Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1911-04-20
PLEASANT FIELDS OF HOLY WRIT
The Intern ational S. S. Lesson.
Second Quarter, Lesson Nv; z
Kings XII Fl X111-16 April 70
1911
Joash Repairs The Temple

The temple at Jerusalem was notl
merely place of devotion contain
ing venerated souvenirs. 1t was IN
itself a monument to religion. Its
material condition was therefore
significant. Like barometer it in
dictated the rise and fall of religious
feeling. At this time the sacred
fame was in a pitiful condition. Mere
neglect is enough to insure ruin OF
a large building, but in this instance
there was actual vendalism in addl-
ton. No wonder Joash turned to
the repair of the temple as the first
act of his reign. 1t had sheltered
him in infancy, hiding him six years
in its sanctuary. Under its porch
he had been anointed king. Its
high-priest had been his foster-father,
it's priests his body-guard, its aro-
mory furnished the weapons for his
defense. The Importance of the
proposed restoration of the temple
is significantly indicated. The chron-
icler puts special emphasis on it as
the chief work of JOash's reign. The
first plan for raising funds proved
futile. The priests were to canvass
the country for subscriptions. Moth
ing indicates misrepresentation OF
funds. The fact is they did not get
any. The next device succeeded.
The people were not solicited away
from the, & le, but on the very
ground where they could witness
the ravages of the vandal. After
the pilgrim had seen the ruin and
before leaving he would come across
chest whose open mouth seemed
to plead for an offering for restora-
ton of the temple. The device was
popular at once. A yellow stream
poured into the improvised treasury.
The strong-box had frequently to
be unlocked by the high-priest and
audited by the kings scribe. Soon
there was enough and to spare for
repair, renovation and refurnishing.
AS the building in itself was sign of
the covenant, its restoration by the
free gifts of the people was token
of the revival of the covenant be-
tween Jehovah and his people.
The Teachers Lantern.
There were several strains of
blood in Joashs veins, good and bad.
He could not choose his ancestors
and so was not responsible. He
could, however, say which strain
should be ascendent. In asserting
the power of heredity it has been
said that the dead hand rules us.
If that be so then the live hand
must grapple with the dead one.
All unworthy ancestral ghosts can
be laid. Where there's will there's
way! Jehoiada seemed indispen-
sable to Joash. He could not stand
alone. But the best test of character
is to be able to stand without a
prop. The religion that always
needs bolstering is not of much ac-
count. 1t cost a great sum to keep
St. Peters in repair. There is a
little village on the roof of the
cathedral where the Workmen live.
If work ceased the vast building
would soon be in ruin. But in this
instance Solomon's Temple was not
only neglected, it was looted. Stick
ing to the first plan adopted is often
matter of pride. 1t is broad
minded person who drops the plan
that proves futile and adopts anoth
er. Jehoiada did that when he
substituted the chest for the personal
canvass. What the Forum is to
Rome, the Acropolis to Greece, the
Temple is to Palestine History of
temple is history of nation Names
illustrious and desplicable, deeds
valorous and ignoble, doctrines Of
faith, usageS of ritual, all are shrined
and illustrated here. 1t is epitome
of a thousand years.
No wonder that repair of such a