The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-11-04


GOLDEN TExT-God lovcth a cheerfu,
glver.-II Cor 81.
The time Of this lesson was about
S7S u. c., and Il follows within n few
years last Sundays lesson. Ipauru-
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. lie set himself To arouse great
liberality and to repair the temple.
!. .letharoy, v. 4. Q. % Its cause.
We should read In this connection II
Chron ~. From the two accounts
and the previous history OF the ma.
ton we conclude that the condition
OF the temple was due. taD to tho
weak and frequently vicious charac-
tiers OF the rulers OF the nation. tb,
to the evil companions OF both princes
and priests and tc) to the cupidity OF
court and curate. t2J The result OF
this lethargy regarding God 8 cause
was evidenced taD upon the temple.
and tbl upon the lives OF the people
OF the Kingdom. ca The cure yoash
Instituted great reforms In Judah and
In these Jehoiada the priest ". ~ had
no small part. In this particular les.
son the prince ". ~ 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 mis- predc.
cessors and his reign ended In an
eclipse OF evil III Chron. 2t:I5-26D
In this lesson we have. however. a
suggestion OF what 10 needed to cure
religious le;hargy. taI A vision OF
the real condition Of affairs ". Z:
also u Chron. 2t:D. Joash saw the
resultant ruin OF the temple after
Is years OF misruIe: he also saw
the misconduct OF the priests and
did not hesitate to call them to
account It's no easy task to un.
dertake q 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 tbl persistence tsee I
Chron. 2f5. 81. Such work also de-
mands tc) systematic effort and Civ.
ing. Joash placed himself among Is
raefs best kings by undertaking the
restoration OF the temple and won q
place alongside OF Hexekiah AID Jo-
siah. Modern churches are not. strict
ly speaking. "A house OF the Lord
such as tho 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 q temple" I Cor. g.
10; s:lsi and both tne body and
church buildings alike should be kept
In proper condition.
". tiberaiity, W. s-t5. The plan to
have the priests gather funds for the
repairs was Scriptural tExod 25
2s) God does not look upon the
measure but upon the motive OF our
gifts I'll Cor. s:l2) The priests did
not hasten the matter" so the king
took II into his own hands ". 81.
In this remissness Jehoiada. as the
chief priest. is held accountable for
all w. -.
We have In this story n rich sug.
gestion as to Gods plan OF Christian
giving. u The object. II was dis
tinctly for the glory OF God and not
TO outbid others or to wastefully use
the money for selfish purposes. 90
All were to participate voluntarily.
out OF their abundance I'll Chron.
H:lO. systematically and faithfully.
go The results were house repaired
I'll Chron. 24:l2) beautiful I'll Chron.
H:l3l with the worship restored III
Chron. 2i:lp. Joash seems to nave
laid great emphasis upon the ''taber-
nacle OF witness t2i:6) and we need
to recall that each and every part
OF that temple was a testimony TO the
truth OF God and had in Il a spiritual
suggestion and prophecy. As a Who'll,
It suggested that God dwelt In TIM
midst OF mis- people. The sons OF
Athaliah fJoash's grandmother had
so conducted themselves as to cause
II to need repairing Gil Chron. 24'D.
When We turn TO II Chron PASTA and
read the record OF the restoration OF
the temple. we discover: D Each
had its part IN the work. t2l Each
did a perfect work, g. g., did his
task faithfully, fully and to a finish.
CD Each did an orderly work. In ms
state None sought To supplant or
defraud otherb IN the work assigned.
90 Each did strong work. II was
strengthened" and not a triiiing work
as men-pleasers or for the moment
Try more prayer and like Joash.
give the people chance and there
will 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 ana God alike will nave CON
tdence In US according to the method
Ia 49,