Middletown transcript., 1920-09-04
C'n00E
LESSON
@y REV. p. B. FTTZWATER. =. y.
Teacher Of English Bible In the Moooy
Bible Institute Of ChicaE0.)
Copyright. 1890. Western Newspaper UnioA.)
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER S
THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE.
p. b. FTrZWArER. D. ..


JUNIOR TOPIC-Solomon Builds the
Temple.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Putting Our Best Into the House of
God.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Value OF House Of Worship.
]. solomon's Preparation (5:1-18).
He secured from King Hiram:
l. Wood for beams, ceilings, sheet
ing, and chambers around the holy
house.
2. Stones for the great foundation.
These were secured from the Phoeni-
cia1 Quarries and also from the noun
tain upon which the temple was tuilt.
They were so shaped that when the
temple was erected there was no sound
Of hammer heard.
3. Skilled w0rkmen. Among the Is
raelites were not to be found men
skilled In, this kind of work, SO the
king arranged with Hiram to furnish
capable men.
II. Solomon building the Temple
(e:1-3S).
l. The location-Mount Morah Gil
Chron. 3:). This was a suitable loca-
ton. as it was here that the Lord ap-
peared to Solomon's father, David.
2. The dimensions and materials. III
a cubit was 1S inches, the temple
proper was 80 feet long, 30 feet wide
and 45 feet high"
3. The contents: 1) Brazen altar /;
f2) laver; (3) golden candlestick: ~
cherubim.
III. The Dedication Of the Temple
(S:1-C6).
The dedication of the temple was
arranged to take place at very favor
able time. The success Of an under
taking is largely determined by the
time in which it is held. This was ar
ranged to take place at the most JOY
GUS Of the several representative gath
erings of the Jews. The dedicatory
services consisted of the following:
1. Bringing up the ark wv. 1-11).
The ark was Gods dwelling place.
The ark must be brought into the tenn
pie, for Gods presence was the true
dedication. When this great work was
to be done the king arranged for rep
resentative gathering Of the people.
consisting of the elders, princes and
heads of the tribes. Though there
were many great men, only the priests.
Gods appointed ministers, moved the
ark. Connected with this service was
o very great sacrifice in keeping with
the occasion. The ark with the two
tables of stone under the mercy seat
shows God manifesting himself with
his people on the ground OF a law per-
fectly kept and sins atoned for by the
shedding of blood. Following the COM
pletion of the sacrifice, the temple was
filed with the glory of Jehovah.
2. Solomon's address to the people
wv. 2-21). He pointed out to the peo-
pie that God had chosen David to be
king, vet for certain reasons did not
allow him to build the temple, but
promised that his son should do the
work. Now that the work was done,
the temple was built, and the ark o.
the covenant was in its place, they
could be assured that God had raised
him up in the room of his father.
3. Solomon's dedicarory prayer wv.
22-53). The ark having been placed in
a most holy place, and the address to
the people having been ended. the
king pours out his soul to God in
prayer. In this prayer Solomon CRATE
fully acknowledges Gods goodness in
the past. giving glory to him, and
pleads that his promise to his father
be verified wv. 22-26). He prays that
Gods eyes may continually be opened
towards the temple which he had now
taken possessic of wv. 27-33), so that
~ in case of contention between par
ties he would judge between them (vv.
1882; (2) in case Of being smitten
by the enemy. even though they had
sinned, upon confession OF the sin.
God would forgive and restore wv. 33,
34); (3) In case of famine as chastise-
ment for sin, upon confession and
prayer before the temple, God would
forgive and send rain wv. 35, 36);
(4) IN CdSe u peolueASS oAU 0ASAAS'''
If they prayed to God toward the tenn
ple, God would hear and forgive wv.
37-4O); (5) in case of the coming OF
the foreigner, who comes at the news
of Gods greatness, praying toward
Jerusalem, his prayer should be heard
wv. 41-45): (6) in case Of going out to
battle, their cause should be main
tanned wv. 44-45); (D In case OF be-
ing in captivity because OF sin, God
would hear their prayers and restore
wv. 46-53).
E, 4. Solomon blesses the people wv.
54-61). On the strength of the cove
nant promises, he invokes Gods pres
ence always to be with them and to
keep them faithful, and exhorts the
neople to have their hearts perfect be-
fore God, walking in his command
ments and statutes.
s. Solomon and the people offer sac
rifices of thanksgiving wv. 62-66). Tne
Joy of the people was full; they blessed
God and the king.
Seeking Opportunities.
Most of us are likely to think tnat
we have responsibilities enough With