The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1911-04-20
JOASH REPAIRS
THE TEMPLE
Sunday School Lesson for April 23, 1911
Specially Arranged for This Paper

LESSON TEXT-i Kings 11:H-12Is
GOLDEN TEXT-"Then the people re-
ioiced. for that they offered wilingly"--
I Chron. 2o:9.
T1ME-1n the twenty-thrd year Of
Joash's reign. s6i B. c. CBeecher), s2l n.
G.. CHastngs) Joash was slain in the
fortieth wear Of his reign. ST B. c. Bee
cher) s03 y. c. CIastngs).
Professionalism. and the Temple.
KINGS IIazael Is king OF Syria; Je-
hoanaz has succeeded Jehu In Israeli IN
Assyria Shalmanezer II. has died and
Shamash-ramman has come to the throne.
Joash did that which was right in
the high priest was alive, but after
the death OF that good man Joash al.
lowed the people to become idolaters
again. Even during Jehoida's life,
moreover. the worship at the high
places was allowed to go on. These
local sanctuaries were held to be con-
ducive to true religion. The Temple
was his boyhood home, HIS safe ref
uge for seven years from the murder.
Gus cruelty Of Athaliah. In the Tenn
pie lived his best friends. There he
had been crowned No wonder he
came to love those courts, and to sor-
row over their dilapidated condition.
Joash called together the priests
and the Levites. and bade them draw
from the regular funds for the Tenn
pie restoration. This money Of the
! fodicatel things. the money conse.
Grated TO religious uses by the people.
was obtained from three sources:
Money of every one that passeth the
account; that is, the poll-tax Of half
shekel paid by every male Hebrew
above the age OF 20 whenever a cen
sus was taken. Money that every
man is set at; "All the assessments.
Money that cometh into any mans
heart to bring: The free-will offerings
OF the people for this purpose, which
might be large.
The church workers, even when
they take thought for the church.
have little heart in their work. THE
facetious Sydney Smith had two
yokes OF oxen on his little farm in
Yorkshire to which he gave the
names of Tug and Lug Haul and
Crawl These would be appropriate
names for a large class OF church
members who put no heart into their
Christian work. II is mere tug and
toll and task to them.
There is a lack OF cooperation. A
minister called upon a member who
had been neglecting the week-night
service. and went straight up to the
| L.
with the tongs removed a live coal
from OFF the fire, and placed II on the
hearth. then watched It while It turn
ed from the red glow OF heat to 9
black mass. The member In question
carefully observed the proceeding
and then said you need not say g
single word, sir; I'll be there or
Wednesday night" No church fir,
can burn brightly II the Goals are pull
ed apart.
Though many other reasons NIGH
be given for the failure when church
work falls behind. II is all summed uT
in one cause. the absence OF Christ
Getting Christ into the people will
solve the problem OF getting people
!
work when they are there.
with the frankness and opennes'
/ with which all church matters SHOULD
l be. treated, Joash sent for Jehoidi
and the subordinate priests and ask
ed them. with some indignation
) "Why repair We not the breaches o
y the house?"
very simple plan was adopted
appealing directly to the religious
zeal OF the people. A wooden ches
was taken, and slit was made in th'
lid for the money to pass through
This was set beside the altar. How
n did Joash's plan succeed? Admirably
II brought in much money. Peopl'
2 like to give directly to cause, I,
q know Just how their money is spent
They are far more likely to respon,
TO special than to general appeals
y The kings secretary and the higl
r priest went together to the chest
counted the money, and put It up Il
bags. It was then given to the over
seers OF the work, and they paid It on
o to the carpenters, builders, masons an
Ine HtH lHdl luIHlbHtu luc llInDtl
hewn stone, and iron and brass. Notf
ing was spent on mere ornaments
o everything was devoted to the soil
repair of the fabric. In all churc
n work progress is made only by A,
ing upon goal and allowing nothin
to turn one aside till the goal
reached.
i The crown OF Joash's life was whs
i he did for the house OF God. Sue
5. work will be the crown OF any lif
Is that undertakes 1t. There is ROOF
l. In Gods house for all kinds of worl
"a ers and all degrees of skill Eve
; the youngest scholar in the Sunda
school can make a helpful contribl
tion to the Temple service.
Work for the church should be pr,
gressive; we should become moro e
:, ficient church workers every yea
~ To this end 1t is necessary that W
y begin young, Just as singers an
Vt piano players begin young.