Middletown transcript., 1915-11-06


The time of this lesson was about
S7S B. c., and it follows within a 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 God. He set himself to arouse great
nberality and to repair the temple.
!. .Lethargy, v. 4, 8. ~ Its cause.
We should read in this connection II
Chron. "a. From the two accounts
and the previous history of the ma.
tion 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. (3) The cure. Joash
instituted great reforms in Judah and
in these Jehoiada the priest ". p had
no small part. In this particular les
son the prince ". y seems to lead
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. 24:15-26).
In this lesson we have, however,
suggestion Of what is needed to cure
religious lethargy. (a) A vision of
the real condition of affairs ". Z;
also II Chron. 24:7). Joash saw the
resultant ruin Of the temple after
Is years Of misrule; he also saw
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, Luther,
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 tie Sec
ond need of (b) persistence (see /
Chron. 24:5, g.. Such work also de-
mands (c) systematic effort and CIV
ing. Joash placed himself among Is
raeIs best kings by undertaking the
restoration of the temple and won =
place alongside of Hezekiah 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 temple / Cor. 3:
16; 6:19) and both the body and
church buildings alike should be Kept
in proper condition.
Il. LIberaIity, VS.. 9-15. The plan to
have the priests gather funds for the
repairs was Scriptural. (Exod. %:
2-8) God does not look upon the
measure but upon the motive of our
gifts (II Cor 8:12). The priests did
not 'hasten the matter" so the king
took 1t into his own hands ". 81,
In this remissness Jehoiada, as the
chief priest, is held accountable for
all ". y.
We have in this story a rich sug
gestion as to Gods plan of Christian
giving. ~ The object. 1t was dis
tinctly for the glory Of God and moi
to outbid others or to wastefully use
the money for selfish purposes. (2)
All were to participate voluntarily
out Of their abundance III Chron
24:10), systematically and faithfully
(3) The results were a house repaired
III Chron. 2+:12). beautiful (n ChroE
24:13) with the worship restored II
Chron. 24:1D. Joash seems to have
laid great emphasis upon the 'taber
nacle Of witness" (24:6) and we neeC
to recall that each and every par
Of that temple was testimony to the
truth of God and had in 1t a spiritua
suggestion and prophecy. AS a whole
1t suggested that God dwelt In thu
midst Of his people. The sons o.
Athaliah (Joash's grandmother) hat
90 conducted themselves as to causI
It to need repairing (II Chron. 24:7)
When we turn to II Chron. 24:s-14 ant
Cead the record Of the restoration o
me temple, we discover: ~ Eacl
had Its part in the work. (2) Eacl
did a perfect" work, e. g., did hi
task faithfully, fully and to a finish
(3) Each did an orderly work, I'm hi
state" None sought to supplant o
defraud others in the work assigned
az Each did a strong work, 1t wa
strengthened" and not a trlfling worl
as men-pleasers or for the moment
(6) Each worked economically be
cause when all bills were paid, none
was returned to the treasury.
, What a marked contrast with mod
ern methods Of conducting public in
, provements! There was great Joy 4
, the hearts Of both princes and peopl
as they brought and wrought. W
rob ourselves by our withholding, 10
where your treasure is, there wi
your heart be also"
There is sound philosophy 1
Proverbs 1924, 25. That class, churc
or individual that liveth unto itse
will soon die. 1t may have a nam
that is great in the earth but ths
name will not abide. In giving "
1 get; in serving, we increase. Here |
also a suggestion how to raise churc
finances.
The world is past master in tn
art of amusing and can discount man
times over the cheap entertainment