Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1915-11-04

The time Of this lesson was about
87S 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
hberality and to repair the temple.
!. .Lethargy, v. q, 8. % Its cause.
We should read in this connection II
Chron. "a. From the two accounts
and the previous history of the ma
ton we conclude that the condition
OF the temple was due, Ca) to the
weak and frequently vicious charac-
tiers of the rulers of the nation; ID
to the evil companions of both princes
and priests and (c) to the cupidity of
court and curate. (2) The result of
this Iethargy regarding Gods cause
was evidenced (a) upon the temple,
and (b) upon the lives of the people
OF the kingdom. 60 The cure. Joash
instituted great reforms in Judah and
in these Jehoiada the priest ". q 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 QI Chron. 24:15-26).
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 ". z:
also II Chron. 24:O. 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 I'M
dertake 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 a 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 (see /
Chron. 24:5, g.. 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 a
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 a temple" I Cor. 3:
16; GID and both the body and
church buildings alike should be kept
in proper condition.
II. LiberallSy, VS.. els. The plan to
have the priests gather funds for the
repairs was Scriptural (Exod. %:
2-S) God does not look upon the
measure but upon the motive of our
gifts Gil Cor. 8:12). The priests did
not hasten the matter" so the king
took it 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. a. The object. It was dis
tinctly for the glory of God and not
to outbid others or to wastefully use
the money for selfish purposes. ~
All were to participate voluntarily,
out Of their abundance QI Chron.
| 24:1O), Systematically and faithfully.
(3) The results were house repaired
(I Chron. 24:12). beautiful (II Chron.
24:13) with the worship restored CI
Chron. 24:14). Joash seems to have
! laid great emphasis upon the ''taber-
nacle of witness" (24:6) and we need
to recall that each and every part
of that temple was testimony to the
truth of God and had in 1t a spiritual
suggestion and prophecy, AS a whole,
1t suggested that God dwelt in the
midst of his people. The sons of
Athaliah (Joash's grandmother) had
so conducted themselves as to cause
it to need repairing OH Chron. 24:O.
! When we turn to II Chron PASTA and
read the record of the restoration of
the temple, we discover: "a Each
hou Ab5 part III the NOIh. kAg EhCn
did a perfect" work, Q. g., did his
task faithfully, fully and to q finish.
go Each did an orderly work, Sin his
state" None sought to supplant or
defraud Others In the work assigned.
(4) Each did a strong work, It was
strengthened" and not trifling work
Rs men-pleasers or for the moment.
Try more prayer and like Joash,
give the people a chance and there
win be no lack.
Again, note that they dealt faith
fully" We need to exercise faithful
ness in our relations to God and in
the use of that which ne intrusts to
our stewardship.
Man and God alike win have con-
fldenee in us according 70 the method
whereby we receive and expend
money.