The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 215

Vers. 4-6.-The temple repairs-a, good purpose frustrated. At an early period of his reign, Joash, instigated no doubt by the good Jeboiada, took steps to have the temple put in a proper state of repair. I. THE REPAm OF THE TEMPLE PROJECTED, 1. The need of repair. What fa stated in Chronicles of the condition of the temple ehows how terrible had been the blight which had fallen on true religion in Judah during the reign of Atbaliah. "That wicked woman," we a.re told, "had broken up the house of God "-probably carried away its stones to build or adorn her own house of Baal; or, perhaps, had broken down part of the courts to make room for her temple on the same bill Moreover, she had taken away all the dedicated things to bestow upon the house of Baal (2 Chron. xxiv. 7). There was thus much work to be done in repairing the temple, as the numbers of workmen afterwards employed show. Many are the inroads of the world upon the Church-God's spiritual temple; and any breaches found in its walls should give rise to earnest desires and efforts to see them mendEd. 2. The resolve to repair. Joash gave orders that the repairing of the temple should be proceeded with. He had, perhaps, by this time attained his majority. But it is e. singular thing that, with such a wave of reforming zeal as passed over the nation at the time of his accession, the people tbemsel ves should have been content to let the temple lie out of repair so long. Care for God's house is one of the ways of showing honour to God himself. Yet how slow men are to move, or make sacrifices, that God's worship may be suitably provided for I They are content to dwell in ceiled houses, while God's house lies waste (Hag. i. 4). II. THE REPAm OF THE TEMPLE PROVIDED FOR. 1. By sacred dues. In ordaining that the temple should be repaired, Joash showed also how the funds for the work were to be obtained. The Chronicler gives prominence to the half-shekel tax, which in the days of Moses was levied for the benefit of the sanctuary (2 Chron. xxiv. 6, 9), anJ. there were the other moneys to be paid on occasion of the fulfilment of vows (Lev. x:xvii. 2-8). It is well when religion is not left to be supported by haphazard contributions, but when there is some definite principle of giving-some portion of income which is regularly set apart for the Lord's use. This creates a fund which can be readily drawn upon when any good work requires aid. 2. By free-will offerings. The stated dues were not to be the only source of revenue. There is named also "all the money that cometh into any man's heart to bring into the house of the Lord." It is expected that religion will touch the heart of a man, and make him willing to part with a portion of his substance for the service of God. If it does not, it is not of much value. On the other hand, it is the heart which is the source of true religious giving. The gifts which come from the hand, not from the heart, do not count for much in Heav.,n's reckoning. "God loveth a cheer/ul giver" (2 Car. ix. 7). III. THE REPAIR OF THE TEMPLE STILL UNEXECUTED, Years passed on. Joash had now been twenty-three years upon the throne, yet the repairs of the temple had not so much as begun. It seems unaccountable that in so holy a work such apathy should lL KINGS, I  258 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. [en. xn. 1-21.