The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-11-29
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR DECEMBER a

Chronicles, xxx, 1s-3l--Golden Text
Samuel IL, S0--aTemory Verses. re-
@4-Commentary on the Days LessOns
II. The temple cleansed Tvs. ls, 49,. Is.
Then" Hezekiah began the work Of
the first month-the month Abb, or Nj
san. This was the first New Years bay
after he became king. The work occupied
sixteen days (vs. l6, l73. As soon as tho
work was completed they reported the
TACT to the king. tCleansed all the house z
The accumulated filth of years was carried
out and cast in the Kidron Valley The
affairs were renewed, the lamps trimmed
and lighted, and the whole service set IN.
/ motion. Compare the cleansing of the tenn
pie by Christ Matt. 2I:12; John PA.
The temple Of our hearts and the temple.
and customs. by errors of doctrine, by
worldlness of spirit, by lusts Of the flesh,
by selfish ambition, BY wrong temper, BY
sins of every kind These not only defile
the temple, but keep others from worship
ing and loving God. Altar of burnt offer
ing: This was the great brazen altar
winch stood in the priests court in front
ITS furniture consisted of pan for ashes,
shovels, basins for the blood forks. flesh
hooks and eensors, "Shrew bread table. \,
1hls was an the sanctuary, or holy place,
on on the right or north side Of the room.
hagons and bowls.
49, Did cast away. See chap. Is: "a.
Have we prepared Ahaz had taken
away the bases or supports ON which the
layers rested and had removed the molten
sea from the twelve brazen oxen Compare
Z. Kings 1917 with Kings 1923. Is. 38).
These had now been restored and every..
thing was in readiness for the proper wor-
ship Of jehovah
II. Many sacrifices offered Tvs. 2O424.
20. Rose early" He was anxious to en-
t ter upon the temple services with all possi-
See Lev. 4. This was more than IKE law
required. Ahaz had broken the covenant
and Hezekiah's sin-offering was intended
20 atone for the breach. Animals Of the
kinds used in sacrifice were offered by sew
ems, that number indicating completeness.
In case Of one particular sin Of ignorance
committed by the people there was but one
bullock to be offered. but here the SIMS
were many and presumptuous For the
Kingdom" The priests were to offer sacrj-
ilces OF atonement for the sins of the king
and the royal family The sanctuary
FOR the sins Of the priests and for the pol
luton luton and DESPERATION Of the temple.
For Judah For the people who were
involved IN the guilt Of the national apos-
tasy. We should note with what empha-
SIS 1T IS stated in verse "a that an atone
ment and sin-oIering were made for alls
israel as if at this new dedication OF the
temple they would obliterate the memory
Of old national strifes and divisions and
consecrate the whole nation as an unbro-
Ken community to God.
y. Sprinkled it." The blood was
sprinkled in accordance with the law. See
Lev. 10, etc. By the sprinkling Of blood
an AZ atonement was made for sins. The
blood was the life Of the beast. and ii was
always supposed that life went to redeem
HE 23. Laid their hands" Imposition
Of hands signifed that they offered The life
Of Inns animal as an atonement for their
SINS, and 20 redeem their lives from that
death which, through their snfulness, they
deserved.
were many different kinds Of offerings.
Dr. Clarke enqmerates twenty-one. The
burnt Offering was wholly consumed. m
most OF the other offerings the priest OF
the offerer, or. both, had share, but in the
whole burnt offering the entire victim was
type OF the sacrifice of Christ, as nothing
less than his complete and full sacrifice
could make atonesnent for the sin Of the
world. The sin-offering signihed that the
otferer acknowledged his guilt, and at the
same time promised to return to God.
Tvs. 2530). Is. "Cymbal' A musical IN
strument consisting Of two broad plates of
brass, OF convex form, which being struck
together produce shrill, piercing clancor.
They, are still used by the Armeniaps.
Psalteries,D The psaltery appears to have
peen me name gwen to various large IN
struments Of the harp kind. ssHarps.'y The
harp is frequently mentioned in scripture.
4hey were OF various shapes and sizes.
Josephus says they had ten strings.
Cad. Referred to as David's seer in
sam "a; II Nathan" The prophet who
re e cd David for his sin e Sam: 12:l(
not appointed any musical instruments to
be used IN the divine worship. There was
nothing OF the kind under the first taber-
nacle. The trlmpets or horns then used
were not for song or for praise, but were
used as we use. bells, to give notice to the
congregation OF what they were called to.
perform. But David introduced many IN
struments Of music into Gods worship, for
winch ne was solemnly reproved BY the
prophet Amos lchap 6:l-6) Here, how
ever, At rs stated ". 25) to have been the
commandment of the Lord. But the Syriac
and Arabic give this a different turn 1t
was by the commandment Of the Lord
that the Levites should praise the Lord.
and y was by the order of David that SO
many instruments in the old dispensation
was no doubt OF human origin and certain
" their use then can be no reason why
they should be used in Christian worship.
The worship which God accepts to-day ID
a spiritual worship What He desires is
heart worship, not beautiful melodies from
organs and horns
rs. The singers sang Music has q
most humanizing effect. The cultivation
OF the art has favorable influence upon
public morals. 1t furnishes source az
pleasure in every family. 1t gives home
new attraction. 1t makes social intercourse
more cheerful. Gods people are singing
people, and the song service ought to be q
part OF all our religious worship
Nv. The people bring their offerings I've.
3ls36). A large number Of sacrifices were
brought by the people, so that it was inn
possible for the priests to slay and fay al
the victims, and it became necessary for
the Levites to assist We are also in
formed that the Levites were more upright
and prompt to purify themselves from past
detilement than the priests. It is common
~ supposed that the priests had been more
implicated in the idolatrous practices of
Ahaz than the Levites, and therefore many
OF them were slow Of heart to respond to
Hezekiah's call to sanctify themselves.
walked to the Fair.
In ha eAaa-,<~. LIZ rr-lf-z =