The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-15

CONTEXT.-Jehoshap the good king
of judah, after years of faithful service
committed one great blunder- he made a
league with Ahab against the Syrians Al
though aftcrward he sought to repair the
mischief, trouble resulted, clouding the
horam, forsook the godly example of his
father, slew his brethren and reigned
eight years in wlckedness. He followed
the course of Ahab and restored heathcn
worship I'll Chron. XxD, setting up inn
ages i'm the groves. As consequence God
withheld his protecting care, and the Ed
omtes and the librarians, who had been
subject from the time of David. rebeled.
lie died in "a horrid manner and was sue
Ceeded by his son who followed in his
footsteps. Athaliah then took up the
government, blood-thirsty woman,
whose ambitious designs brought the ma
tion well-nigh to anarchy But salvati IN
/ came at last through Johoida the priest
who employed the army to put Joash on
the throne the young prince who had
hccn concealed during the time OF slaugh-
ter JOash was only seven years of ago
when he was made Hing, the sole survivor
of the seed of David.
pURPOSE.-Under the guidance of his
carly guardian, the high priest Jehoida,
Joash, the boy king, did that which was
right in the sight of the Lord" (verso o.
| Tie renewed the covenant with Jehovah
which had been broken during the twelve
! years of his three immediate professors
lie destroyed the idols, broke up their
worship, and introduced reforms of va
rious kinds. Among other plans he con-
Ceivcd the worthy purpose of repairing
/ the temple. That beautiful edifiCe. erect
/ ed by Solomon and dedicated a century
/ before. had been plundcred of it's vessels
/ fer the service of Baal, and injury haI
/ been done to its fabric. partly by neglect
/ and partly by violence. Notwithstanding
/ the care bestowed upon the building for
| the sixty years of the reign of Asa and
| JChashaphat, it became under Jchoram,
| Ahaziah and Athaliah a place unfit for
| the sacred service 1t is ever a proof of
! a mans piety that he regards the Lord s
sanctuary Geek. Xiv, -. Jesus him
! self was CffenGcd when He saw the tenn
! pie profancd Mark Xi, IL. And so this
/ zeal of Joash was an exhibition of the
goodrC IS OF his heart the promise of the
/ new day that, under his reign should
/ came to the kingdom Of Judah
! E%pENSE.-Thcrc were two plans by
which Joash might have executed his pur-
| pose. Without doubt sufficient funds were
| in the treasury to meet all the expense
! of the necessary repairs, and the king
miGht have used them for that purpose,
| experimenting them if need be from his
/ own store. That would have been least
! troublesome and most expeditions. A
vain person might have delighted III such
| display of generosity, leaving a monu-
mcnt OF his piety. So in our day some
wealthy man contributes all that is ro-
quired to accomplish Il great public meas
| ldc. But this plan Is seldom wise. Joash
took a better course. He determined that
| the people should have part in repairing
the temple, knowing that their Gifts
would both measure and develop their
| love for the Lord Luke vi, 3S). He there
! fore sent forth the priests and Levites
| Cverse % into the cities of Judah to re-
! Ccivc a frce-will Offering. This was a
repetition of the method employed by
Moses in building the tabernacle (EN.
NXXv, 2D. These collectors were like the
church extension agents of our day.