Viewing page 23 of 41
This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
112 The CONVENTION TEACHER Lesson VIII May 23, 1948 THE TEMPLE IN THE NATION'S LIFE SENIOR TOPIC: OUR NEED OF PUBLIC WORSHIP Ezra 3:10-13; Psalms 84:1-2 Ezekiel 11:16; 37:26-28 [[line]] AUTHORIZED VERSION 10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. 11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord: because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever towards Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many should aloud for joy: 13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the should of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off. 1 How amiable are thy tabernacles, Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. 16 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God: Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. 26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. 27 My tabernacle also shall be with them; yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them forevermore. [[line]] REVISED VERSION 10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Jehovah, they set the priest in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Jehovah, after the order of David, king of Israel.11 and they sang one to another in praising and giving thanks unto Jehovah sating, For he is good, for his lovingkindness endureth for ever towards Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Jehovah, because the foundation of the house of Jehovah was laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, the old men that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice: and many shouted aloud for joy: 13 so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off. 1 How amiable are they tabernacles, O Jehovah of hosts! 2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of Jehovah: My heart and my flesh cry out unto the living God. 16 Therefore say, Thus Saith the Lord Jehovah: Whereas I have removed them far off among the nations, and whereas I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them a sanctuary for a little while in the countries where they are come. 26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them: it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. 27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 And the nations shall know that I am Jehovah that sanctifieth Israel, when by sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore. [[line]] MOTTO TEXT - O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. Psalms 95:6 [[line]] LESSON SETTING Time:B.C. 536 Place: Jerusalem LESSON OUTLINE I. The Foundation of the Temple Laid (VV. 10-13 II. The Pleasure of Temple Worship (VV. 1-2; 16) III. The Temple A sign of God's Presence (VV. 26-28) Daily Home Reading May 17 - May 23 M. Solomon's Temple. I Kings 7:48-51 T. Solomon's Prayer of Dedication I Kings 8: 27-30 W. Gifts for the Second Temple. Ezra 8:24-30 T. Longing for Worship. Psalms 84 F. "My Tabernacle Also Shall Be With Them" Ezekiel 37:24-28 S. Healing Waters from the Temple. Ezekiel 47:1-8 S. A Call to Worship God. Psalms 96:1-9 INTRODUCTION In this chapter one see how the Israelites went about re-establishing religion in their midst. They set up and altar and offered sacrifices upon it, kept the feasts and contributed towards the rebuilding of the temple. Upon the entrance of the seventh month in which many of the feasts of the Lord was solemnized they gathered together, by agreement among themselves, rather than by the commands [[end page]] [[start page]] CONVENTION TEACHER 113 of authority in Jerusalem. Behold their leading men preparing to make ready the altar for them. Jeshua and his brethren, the priests, Zerubbabel and his brethren, the princes, built the altar of the God of Israel in the same place where it had stood and upon the same bases. They hastened to set up the altar for fear was upon them, because of the people of the land. They were in the midst of enemies who bore them and their religion ill will. They began o the first day of the seventh month. They observed all the set feasts of the Lord, and offered the sacrifices, especially the feast of the tabernacles. As soon as the season permitted the leaders had the people to begin their work by appointing the Levites to set forward the work, and give the workmen encouragement with comforting works. EXPOSITION I. THE FOUNDATION OF THE TEMPLE LAID. (VV.10-13) (10) And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinances of David king of Israel. How God was praised at the laying of the foundation of the temple; the priests with trumpets, appointed by Moses, and the Levites with cymbals, appointed by David, made up a concert of music, not to please the ear, but to assist the singing of that everlasting hymn which will never go out of use, and to which our voices shall never be out of tune God is good, and his mercy endureth forever. Not only his mercy endures forever but endures forever for Israel. Whatever our conditions are, no matter whether at home or in a strange land, God is good, He proves it by His kindness to all whom he touches. After the ordinances of David. - The Psalms which he composed, acting in the manner which he directed. (11) And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord: because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever towards Isreal. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. The foundation laid caused great rejoicing. The people and leaders sand together after a definite plan, giving forth thanks and praises in their joy to Jehovah. What a beautiful sight - Various affection were seen, different sentiments were expressed among the people of God and each gave vent to his feelings. There was no discord nor disagreement among them, their minds were in one accord: Nor was the common concern retarded by the joyful occasion. Thus those that only knew the misery of having no temple at all, when they saw but the foundation of one laid, praised the Lord with shouts of joy. To them, even the foundation seemed great and as life to their hungry souls. (12) But many of the priests and Levites and chiefs of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy. Many of the priests who remembered the glory of the first temple, which Solomon built, and considered how far this was likely to be inferior to that, perhaps in size, certainly in splendor and glory, wept with a loud voice. If it were about fifty years since the temple burned, probably there were many now alive who might remember it standing: and a great mercy it was to the captives, that they had the lives of so many the priests had been lengthened out, who could tell them what they themselves remembered of the glory of Jerusalem, to quicken them in their return. These lamented the contrast between this temple and the former. (13) So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off. The occasion was so joyful and there was so much rejoicing that the people afar off could hear and wonder what was the occasion of the wonderful demonstration. It must have been a very affecting scene, a whole people, one part crying aloud with sorrow; the others shouting for joy: and on the same occasion too, in which both groups felt an equal interest. The prophet Haggai comforted them by assuring them that the glory of this latter house should exceed that of the former, because Lord (Jesus Christ) was to come to this temple, and fill it with HIs glory. Here is seen a mixture of sorrow and joy. It was their infirmity to mingle those tears with the common joys, and so to cast a depression upon them. They despised the day of small things: and were unthankful for the good they enjoyed,
