Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-11-10
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER 10.
Subject: Joash Repairs the Temple, II
Kings Kill, 4-15-Golden Text, Neh
T., 39-Memory Verses, 8-12-Com
rnentary Oh The Days Lesson.

Subject: Joash Repairs the Temple. ~
Kings Kill, 4-15-Golden Text, Neh
T., 39-Memory Verses, 8-1"-Com'
inentary Oh the Days Lesson.
The reformation under Joash began at
the time of his coronation. !. solemn
covenant was made between the Lord
and the king and the people, and be,
tween the king also and the people; that mat
ll:iO. 2. Baal worship was immediately
overthrow. From the inner court OF the
temple, which was the scene of the coro
nation, the multitudes, beyond all doubt
encouraged by Jehoiada, streamed forth
to the neighboring seat oc idol worship
bent upon Its complete demolition. The
people of the land went into the house
Of Baal and brake it down" e Kings ll:lS;
2 Chron. 23:l7). The affairs and images
which adorned it were broken to pieces,
and Mattan the high priest slain as he
officiated. Baal worship was thus tor q
time completely rooted out of Judah, and
the old religion resumed its place. 8. Inc
priests and Levites were appointed to
serve in the temple "as it was ordained by
David" e Chron. 23:ls).
I. Raising funds to repair. the temple
Joash. 1t must l. We been some time after
his coronation before he began this work.
Said to the priests" 1t is remarkable
that the first movement toward restoring
the temple should come, not from Jeho'
iada, but from Joash, not from the priest,
but from the king. Jehoiada had allowed
the mischief done in Athaliah's time to re.
main unrepaire. during his whole term OF
government. Remembering that he owed
his preservation and restoration to the
temple, and that God had made him lts
guardian, and that he had covenanted so
to be, Joash a,c ides to repair 1t. ..Ail the
noney," etc. There are three kinds OF
offerings mentioned in this verse: l. The
"atonement" money, the same amount
half shekel, about hirty-three cents-for
rich and poor alike; illustrating the truth
that the souls of of men are equally ,prec'
ious in Gods sight This was probably a
poll tax (Exod. 20;ll'l6). 2, Money from
special vows, which was regulated by law
and circumstan, es Nev. 27:l-S). 3, Free
viii offerings (Exod, $500.
is made Clear in : Chron, PAS. The
priests and Levtes were asked to go into
''thc cities of Judah and gather of all
Israel money for the repairs. hey would
naturally go to those with whom they,
were acquainted. Breaches" Years OF
neglect had allowed the walls. to crack
and crumble, and the sons of Athallah
had broken it to pieces u Chron 24:O ::
6. Had not repaired" This plan proved
failure. |. Probably because the priests
took but little interest. ?. Perhaps the
people were afraid to trust the priests
There are those in our churches to-day
who imbbe too much of the spirit OF these
priests. They would see the sanctuary
almost tumble about their heads IN runs
before they would initiate any movement
to repair and renovate 1t. Ptcty ~ at
low ebb in that soul which is 50 indifferent
to the outer fabric OF Gods h"0sc.
7. Called ior .jeho,ada.' II Is strange
that the high priest should h" NJ gilgent I;
but he was a very old man e Chlon, pa
~, even il, with most critics, We read one
hundred and three Instead of one hundred
| and thirty years. lie had become accus.
toned to the dilapidatcd state OF the tenn
Pile and pcrhap, sympathiHed with the
| priests in their reasons Tor decay. Receive
! no more etc. The pan was now entirely
| changed, and the collection winch at flr1t
had been ordered was now to cease. y.
"rhe priests consented They had found
! the work too great for them and were no
doubt Cad to be relieved;
s.. Took chest" This was done by
! direction OF the KING e Chron. AS and
WAS "a much more popular measure tnan
| the one tried before ''oash dad not be-
come discouraged, but when he failed on
ora line he tried another. Bored hole.
! The chest was locked and had hole
bored IN its lid Just large enough TO adj
mt pieces Of silver" 1t WAS paced he.
| side the great brazen altar winch stood IN
| the priests court. II was therefore out
side nt the temple proper The priests
put therein" In , Chron. "a II
| il appears that the people east the money
| INTO the chest. but 1t probably passed
| through the hands OF the priests There
| il not the slightest evidence that the
| priests and Levitps had been guilty oi any
! d;sbnnestv'
II The tcmp;e repaired Tvs. lOlJ,. 49,
"NIuch money The new pan had put
| life into the work. The gvcrs saw that
| others were giving and that success was
likely to attend their efforts. and accord,
ingly there was money in abundance
! From verse 6 we see that the money for
The sunnort of the priests was not given
With the other, so that every person knew
exactly for what purpose his gifts were
used ,Joy and delight in the object made
liberal oyers The kings scribe" etc.
1t appears bv comparing . Chron. 24:ll
! that the chest was carried unopened into
tha limos Office and that the money was
nIaced IN charge of two responsible per.
snrs who mi If IN bags. counted and
married. ready to he maid ont to the work.
man
| II "Rs;n, told" Soc r Y. We would
cav They counted thr money" but its
! value was found nv weighing. "Thev paid
| il ont, IN w The money was placed
in rho hands IF ine oyerseers and they
paid it out to the worllmen From verse
T.; ior 'ney u."' :, r"aJo 81 certain YES.
sells and implements which were not made
1 Oi.l