The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-07-21
THE SUNDAY BIBLE SCHOOL.
Lesson in the International Series
for July "a, 1e04-"Jehosha-
phat's Reform"
prepared by the Highway and By
way" Preacher.)
copyright, 1904, by J. M. Edson.J
LESSON TEXT.

u enron. lg:l-ll, memory verses, f-oD
And Jehoshaphat the king OF judah re-
turned TO his house in peace to Jerusalem.
O. And Jehu the son Of Hanani the seer
went out to meet him, and said to King
Tehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the un-
yodly, and love them that hate the Lordf
therefore Is wrath upon thee from before
the Lord
3. Nevertheless there are good things
found In thee, In that thou hast taken
away the groves out of the land, and hast
prepared thine heart to seek God.
4. And Jehoshaphat dwelt at jerusalem;
and he went out again through the people
from Beersheba to Mount Ephraim, and
brought them back unto the Lord God of \
their fathers.
s. And he set Judges In the land through
out all the fenced cities of Judah, city by |
city.
what ye do, for ye Judge not for man, but
for the Lord, Who Is with you in the judg-
ment
Z. Wherefore now let the fear Of the Lord
be upon you: take heed and do 1t for there
Is 10 lniauity with the Lord our God, nor
respect of persons. nor taking of gifts.
8. Moreover In Jerusalem did Jehosha-
phat set of the Levitas. and Of the priests
and of the chief of the fathers Of Israel
for the judgment Of the Lord and for con-
troversies when they returned to Jerusa-
lem.
shall ye do In the fear Of the Lord, faith
fully, and with a perfect heart.
TO- And what cause soever shall come to
you of your brethren that dwell in their
cities, between blood and blood. between
law and commandment, statutes and 1udg-
ments. ye shall even warn them that they
trespass not against the Lord, and so wrath
come upon you, and upon your brethren;
this do and ye shall not trespass
II. And, behold Amariah the chief priest
Is over you In all matters Of the Lord; and
Zebadiah the son of 1shmael the ruler of
the house of Judah, for all the kings mat
ters; also the Levites shall be officers be-
fore you. Deal courageously, and the
Lord shall be with the good
THE LESSON includes 2 Chron. H-2o;
GOLDEN TExT.-"Deal courageously,
and the Lord shall be with the good
2 Chron. 1911.
T1ME.-Jehoshaphat began to reign in
9l4 B. c. Lesson events occurred In TWEEN
tieth year of his reign.
PLACE.--Jerusalem and Judea.
PERSONS.-Jehoshaph and the seer,
Jehu.
Events in Judah.
Jehoshaphat's righteous and prosperous
reign.-2 Chron. II.
Jehoshaphat's unholy alliance with Ahab.
% Chron. IS.
4 Eyents OF the Leson.-Chap. 10.
Jehoshaphat's miraculous victory over
Moab and Ammon.-Chap. 2O:l-3O
! Jehoshaphat's second wicked alliance
with Israel.-Chap. 20 0:35.
Jehoshaphats Disastrous Shipping Ven
ture.-Vs 36, 81
Events in Israel
Ahab was killed In battle with the Syri-
ans against whom he had gone when he
persuaded Jehoshaphat to join forces with
him. The lesson to-day occurred after
A hal. 20 G,,tA ,F.,..
history Of Elijah. the Prophet, which will
be considered in the lessons for August and
September. occurred during Jehoshaphat' $
reign.
Comparing Scripture with Scripture.
"Jehu the seer went out to
meet him The same prophet who had
rebuked Baasha. king Of Israeli Kings
1871. God repeatedly sent His prophets
Ito rebuke sin in high places. See Sam
1870; Sam. 1885, 1 Kings 1871; /
Kings 17:1, etc. Ps. 1898, but--Ps
1O3:9. .--.
"Shouldest thou help the ungodly and
love them that hate the Lord?" Eph
, 5:11: 2 Cor. 6:14-17; 2 John 1911. This
ungodly alliance probably led later tc
the marriage Of Jehoshaphat's son
| Jehoram, to Ahab's daughter.-2 Chron
, 21:6.
| Nevertheless, there are good thing:
, found in thee"-See Je Jehoshaphat's S splen
! did record In Chron II. God is always
} ready to see the good and give due credit
, "He went out again. See 2 Chron
1879. In the prosperity OF the king
dom and the interest Of the king in othel
things, the early reforms had undoubt
edly lapsed, as they do to-day. We neec
to remember Cor. 1858.
Brought them back unto the Lord.
Dan. 1875, Jas. $50. Rom. 1871.
"Set judges in the land, This mean.
, his reappointment Of commissioners o
public instruction mentioned in Chan
17:7-9. Perhaps with new powers ant
a large STAFF of assistants.
Take heed what ye do; for We jude,
not for man, but for the Lord who Il
, with you in the judgment" This woulc
be good text to hang over the desl
, OF every judge In the land to-day. Mucl
of the evil in Israel had arisen from dis
, honorable judges.-Comp. / Sam. ST..
with VS. 4 and 5.
Moreover. er."-Jehoshaphat did not res
content with educational and judicia
reforms. He reestablished the religious
functions of the priests and Levites
charging them to serve Sin the fear o.
I the Lord, faithfully and with a perfec
/ heart" Reform must go deeper thar
; mere externalities If 1t is to be perma
, nent and effective. The heart is tn,
: place to start every reform for-Matt
1919,
, Deal courageously. 1t takes a bray,
, man to be reformer. Matt. 5:29-3O
Matt. 10:2S Make no compromise
: God in dealing with sin accepts moth
ing but unconditional surrender. III,
. never temporizes. Dare we? "Dea
} courageously,' therefore, for eth,
) Lord shall be with the good" Thi,
+ lesson furnishes striking example O
: this. and this promise was renewed b,
Jesus in Matthew 2S:1S-2O and Johr
1923.
Seed Thoughts.
, Three points about God are empha
, sized in this lesson mo iniquity will
Him"-Deut. 1924; Rom. 9:14; mo re-
spect Of persons. Acts 1924; Rom. q
i IL; Eph. SO; Peter 1;t7, and mo TAX
ing of gifts" Man cannot bribe God.
The Prophets rebuke was followed b,
I Jehoshaphats repentance, the evidence.
, of which were; % Contrition-sorr,
, for sin: (2) Observation-Disclosures o
! sin. (3). Conversion-turning from sin