The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-12-20
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON FOR
DECEM BEH ID
Lesson ,rcNt: "Ciosc ot SOIomonls
ian. Ki1gs, xI. 2o A8.-Goitlen
Text: H:ccles. xii, ,13.-Commen.
tary on the Lesson.

! for the first time, thus mentioned I'm the two
GI1aS "f Kings and In most places it is as
| Jerobonm, the son OF Nebat, who ,,,cde L.
| rael tn sin He became the first King of the
ten tribes and set up the two golden calves
| Mt Dan and Bethel for Israel to worship
Chap. xii, 26-;'0l His name, according to
Young, significs "EnlarSer,' and he was GER
tainly an expert in the way of enlarging the
Sins OF Israel There must be some reason
| why the Holy Spirit has recorded the facts
that he was an Ephrnthite Of Zereda: that he
was Sciomcns servant: that his mothers
name was Ieluab, and that she was a widow
Every word the Holy Spirit has written is
significant and important, and if we cannot
at iirst see anything in such statements as
these, let us read them all the more prayer
fully, relying upon the Spirit to give us light.
J only call attention to the fact that two
other widows are mentioned in this first book
OF Kings Chapters vii, IA; xvii, 81; but we
knew the name of none bat this one (See
Luke H., 81; vii, IL; xxi, 2. 3)
Even ho lifted up his hand against the
h'ng. AT the beginning of Solomon's reign
1t was written that the Lord his God had
was neither adversary nor evil occurrent
tchap. v, ~, but now all is changed. "When
a mans ways please the Lord, He maketh
even his enemies to be at peace with him"
N'rov XVI, ~; but Solomon's ways were not
row pleasing unto the Lord and both Jeho-
vah ard Elohim were stirring up acversaries
against him tverses II, 2;N, besides this enemy
in his own household
lifted up his hand against the King" The
most of our lesson to-day is an opening I'D of
this sentence. showing that Jeroboam's rebel
lion was Of jehovah
29-3i. The Prophet Ahiio The Sbilonita
found him in the way Here is another
man whom We now meet for the first time;
hut what Il contrast to Jcroboam for Ahiiah
Is tw,r" ,aic'i by that exalted name ''Ser-
want ~ Jehovah chapters xiv, Is; XIV, 2N
and he hears the word of Jehovah As to
j"rohcam. llc il found in the way no doubt
IN III" way of industrious service in the posi-
ton IN which Solomon had exalted him. lit
tie thinking tnat he was also in the way to
Kingdom Literally he was i'm the way out
of Jerusalem, and probably on the way to
oversee The work appointed to him. He is
clad IN n new garment, md as the prophet
meets him ho ScizeS the garment, rends it in
twelve pieces and hands ten of the pieces to
,'"rrh"an, ~ ;hiS rather Startln., hut very
significant act assuring him that the Lord
tod "f Israel will rend the ten tribes from
solomon and give them to HIM
'HI HBevauSr that they have forsakeu me-
" and have not walked i'm my ways"
Passing over, for the present, the verses re
terring to what God will do for David's and
Jerusalem sake: we continue the story Of
Jrr"hnan. aud here is the rea son why ten
twelfths of III" kingdom is to pass from Solo
mon I" him. Wisdom and her wavs give
rea"H. prosperity and true happiness; but if
~" f"rSnk" wisdom and give ourselves to
folly we must expect to reap Bs we SOW
~. II will tax. the kingdom out of his
sons hand and will give it unto thee even
ten tribes A. notice the ten or more II
wills "f God in this lesson mud wonder why
tud Should select Jeroboam | can only
thnh "f the words of the Spirit in Dnn. iv.
r. ~ Tho Most High rulcth i'm the king
dom nf men and giveth il to whomsoever He
Will: He lneth according to His will in tho
arrry o! Heaven and among the inhabitants
oi '"Ith; aud none can stay His hanl or sey
unto Him. What doest Thou"
80 And will take thee, and thou shalt
re'$n according to all that thy soul desireth-
and Shalt he ing otCr israel" Here is a
''Crct ~ IA" heart laid open 10y the great
Ncarr'l"r nI hearts, who is often pleased to
1T% nT II Sn, Ssm 3nr r hsfrt, nnn s;is ihnt 5hYs He
her" l. greater than Solomon granting to
.'"roh"nm bis soulS desire: and tie "a me Lord
l. laying 'n us; "Whatsoever We shall as!: in
Ny Nnm" that will do. that the Father may
II" 2loritie' in the Son and again: All
things whatsoever We shall ask in prayer he
ievmG, ye shall receive but He that pom
doreth tn" heart considers whether wa earn
"stly desire what we "sk for, and desire II for
His glory. D"hn xiv, IA; Matt. xxi, ~.
Prov. NxiN.. ~ " may be that Jeroboam
never Sr2ath"d his souls desir" to be * ing to
single person, hut God notices the things
that cone into our mind, every on" Of them.
tEZek. Si.. ~
3s. "If thou wilt harkcn, I will
l., 18th thee Not only IL the kinS,lom
promised tn .I.:, ,h"a'u. Int End .trarS 10
make ': j., ."iancnt If he will oEiy obedi-
ent The Lord Himself is the true King and
He will establish any one who will truly rep
resent Him bv oheying His commands. walk
ing in His ways, and doing right in His
sight
~, b. Sc For nv servant Davids sake"
We return now to the reason why the whole
Kingdom was not to be rent from Solomon,
and we find this the first reason -Four
times in this lesson Jehovah speaks of him as
David my servant and twice find the
expression For my servant David's sake"
md 10. ole Il
mandmentS and my statutes" This was the
manner of David's life taken as whole and
his love for the statutes and commandments
of tn" Lord is fully told forth in Psalm cxix.
This 1t is that delights the Lore; and brings
from Him the riches Of His grace. Jesus the
Son OF David fulfilled all righteousness and
II is for His sake that we receive forgiveness
and all the benefits of His salvation
And for Jerusaem's sake. the city which
| have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel ("
See also verses l3. 20; Israel was chosen
people, Jerusalem chosen city, David n
chosen servant. and all TO magnify the name
Of Jehovah; when they failed to do this He
delivered them to their enemies TO be chas-
tened, il is written: You only have
known of all the families of the earth. there
fore will punish you for all your iniquities"
30 81 will for this afhict the seed of David
but not forever" David and his obedience
brought blessing, Solomon and his sins
brought afilction, but inaSmuch as Gods
covenant with David is forever III Sam vii,
l2-lGl. therefore there will be restoration
and tn" Kingdom shall he established i'm the
True David III due time usaix., q, 4 Luke j.,
~ 80.
40. Solomon sought therefore to kill
Jeroboam." Thus did Saul to David, but
not thus did David to Saul. not even to
Simmer when he cursed and threw stones
Death Is tn" devils weapon; he who walks
with God leaves vengeance to Him. that is to
cod. hni does not take matters into his own
hands.
", AZ Solomon slept with his fathers,
and was buried in the city of David his
father Forty years a King. riches and
u.s. "a nd honor unprecedented bestowed
upon him. yet II" rc'g .: -. n thousand
wives and one ION. and that son robbed OF
his inheritance by his fathers sins. Is il not
u sad story LAT was Solomon saved?
w here We nv no clear testimony we can
not say positively. We may hope that ere
he went out To meet God he truly repentei
and turned to Him. How is it with you,
dear reader:-LeSson Helper.