Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-11-11
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER Is.
Subject: Joash Repairs the Temple, II
Kings xiii, 4-15-GOlden Text, Neh
K, 39-Memory Verses, 9-12-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
aud the king and the people, and ''be
tween the king also and the people" that
they would be THE Lords people e Kings
HID. 2. Baal worship was Immediately
overthrow. From the inner court OF the
temple, which was the scene of the coro
nation, the multtudes, beyond all doubt
to the neighboring seat oe idol worship
bent upon its complete demolition. The
people of the land went into the house
Of Baal and brake it down" q Kings Ills;
2 Chron. 23:l7). The affairs and images
which adorned it were broken to pieces.
and Mattan the high priest slain as he
cfficiated. 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:l8).
!. Raising funds TO repair the temple
Tvs. 4-9). "Jehoash." The same as
Joash. 1t must We been some time after
lis 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
ilda, but from Joash, not fran 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 its
guardian, and that he had covenanted so
to be, Joash q, cides to repair it. All the
money" etc. There are three kinds OF
offerings mentioned in this verse: !. The
"atonement" money, the same amount
half a shekel about hirty-three cents-for
rich and poor alike; illustrating the truth
that the sous of of men are equally prec-
ious in Gods sight This was probably
poll tax (Exod. 30:ll-l6). 2. Money from
special vows, which was regulated by law
and circumstance s Lev. 27:l-6). 8. Free
Will offerings (Exod. 35:5)
5. let the priests" etc. The meaning
is made clear in Chron. 24;5. The
priests and Levites were asked to go into
"the cities of Judah and gather OF al
Israel" money for the repairs. They WoI,d
naturally so to those with whom they
were acquainted. Breaches" Years of
neglect had allowed the walls to crack
and crumbie, and the sons of Atha.iah
had broken it to pieces e. Chron. PAD.
6. Had not repaired" This plan proved
a 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 ruins
before they would initiate any movement
to repair and renovate it. Pety is at
low ebb in that soul which is so Indifferent
to the outer fabric of Gods house.
E.ConaJ fOr Gohoio6a ~ lie StrapCp
that the high priest should be negligent;
but he was a very old man q Chron. 24;
l5), even if, with most critics, we read one
hundred and three instead of one hundred
and thirty years. He had become accus-
toned to the dilapidated state of the tenn
ple 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. 3;
THE priests consented They had found
the work too great for them and were no
doubt glad to be relieved.
direction of the king e 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 it's lid just large enough to adj
NIT pieces of silver" 1t was placed be-
eide the great brazen altar which stood in
the priests court. 1t was therefore out
side of the temple proper. "The priests
put therein" In 2 Chron 24:l0
it appears that the people cast the money
into the chest, but it probably passed
through the hands of the priests. There
is not the slightest evidence that the
onJ T o1-,+os bo1 hean u,,ilty of any
dishonesty
II. The temple repaired Tvs. 1918. 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 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
used Joy and delight in the object made
liberal givers. The kings scribe" etc.
1t appears by comparing 2 Chron. PAIL
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.
II. "Being told" See r. V. We would
say, "They counted the money but It's
value was found by weighing. They paid
it out" Or. W. The money was placed
in the hands of the Overseers and they
paid it out to the workmen. From verse
Is we see that they were trusted perfect
IT, "for they dealt faithfully" IL. In
this verse mention is made of certain YES
sells and implements which were not made
at this time, while in 2 Chron. 24:4 men,
ton is made of those which were made;
the passages are not contradictory. IA.
"Thev - repaired the house of
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 ony
by a resolute and united effort. |. There
was a willingness among the people to give
literally 2. There was a strict and i'm,
partial administration of the funds. 3. All
unnecessary EXPENSE was avoided. ID.
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-
ton, generous giving, careful expenditure,
earnest and faithful toll If you wish SIC
cess in life, make perseverance yo,,r bosom
friend, experience your wise counselor,
caution your elder brother and hope your
guardian genius.