : Chroa.. etsi-
-.
lO.- rsa,lia= ,Ls.s notes should first carefully
s'n.y Tie paragraph from the Holy Scriptures ~
indicated GbpveI
SUBJECT: THIS TEMPLE REPAIRED.
/. Data.
We have two accounts Of this event TO W.T.
h, l.: i-lE, aud Ch.. 2I:f-Ii. The student
should read hoth accounts aud notice how re-
marSa,''y alike they are. In addition 10 would
be profit tb.e also To compare the two accounts
a given IN the Revised Edition.
,. Tine
We date SCI r. q. Our last lesson related -
the Captivity Of the Ten Fri IS, and was dated
~ B. g. Hence. in our present lesson we 20
back li3 yeIr5. We are TO study the account
al tdc repairing OF the temple az Jerusalem in
The reign Of JehO1sh. Solomon built the tenn
pic, and it was Dedicated about $50 years before
the Improvements under JehOssh Wo cannot
tell how long Jehoash had been ruling before
hc determined on putting the temple into good
condition. We notice no was lrst TO call at
tention to its unfit state.
3. Place
The lesson center5 at jerusalem on ut.
MOriah.
4. The Circumsiaaces
Jehoa5h was son OF Ahazllh and Zibiah,
grandson Of Johoram and AthalHh, nephew OF
JrhosHabI, who was wife of the priest Jch0iada.
His grandmother (AthaiahJ was a daughter Of
Omri King of Israel. aud 50 a sister OF Ahab
and sister-in-law Of Jezs5el
lt was fearful mistake, a crime, for JehO-
ram, King Of Judah, 10 marry Athaliah. She
was no friend 10 Judah to jerusalem to the
temple. 10 the true God. Though wife Of
Judah's King. she was at heart and in practice
a worshiper Of Baai.
WHfaFt Iar & 4 ~
death, as she supposed, every one who could
lay claim 10 the sceptcr of Judah. But God
had promised David the time would never
come when descendant of his would be want
ing To the throne. While tho slaughter OF all
heirs 10 the crown was Athalialis purpose, J5-
hoshaba seized Jehoash. an infant Of but one
year IN age, and carried him 10 the temple.
Being the wife Of JehOiada, she found no
trouble in gaining access to the temple and en-
Joying special privileges within il. She then
cared for the young heir to Judah's throne for
Sax years. Meanwhile Athaliah ruled over
Judah.
When JehOash was seven years old the priest
JehOiada took steps TO inaugurate him King.
80 well did he plan that AthaIiah was slain and
JehOash throned securely. Think Of q sister Of
Ahab ruling Judah. What rejoicing when
descendant IN DdTid's line took crown and
scepterl
There was special reason why JehOash should
feel peculiar interest in the temple. IL bad
becu his salo refuge from that wicked SOman,p
q Chr, 2l:1,J Athaliah. for six years. lie no
tees the shabby condition Of the building; $50
years would tell on any structure. Then we
read, IN Chr, 2i:7, The sons Of Athalah
had broken up the house Of God
and also all the dedicated things Of the house
OF the Lord did they be5tOw upon Baalim."
He decides 10 repair the building; but money
must be raised. Two plans were adopted.
3. Hon ne Honey ras Obtained.
The first plan for raising funds was the set
ting apart several classes Of offerings Articles
which had been presented to the tomple, aud
which could be converted into money, were 20
be sold. All sums voluntarily contributed by
visitors NJ Jerusalem were added To the fund.
Then, many, moved by an impulse similar to
that which prompted JchOash, would gladly
oher extra sums toward such a purpose.
Further all male Jews over 20 years Of aye
paid poll-tax Of about 81 cents each.
II was hoped % secure ample means for tine
work from these sources. The priests were
urged to adopt this plan and 20 call the atten-
ton Of every individual 10 the matter Every
priest and every Lcyite would have special
friends and acquaintance. These should DO
visited and invited to help
Some years passed on, and il was found that
no fund was accumulating. The priests could
l4p- AdFc beCu enough interested. IFOIIDlY
not much money was raised. The Ten Tribes
had seeded, and nothing could DO expected
from them. Then, Baaii5m found friends even
~ the palace. Religion was at low ebb. The
priests and Levites could probably secure with
all moneys paid q very I1s4srate support
JehOash saw another plan must be adopted
He seemed offended. lie had been ruling IG
years. aud the temple was yet in a shameful
condition. lie told the priests TO hasten, q
4 fNfW - EfrN Z. 4
ing had been done. lie rebuked their slOWness
aud want Of zeal. The priests were pleased 10
be relieved OF the responsibility Of securing 81
large fund. JehOIada prepared a chest, and
bored a hole in the lid. This was first placed
within the temple walls, but at length it was
put just outside the gate Of the temple. The at
tention OF the people was stirred up, and they
were urged, in memory Of David and Solomon,
out Of love for their nation, and especially from
regard for Jehovah, 20 be liberal. Each day the
chest was found with generous offerings. and
emptied. the contents put in bags. The open
ing and the counting were by two persons, who
would thus be a restraint 20 each other against
any temptation TO dishonesty. We read in 2
Chr, 81: IL, Thus they did day by day, and
gathered money in abundance"
Carpenters, masOns stoueeutteFs, brasiers,
were put 10 work. Men who stood
in such high esteem in the confidence Of society
that their bills were not examined, nor their
accounts audited, were secured as Oyerseers.
81 They dealt faithfully"
IL is noticed in Hi, 10 IS, that the in
comes Of the clergy were not cut of nor dimin-
ished because the laity were repairing the
church.
The chests contained more money than was
needed for the repairs, and such sums remain
ing were devoted to the purchase Of plate of
gold and silver needed in the worship Of the
temple. q Chr "a: H.. There was call for
such utensils; for2 Chr, % T. shows Athaliah's
sons took from the temple much Of the plate
ware aud transferred it to the house of Baal.
6. Suggestions
What has this history 10 suggest for our
and encouragement? Teachers
must not forget that our whole aim in instruc-
ton Is to get facts to use for enforcing the
ethics of ordinary human life.
]. Do what is right in Gods sight This
means much. We have many merely human
standards of right and wrong. Study Gods
idea in the matter. Remember he sees you
aud is always measuring YOU by his /
own standard. "In Gods sight" yea. we act
before his eyes, and should seek his approval
?. If backsliddCn cold, indifferent reIigiOusly. |
bestir yourselves. Wake up to a sense Of duty. /
Cease slackness and carclessness Seeing the /
need of church repairs, set to work at once and /
put the property in order.
3. Rebuke wrong Jehoash called on Jehoi- |
ada aud chided him for his slOWuess in repair- |
ing Gods house All Temissness OF duty should |
receive due criticism. The superior is the |
proper person TO administer such rebuke
4. See the influence Of the individual Je- /
hoiada kept in proper spirit for years. As 4
soon as the priest died the King lapsed into 1