Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-04-06
LESSON FOR APRIL 9
THE LoRp PRESERVES goAsA

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LESSON TEXT-II Kings Hill,
GOLDEN TEXT-The Lord preserveth
all them that love Him.-Psalm 1890.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-u Kings
u:1s-20; II Ckron. 23:l-2l; Matt. 3:13-23.
PRIMARY TOPIC-God Takes Care Of
o Boy.
JUNIOR ToPIc-How Boy Became
King.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
"A Boy Saved for a Great Career.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
THE Secret Of Personal and National
Safety.
Joash, viewed in the light Of his an
cestors, was poor prospect for a king.
His grandmother was the wicked
Athaliah and his great grandparents
were jAhab and Jezebel. There was
enough bad blood In his veins to as
sure his doom. Despite this fact, he
brought about some noble reforms and
turned the people back to God.
!. AthaIiah usurps the Throne
wv. 1-3).
/. Her attempt to destroy the seed
royal CIV. II. In order to remove
any rival claimant to the throne she
tried to kill all the royal male chill
dren.
2. Joash preserved by JehOsheba
(vv. 2, 81. Though Athaliah was keen
eyed she was checkmated by another
woman. Her fatal omission was not
to get rid of the women too. This
woman, the wife Of the priest, stole
away the child and hid him In the
bedchamber for six years. God had
promised THAT through the Dayidic
line the Messiah should come. In
order thu this line be unbroken Joash
must be preserved. No purpose of
God can fail.
u. Joash Crowned King wv. 4-12).
1. Jehoiadas preparations (vv. 4-11).
The. high priest and his wife were in
telligent and strong characters. AS
the high priest, Jehoiada felt that it
was his duty to thwart the heather
project Of Athallah. Doubtless his CO.
operation with his wife made possible
the saving Of Joash.
~ Secured the aid Of the military
leaders ". ~. He knew somehow
that these men were not loyal to
Athaliah. (2) Bound them under
solemn oath ". ~. He took an oath
of them in the house Of the Lord
Honest men will stand by their word
(3) Excited their spirit Of patriotism
". A.. He gave them d sight Of the
kings son. This, no doubt, was great
surprise. Now having seen the heir
to the throne they would risk every
thing, even their lives, in order ia
set him on the throne, (4) Co-ordinates
all matters (vv. 5-11). The soldiers
were divided into companies and arms
were distributed to them. Eacl
group was assigned to specific duties
.. The coronation ". 12). ~ The
kings son brought forth. This was &
great day in Jerusalem. After si1
years of usurpation, the people all the
while supposing that all the heirs tt
the throne were dead, now to gaze
upon the kings son would be a notable
event. GU Put the crown upon him
This was the formal induction into of
flee. (3) Gave him the testimony
This WAS copy of the law, showing
that the king was to rule according
to the law of God. The act of putting
the law upon his head showed that
the king himself would be under the
control of the law. a. Made hin
king This shows that he was made
king by the choice of the people. (5)
Amounted him. They poured oil upoT
his head. This was the usual method
of consecratlng prophets, priests ant
kings. (6) Clapped their hands. This
was token of Joy.
III. Athaliah Slain (vv. 1910.
/. The noise of the coronation OF
Joash brough Athallah to the temple
". 15). Up TO this time she thought
her place on the throne was secure
and that her heather religion had
free course.
2 Her dismay ". 14). Upon hel
arrival mt the temple she saw the
king wearing the crown and sur
rounded by the guards, so that she
could do nothing. In her despair SHE
exclaimed: Treason, treason!" How
prone wicked men and women are t.
cry out as though they had beer
wronged when their wicked plots ant
conspiracies are exposed and thwarted
3. Athaliah executed wv. Is, 49,
The orders were that she should moi
be killed in the temple. They lee
her out by the way of the horses en-
trance to the kings palace and slew
her. What Q tragic end for the sin
ner! Sin can only prosper for c time
w. Worship Of the True God wv
IL, 1s).
Joash was seven years old when h
was made king. The high priest mad
covenant between the Lord, the kim
and the people that they would be TIL
Lords people. In carrying out thi
covenant they broke down the tempt
of Baal and slew the priest of Baal.
The Way to God.
Prayer carries us halfway to God
fasting brings us to the door of Hi