The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-11-26
THE sUNDAY-sCHOOL LESSON.
For December 4. .HeLckiah Reopens
the Temple"

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON.
For December 4. "HeIekiah Reopens
the Temple"
CONTEXT-Our Last historic lesson.
studied November 10, pertained to Joash.
King OF Judah, whose reign closed SIS B.
c.. His successors were Amaziah. Uzziah.
lothian ard Ahaz. The last named. pat
tern!ng after the Kings of Israel, gave
himself Up to the moet abom.nab.e idola-
tries. He reared affairs in Jerusalem and
offered sacrifices upon them. and made his
own children TO pass through the fire. He
changed the houss OF the Lord so as to
make 1t conform to the temples which he
had seen in Syria. Thus he offered con-
tempt to the true God and provoked him
to anger For the impiety which he prac-
ticed he was in dishonor with his people,
and when he was dead they refused him
burial with the Kings. After sixteen
Hezekiah, his son, who set himself at
oncs to the work OF reform. Among the
first things that he did was the reopening
Of the temple about which we study to-
day.
SANCTIF1EDACerses IS and 49, The
temple had been 50 shameflly polluted
under Ahaz that IT was unfit for the wor-
ship OF Jehovah. By the Kings order the
LeN1tes were set TO the task of cleansing.
The inferior priests were employed in that
business for the space or fifteen days
verse 10, now and casting into the
prook kedron and large quantity Of rub
Dish that had been accumulated. and per-
forming such rites as were appointed by
the law in setting apart certain places to
holy, tEh. II. 81 When all was
IN detail. What had been so long in con-
fusion was restored to order; what had
been flthy was clean; what had been per-
Grated to the Lords service. The house,
the altar, the vesse.s, the shewbread ia
BILE. were all ready for the use for which
they were originally designed. awaiting the
pleasure of the royal refoHner.
Observation-Disclosures 0.)-Hezekiah did
not long delay when he received this in
formation Early next morning he went
up to the house Of the Lord. but not
panied him. Thereby Official recognition
was given. This act was in harmony with
the course pursued by rulers before and
after. q Chron. XIV. ~ Associate effort in
tiuential than Individual effort. Numb. X,
y In the Christian system 1t is held to be
essential to success. CHeb. x. ISL The
gathering together of the city's officers on
desecTated. but now renovated house OF
worship was a proclamation in itself well
calculated to reach and impress the peo-
pie. Indeed, they were but the representa-
tives OF the people. Their act and example
undoubtedly drew together a vast con-
course for exercises which are described
in the remainder of our lesson.
SACRIFICED-Verses q. 2aeThis as
semblase was intended to begin the forms
Of sacriicial worship. Instituted bv Moses,
put long neglected by Ahaz. The first in
this form OF worship was a sin Offering of
seven bullocks. seven rams and seven
lambs. The law required but one beast
u-ev. l. 81 but this was a great occasion.
and the sins OF the people were very great.
On that account the number was in
creased. seven being an emblem OF per-
lection. signifying that 1t was a complete
sacrifice. The Offering was made for Ju-
dan. over which Hezekiah reigned. and
for the kingdonl-which Included the ten
tribes then called Israel-and for the
blood was sprinkled on the altar after the
original custom uev. viii. 49,. as Il figure
OF things to come Heb. TX. ~. This sin
offering represented that the covenant
again by Gods appointment through the
shedding OF blood. The death Of the vic
tim was a substitute for the death OF the
offender.
RECoNCILED-Verses Is. e4) After
this initial in which the cove
nant had been renewed. there came a sac
riice of a still more interesting character.
The seven he goats were brought forth.
and hands were laid pom their heads. sig
nifying a transference of sins from man
to the goat. Div. iv. 2) Then the goats
were killed. and the blood was sprinkled
on the altar. This was an act Of atone
Hrrllt oV rcCOIlCllldtlOn, o. WHICH COMES
sion OF sin was made and pardon secured.
1t Is not here stated hat the prescribed
rules for the priest. the ruler or the na-
ton. were observed. requiring the blood
TO be carried into the most holy place.
Perhaps this was not done. and in hat
case these offerings must be considered
as different in some respects from those
prescribed in that part Of the law. 1t
will he noticed that the offerings were
presented. not only in behalf of Judah.
but for all Israel, Inc this was lone at
the command OF Hezekiah. who hoped to
recover the ten tribes.
REJOICEDIverses 25-21.) This occa-
sion was undoubtedly solemn. In no other
spirit could these sacrifices be rightly Of
fered. All trifiing and merry-making must
have been excluded as wholly inappropri-
rightly belonged here. indeed the best
form. and that was encouraged by the
King. He expected and desired that the
people should rejoice. They had every
pie and the true worship of God, the per
Torrance of sacred rites after the law Of
the Lord. the renewing OF the covenant
that had been broken. the f9~rgiyense
OF sins that had been committed-all this
was calculated to awaken gladness in the
heart. And the King provided for Its e1-
preston. He set Levites In their appoint
cd places with musical instruments of
various kinds and they rendered the
Psalms of David. after the custom OF
other days. Cymbals, psalteries. harps
and trumpets blended their JOYFUL Strains
to gladden. all hearts.
WORSHIPED-Versss Is and 80 All
this was outward and formal. something
to be seen and heard. The appeal 10 the
senses was very frequent in the Jewish
system. and at that time. because of the
condition of the people, 1t was very help
full and necessary. But there was also
something for the heart. The Kin and all
that were with him worshlped. The feel
ings of holy devotion and reverence found
expression, moreover. after the custom OF
the time. All bowed themselves to IT,
earth, prostrating their bodies before the
wards changed to a resting upon the knee
(Rom. ri, ~. or 4 mere inclination of the
head eek. xii. 30 as in our time. 1t was 4
most impressive scene when the vast con-
gregation thus rendered their devotion to
God while the sacrifices were offered and
the singers sang and the trumpets sound
ed. the devotion being continuous until the
prescribed course OF the ritual was COM
plete.
Observation-Disclosures 80 and 81 A
public and official act OF religion has Its
value. It brings the items of authority,
regularity sy and u1 ss Inw e of inItiattv 20
There are many who would never begin
any religious exercises IL left wholly 70
themselves. And vet. there Is great need
Of the purely personal element. when one
exercises according to his W pleasure
and with a sense Of absolute freedom. And
SO when the sacrifices ordered by the King
and conducted according 10 the pfescrioeu
formula were completed the people were
Instructed to continue their sacrifices. each
in his own way. with larger or smaller dis
plays, according to ability and taste. And
that they did with free hearts. enjoying
their religious privilege unrestrained. To
help them in these sacrifices the music
continued as before. The words of the
sweet singer rang out through the temple
and lifted up the heart while men brought
in their sacrifices n their thank Offer
ings.
REFLECTIONS1. When the King, or
the head of a nation, turns his heart to
God. the institutions or religion become
matters of great concern. .. Tit place of