Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-01-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
The International Sunday School Les
SON for January 6th--Rhe0bOam
first King sf Judah-II. Chr0n. IL:
1.12.

4 HIst AiuH e1 uuaM-1As CnTOms L y
1.12.
BY Rev. z. p. RODGERS, d. d.
From New York Observer.
| Golden Text-"When he humbled
himself the wrath of the Lord turned
from him."-II. Chron 2: II.
/ Central Truth-'rhe Lord spares the
penitent.
We begin to-day the series of lessons
for 1878. Our study for 1877 i'm the Old
Testament ended with the fall of Samaria,
and the carrying away of Israel in cap
tivity to Assyria. We have seen how the
division Of the twelve tribes into two
kingdoms was effected, when Rchoboam,
SOlomOn's son. who had been chosen
king on the death of his father, following
the foolish counsel Of rash Young men.
aiieniated the ten tribes from him, and
lett only the tribes OF Judah and Ber ia
min loyal to his government. This was
the beginning of the kingdom of Judah,
whose history we are now to study. The
most Interesting tact about this kingdom
is. that the Messiah came through its
kings.
Rehoboam began his administration by
forsaking the law of the Lord and draw
ing his subjects with him. This brought
upon him the judgments of God. i'm the
| shape of an Egyptian invasion. A vast
army composed Of Lubims or Lybians,
perhaps the same as the modern Nu-
bians,) the Sukkim Tor dwellers in caves
and the Ethiopians came against Jerusa-
lem, and car led off great amount OF
| treasure. Under this sore chastsement,
RehObOam humbled himself before God,
and with the princes of Israel rcpeLted
80 that God did not give them up to be
destroyed of their enemies, bat punish
ed them by making them tributary to
Egypt apd by great pecaniary loss.
After this We are told that things went
well in Judah" which means that nation
al prosperity followed national repent
| alice.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
1. 1t is a great sin to be uniaithful to
great opportunities.
ReIlOboam had distinguished place in
the programme of history. He was the
first king of Judah and could have made
his Kingdom what he would. He lived
in the royal city, he had the temple and
of all Israel to give strength and dis
tinction to Ibis position. and scOmpensate
for the lack OF numbers. But he did not
realize Sthat great opportunities imply
corresponding obligations. At first his
course was wise and proper. :Butawben
after three years he had strengthened
himself ia his Kingdom, i'm the express
i've language OF the historian, ''he for
sock the way of the Lord" aud from that
hour his decline in power and prestage
began.
How few here are who duly estimate
the responsibilities OF high position,
great wealth and exalted means of USE
fulness. These are all sought for eagerly
by men, but not tor their real and great
est end. Personal aggrandizement or
qualification in too IN. any cases is the
main object i'm view. But when God al
lows amy OF his creatures to enjoy great
powers or opportunities, he holds them
to strict accountability for their best
nse and improvement. And to be un-
faithful tn such powers involves guilt,
which is i'm proportion to their extent.
Could We fully realize the solemn respol,-
siblities connected with high position.
or large wealth, or wide influence. per-
haps we should not desire them SO in-
tensely or pursue them SO eagerly.
z. Gods tOrgivsng mercy is always ex-
tended TO the true penitent.
When RehObOam and his people re-
pented of their sils, and humbled them
selves before the Lord, he was merciful
to them and spared them from destruc-
ton.
God is not vindictive i'm his dealings
even with sinners. His fOrbeardnce is
that OF God. And when His hand is
laid upon us it is not because he desires
our suffering, but rather to vindicate his
own integrity, and to bring us to better
mind. And his mercy eagerly embraces
the first opportunity to manifest itself TO
the true pcnitent. Men may stiematize
our God as harsh and cruel Sovereign,
and wrest even the glorious doctrine of
the Cross and the death of Christ into an
| illustration. but His mercy has no parai-
lei in the history OF any ear thly govern
ment, or even in the annals OF friendship
aud love. No matter how long, or how
| fearfully we have Sinned, repentance al
ways ensures mercy. LET the wicked
forsake his way and the unrighleOus
man his thoughts, and let him return
unto the LORD and he will have mere,
upon him, anu to Our GOI, for he will
abundantly pardon him.
3. But even repentance does not al
ways avert The evil consequences Of sin
in this lite
| RehobOam and bis kingdom were saved
from destruction when they repented,
but they suffered great loss from the
| Egyptian INVASION, and were humbled
! by being made tributary to that foreign
power.
1t is q great and blessed thing to be
| forgiven tor sin and saved from the eX-
extreme penalties, but it always leaves
| its mark OH the soul and often ola the
whole OF subsequent life. 1t was good
thing that the prOdigal found his way
back 10 his fathers heart and home, bul
he could not forget those days of degra.
tiOn and poverty which he spent among
tile swine. David repenJed bitterly OF
hls sin, III the matter Of Uriah, and Goo
torgave him, and blessed him. but the
dead captain still slept in bloody grave
"a stain was OIL the kings honor, ant
there was little grave which always
told of the sin and tile sorrow.
sin is an evil and bitter thing. 1t leave,
its mark even Oh Il forgiven man. Ever,
time RehObOaln looked at the shields O
brass, which replaced the golden ones
the Invaders had carried away from hi
kingdom, he must have felt pang at hi
heart as he Was reminded how he had tor
saken the way of the Lord.
A drunkard may repent OF his sin, ant
reform, and have comforting seilse o
Gods pardoning mercy, but he cannO
blot out the mtmOry of his degradin;
. sin from his mind, or its demoralizin,
, consequences from his body.