Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-04-22
SCHOOL.
Lesson lv.-Sec0nd Quarter, For
April %, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, u Kings xii, Ais.
Memory Verse, 11-Golden Text, |
chron. xxx, s--commentary Pre-
pared bv Raw. D. M. Stearns.

king of Judah, In last weeks lesson
and In this one He began TO reign
in his seventh year and reigned forty
years, doing right in the sight of the
Lord, while Jehoiada. the priest, in.
structed him Oversees 1-3). but he did
not destroy idolatry in the land.
Our last good king In Judah was Je-
hoshaphat, who was succeeded by his
son Jehoram. his firstborn. who mar
ried II daughter of Ahab and did evil
In the sight Of the Lord and put to
death his six brothers. He reigned
only eight years and died fearful
death. as the prophet Elijah sent him
word that he would. II Is written OF
him that he departed without being
desired Gil Chron. xxi.
Jehoahaz Tor Ahaziah), his youngest
son, succeeded him, all his older broth
crs having been slain by the Syrians.
He relgncd only one year. and his
mother. Athaliah. was his counselor
to do wickedly III Chron. xxi. ID. He
was slain by Jehu. and when his
mother knew that he was dead she
at once proceeded TO destroy all the
seed royal OF the house of Judah. but
Jehosheba Tor Jehoshabeathl. the wife
of Jehoiada, the priest, and sister of
Ahaziah, rescued the infant Joash and
hid him and his nurse In the house Of
the Lord six years while Athaliah
reigned over the land Gil Kings ri, 1-3:
III Chron. xii. 1912.
Last weeks lesson told us how, In
his seventh year. Jehoiada, the priest,
arranged to have him brought forth,
nnointed, crowned and proclaimed king.
and made covenant between the Lord
and the king and the people that they
should be the Lords people (xi. II, ~.
They broke down the house of Baal
and his affairs and images. slew the
priest of Baal, and also the wicked
queen mother Athaliah. So the people
rejoiced and the city was quiet (xl.
1920.
We must not confuse our good King
Joash of Judah with another Joash,
king of Israel. who began TO reign
over the ten tribes in the thirty-sev-
enth year of the king of Judah's reign
and who departed not from the sins Of
Jeroboam. the son of Nabat. who made
Israel to sin I'll Kings Kill. 1913. We
have a key to the heart of today's les
son IN the expression. "The house of
the Lord" which occurs In our lesson
verses Just twelve times, IL We in
clude verse 10.
Inasmuch as the king spent the first
six years of his life In some part of
the house OF the Lord under the care
of the priest of the Lord II Is the
most suggestive phrase In our lesson.
and the more so when we remember
that the kings who reigned at Jeru-
salem We're said TO sit ON the throne
OF the Lord as king Il Chron. xxx, 23l.
We cannot think of Israel as a nation
without a tabernacle or temple as a
dwelling place for Jehovah in their
midst. One of the first commands TO
Moses after the delivernnce from
Egypt and the giving of the law at
Sinai was. Let them make me II
sanctuary that I may dwell among
them" lex. XIV, 81. When Cyrus, king
of Persia, made proclamation through
out all his kingdom that the Jews
might return from Babylon he said
that 1t was to build the house OF the
Lord God OF Israel In Jerusalem Ezra
Is, Ia. Ezekiel xl to Xviii tells Of
the temple that Is TO be when they
shall be gathered from all nations new
er TO be pulled up or scattered any
more.
When Israel was numbered It was
the law that every one. rich and poor.
should give half shekel rs atonement
money as ransom for his soul. and
this money was to be used In the
service Of the Lord (Ex. XXX. ii-l6l.
This Is probably part of the money
referred TO In verse with which they
were to repair the house of the Lord,
for the sons of Athaliah. that wicked
woman. had broken up the house OF
God and had bestowed the dedicated
things upon 3aalam.
Joash instructed the priests and the
Levites 10 go out unto the cities OF
Judah and gather of all Israel money
TO repair the house of the Lord from
year to year. but this collecting bust.
ness did not work any better than 1t
!. does today. and after more than TWEEN
ty years the work was not done oversees
as: ii Chron. xiv, 40.
Then Jchoiada. the priest, took
chest. with a hole In the lid, and set
II beside the altar on the right side as
one cometh into the house of the Lord,
and they made a proclamation through
Judah and Jerusalem TO bring in the
offering that Moses had commanded,
aud thus they gathered money In
abundance. and the workmen wrought,
and the work was perfected by them
and they set the house OF God In his
state and strengthened II oversees Ola:
ii Chron. xiv. S-l3l.
have personally tried the box at
the door plan for thank offerings. for
benefits received at the services, the
money to be given 10 missions 10 help
tell the glad tidings 10 Others. and II
II