Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-11-05

s LESSON TExT-u Kings PALS.
GOLDEN TExT-God loveth a cheerful
giver.-H Cor. s:7
The time of this lesson was about
S7S B. c., and it follows within few
years last Sundays lesson Inaugu-
rated as king and instructed by a
faithful priest, yet Joash discovered
great lethargy ON the part of the
priestly class with regard to the house
of Cod He set himself to arouse great
hberality and to repair the temple
1. .lethargy, v. q, 8. (1) Its cause.
We should read in this connection II
Chron. "a From the two accounts
and the previous history of the ma
lion We conclude that the condition
OF the temple was due, (a) to the
weak and frequently vicious charac-
ters of the rulers of the nation (b)
to the evil companions of both princes
and priests and (c) to the cupidity OF
court and curate. (2) The result of
this lethargy regarding Gods cause
was evidenced (a) upon the temple, |
and (b) upon the lives of the people |
of the kingdom. CD The cure Joash
instituted great reforms in Judah and /
in these Jehoiada the priest (v q had |
no small part. In this particular les |
son the prince ". y seems to lead I
the priest. Unfortunately the godly |
priest did not long survive the crown /
ing OF Joash and hence when he came
under other influences he soon went
back to the evil practices of his prede-
cessors and his reign ended in an
eclipse of evil (II Chron. 24:l5-26).
In this lesson we have. however. a
suggestion of what is needed to cure
religious lethargy. (a) A vision of
the real condition of affairs (v. Z;
also II Chron. 24:O. Joash saw the
resultant ruin of the temple after
Is years of misrule; he also saw
4 the misconduct of the priests and
did not hesitate to call them to
account. 'Tis no easy task to un-
dertake a reformation and restoration
such as this; witness Moses, Luthe",
! Wesley and Cary. These priests had
aided him to gain his throne and
doubtless had had part in his boy
hood training. Joash had inaugu-
rated certain reforms before he be-
gan this task which suggests the sec
ond need of (b) persistence tsee
Chron. 24:5, 81. Such work also de-
mands (c) systematic effort and Civ
ing. Joash placed himself among Is
rael's best kings by undertaking the
restoration of the temple and won =
place alongside of Heaekiah and Jo-
siah. Modern churches are not. strict
ly speaking, "a house of the Lord
such as the Jewish temple, yet the
condition of many of our churches
would indicate great indifference to
the cause of the kingdom. Our bod
les are indeed a temple" | Cor. 3:
16: 6:19) and both the body and
church buildings alike should be kept
in proper condition
n. Liberality, VS.. s-f5. The plan to
have the priests gather funds for the
repairs was Scriptural (E1od 25:
2-S) God does not look upon the
measure but upon the motive OF our
gifts I'll Cor. S:12). The priests did
not hasten the matter" SO the king
took it into his own hands t. -.
In this remissness Jehoiada, as the
chief priest, is held accountable for
, all ". y.
i We have in this story rich sug-
gestion as to Gods plan OF Christian
giving, % The object. 1t was dis
. tinctly for the glory of God and not
to outbid otkers or to wastefully use
the money for selfish purposes. ~
All we're to participate voluntarily
out of their abundance I'll Chron
24:10), Systematically and faithfully.
J CD The results were house repaired
tII Chron. 2t:12}, beautiful Ql Chron
24:13) with the worship restored III
Chron 24:14). Joash seems to have
! laid great emphasis upon the ''taber
II nacle of witness (24:6) and we need
o to recall that each and every part
of that temple was a testimony to the
truth of God and had in it spiritual
suggestion and prophecy. AS q whole
d it suggested that God 6welt in the
d midst of his people The sons ol
y Athaliah (Joash's grsndmother) hae
u so conducted themselves as to cause
a it to need repairing CT Chron. PAID
g When we turn to II Chrc2. 24:8-l4 ant
D. read the record of the restoration o
e. the temple, we discover: u Eact
had its part in the work t2) Eaci
did perfect work, e. g., did hi.
Il task faithfully, fully and to finish
I t3) Each did an orderly work. in hi'
e state" None sought to supplant o.
defraud others in the work assigned
az Each did strong work. it wa
strengthened" and not trialng wcr!
: as men-pleasers or for the raoraent
(5) Each worked economically be
&c cause when all bills were paid. none,
ie was returned to the treasury.
What marked contrast with mod
!" ern methods Of conducting public In
- provements! There was great Joy il
- the hearts of both princes and peopl
IT, as they brought and wrought. VI
rob ourselves by our withholding, 10
" where your treasure is. there vii
your heart be also"
There is sound philosophy il
~ Proverbs 1924, 25. That class. chrrcl
t. or Individual that iiveth unto itsel
:, will soon dc 1t may have a naEl
:, that is great in the earth but taa
: name will not abide. In giving "
get: il serving, we increase. Here
also suggestion how 10 raise chult
finances.
The world is past master in til
!. art OF amusing and can discount man
il times over the cheap entertainme Mt
II, so frequently used 10 whecdle leone
l. from the urWary.
Y Nc wonder church treasures ara S
:, often emnty for we do not give " f.: