Covenanter Witness Vol. 54 - Rparchives.org

secret."
passed."
sins"
lead in until he was 27 years old. Even
then Jehoiada is always mentioned prom
inently in the work of temple repair
ing. We wonder if Joash was not moved
more by the desire to get into the lime
light than with any deep interest in the
spiritual affairs of the Kingdom. His
failure to support his own work after
the death of Jehoiada is an evidence
that he had no deep interest in the
temple worship. Joash should have
learned to follow, not Jehoiada, but
the leader that Jehoiada followed. We
are safe under the leadership
our Lord.
of Christ
2 Chron. 24:8 COLLECTING MONEY
FOR THE TEMPLE
Since the temple was of fine material
and workmanship, it required a great
deal of money to repair it. They pro
ceeded according to the command of
Moses. This seems to refer to the tithe.
For a splendid presentation of the tithe,
review the booklet "Ten Times Ten"
that was distributed in your congrega
tion some two months ago.
The method of collecting was very
simple; a box, Josephus says with a hole
in the top, was placed in a convenient
place. This method is frequently used
today. It is not always effecient. When
the proclamation for the repair of the
temple was made, we read (v. 10),
"And all the princes and all the people
rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into
the chest, until they had made an end."
The prophet appealed to the people, and
so they gave.
Two pastors were comparing notes.
One said, "Our congregations are about
the same size and about the same fi
nancial strength. Before we took up our
offering for missions, I preached on
liberality, brotherly kindness, the privi
lege and duty of spreading the gospel,
and urged the people to give generous
ly. But our offering was just half what
your congregation gave.
The other replied,
Tell me the
"I never
preach on generosity, or urge the people
to give. When we approach the offering
for missions, I tell of the field, the work
ers, their success and difficulties, their
encouragements and trials, their oppor
tunities and plans for the future. Then
the plate is
vs. 11-14: ADMINISTERING THE
LORD'S MONEY
All money belongs to the Lord, popu
larly recognized, but not commonly
practiced. So many stories of grafting
on public money. The big Teapot Dome
is still attracting attention, and a thou
sand little pots bubbling quietly. Every
pocket, every treasury needs to be
guarded. Even charitable treasuries
have been raided. A few years ago I
252
saw this striking item. It said that the
Salvation Army in New York City has
an annual budget of five million dollars.
And that there has never been a charge
of irregularity in its administration.
As the money for the temple came in
it was given to the workers. The short
story implies that the workers were
faithful, and were properly paid. That
materials were bought at a fair price
and that there was no leakage through
padded pay rolls or non-productive
middle men. When the repair of the
temple was finished, there was still
enough money for vessels needed for
service or beauty. With the temple made
attractive, the regular worship of the
Lord was observed continually, ALL
the days of Jehoiada.
Jehoiada died.
The rest of the story of Joash could not
be more disappointing.
"Are there not among ourselves lead
ers who keep us right, Jehoiadas but
for whom our religious life would ex
pire . . . Our
abstinence from certain
pernicious customs may be due to their
influence. They are the stay of our
house and the tenderest comfort of life.
We do not know how much we owe to
them."
Joseph Parker, in Peluobet.
'Tis well to follow a Christlike ex
ample, if it leads to following the ex
ample of Christ. Joash followed the ex
ample of Jehoiada as long as Jehoi
ada lived. Evidently, he had never found
Jehovah. He forsook the Lord, and was
forsaken by the Lord according to the
warning and promise. We need Jehoi
adas to lead Joash to Christ.
"Nor knowest thou what argument
Thy life to thy neighbor's creed has lent,
All are needed by each one;
Nothing is fair or good alone."
PRAYER MEETING TOPIC
May 11, 1955
"THE EXCELLENT NAME" Psalm 8.
Psalms
Rev. P. D. McCracken, D.D.
145:1-3,13, page 350a.
20:1-7, page 43.
8:1-4,7, page 12
148:2,5, page 357.
COMMENTS
Names identify people, but also es
pecially in the Bible, are used to sig
nify personality,
and character or char
acteristics. Abram's name was changed
to Abraham for he was to be
father of many
"the
nations."
Jacob's name
which means supplanter or deceiver,
was changed to Israel which
means
"Prince with God." Abagail's husband's
name was Nabal, and according to
her he was well named, for he was
that kind of a fellow. (I Sam. 25:25).
Elijah's name signified the very thing
he believed and stood for, especially on
Mt. Carmel,"Jehovah is God." Mala
chi was "God's Messenger." The human
name of our Lord was divinely specified,
"Thou shalt call his name, JESUS,
for he shall save his people from their
iour."
(Matt. 1:21). Jesus means "sav
There are three names for God that
are quite prominent in the Bible, often
being used alone, but frequently in com
bination, Jehovah, Elohim, and Adonai.
The latter two emphasize power and do
minion and might and authority, but
the first signifies the intimate covenant
relationship between God and his people.
There are many other significant names
of God scattered through the Word
which we should study carefully
as we
consider "The Excellent Name." "I AM"
Ex. 3:14; "The Lord of Hosts"
1:3 (used dozens of times);
Zech.
"Jealous"
Ex. 34:14; "The God of Jacob" Ps.
20:1; "Holy One" Isa. 40:25; "Refuge"
Ps. 46:1. There are many more. Refer
to and sing the group of ten titles of
God in Ps. 18:1 on page 36.
Tied in with these are the 169 or more
names that specifically apply to Christ.
As a sample, turn to Isa. 9:6. You can
find these alphabetically listed in a
Name"
leaflet called "The Supreme
written by Rev. D. B.
years ago,
Russel several
but, better still, you can
search them out yourself in the Bible
from beginning to end. The names be
gin with about every letter of the Eng
lish Alphabet except X, and even that
is often used in our modern life, al
though improperly, to stand for Christ.
A composite of all the above, and
more, seems to be in the mind of the
Psalmist as he refers to "The Excellent
Name"
in Ps. 8:1-9, and "Jehovah's
Matchless Name" (M.V.) in Ps. 148:2.
This is the Name that is to be hallow
ed, and honored, and reverenced, even
as Christ taught us in the Lord's Prayer.
And now, in the space remaining, let
me call attention to some interesting
expressions that are used here and there
throughout the Old Testament, that are
really names for God, and describe what
kind of God he is. You will notice, I am
sure, how the ideas are paralleled in
Psalm 23.
I. Jehovah raah, Psalm 23:1. That
means the Lord is my SHEPHERD, and
it has special reference to God's care,
and protection, and provision. When
David penned these words he was draw
ing
material out of his own experience
as a shepherd. As he had done for his
sheep, so God would do, and was doing
for His people.
2. Jehovah shalom, Judges
6:24.,
the Lord is my PEACE.
Here Israel
THE COVENANTER WITNESS