The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-11-09
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER 10.
Subject; Joash Repairs the Temple, ~
Kings xiii, 4-15-Goiden Text, Neh
X, 39-Memory Verses, 0-12-Com
mentary on the Days Lesson.


X. 3o-Memory Verses, o-1s-Com
mentary ON the Days Lesson.
The reformation under Joash began AT
the time of his coronation. /. A solemn
covenant was made, between. the, LORD
and the king and the people," and ''be.
tween the king also and the people," that
they would be "the Lords people" e Kings
1l:l7). 2. Baal worship was Immediately
overthrown. 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 oe idol worship,
bent upon It's complete demolition. "The
people of the land went into the house
of Baal and brake it down" e Kings Ills;
2 Chron. 23:lO. The affairs and images
which adorned it were broken to pieces,
and Mattan the high priest slain as he
officiated. Baal worship was thus for
time completely rooted out of Judah, and
the old religion resumed its place. 3. The
priests and Levites were appointed to
serve in the temple "as it was ordained by
David" q Chron. 23:lS).
/. Raising funds to repair the temple
Tvs. 4-9l. "Jehoash." The same as
Joash. 1t must + We been some time after
bis coronation before he began this work.
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 unrepaireL during his whole term OF
government. Remembering that he owed
his preservation and restoration to the
temple and that God had made him iss
guardian, and that he had covenanted SO
to be, Joash otcides to repair it. "All the
money" etc. There are three kinds OF
offerings mentioned in this verse: /. 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 circumstances Nev. 27:l-S). 8. Free.
will offerings (Exod. $3.50.
B. Let the priests" etc. The meaning
is made clear in Chron. PAS. The
priests and Levites were asked to go into
''the cities of Judah and gather of all
Israel" money for the repairs. They 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 Athaliah
9. Had not repaired" This plan proved
a failure. l. Probably because the priests
took but little interest. 2. Perhaps the
people were afraid to trust the priests.
There are those in our churches to-day
who imbibe too much of the spirit of these
priests. They would see the sanctuary
almost tumble about their heads in ruins
before they would initiate any movement
to repair and renovate it. Piety is at a
low ebb in that soul which is so Indifferent
to the outer fabric OF Gods house.
Z. Called for Jehoiada." 1t is strange
that the high priest should be negligent;
but he was very old man e Chron. "a:
I a Il
hundred and three instead of one hundred
and thirty years. He had become accus.
toned to the dilapidated state of the TEN.
pie and perhaps sympathized with the
priests in their reasons for delay. Receive
no more," etc. The plan was now entirely
changed, and the collection which at first
had been ordered was now to cease. 8.
the work too great for them and were no
9. "Took chest" This was done by
direction of the king q Chron. 24:S), and
was "a much more popular measure than
the one tried before" Joash did not be-
come. discouraged, but when he failed on
one line he tried another. Bored hole.
"The chest was locked and had hole
bored in its lid just large enough to ad-
NIT pieces of silver" 1t was placed be-
side the great brazen altar which stood in
the priests court. 1t was therefore out
side Of the temple proper cIhe cf priests IS
put tht therein Sa sorIn In :.st thron tSs
into the chest, but it probably passed
through the hands of the priests. "There
is not the slightest evidence that the
priests and Levites had been guilty of any
dishonesty"
II. The temple repaired Tvs. lO.l5). 10
Much money. The new plan had put
life into the work. The givers saw that
Others were giving and that success was
| likely to attend their efforts, and accord
ingly there was money in abundance
From verse 8 we see that the money for
the support of the priests was not given
with the other, so that every person knew
exactly for what purpose his gifts were
liberal givers. "The kings SCRIBE" etc
| 1t appears by comparing 2 Chron. 24:ll
that the chest was carried unopened into
| the kings office and that the money was
| placed in charge OF two responsible per,
sons, who put it in bags, counted and
marked, ready to be paid out to the work
| men.
IL. "Being told" See r. V. We would
say, "They counted the money!, but its
! value was found by weighing. "They paid
! it out" (R. W. The money was placed
in the hands of ihe oyerseers and they
| paid it out to the workmen. From verse
10 we. see that they were trusted perfect
this verse mention is made of certain YES
sells and implements which were not made
| at this time, while in 2 Chron. 2i:4 men
ton is made of those which were made;
the passages are not contradictory. IA
"They repaired the house oi
the Lord" The labors OF all, from the
king to the humblest carpenter, were es
sential to the success of the great under
taking. 1t is not for any worker in the
Lords cause to say he has of himself done
any good thing. At the best he is only
one of the many agents in the perfecting
of Gods plans. The restoration of the
house of the Lord was accomplished only
by resolute and united effort. !. There
was willingness among the people to give
literally. 2. There was a strict and i'm
partial administration Of the funds. 3. Al
unnecessary expensee was avoided. Is
"They dealt faithfully" Those who
handled the money as well as the work
men were conscientious and faithful. In
this reorganization we observe all the elc
ments of success-prompt and decided ac
| tion, generous giving, careful expenditure
earnest and faithful toll. Ii you wish sue
cess in life, make perseverance, your bosom
friend, experience your wise counselor
caution your elder brother and hope ycui
| rdian 0Qniua