Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-12-20
CLOSE OF THE REIGN.
LESSON XII, FOURTH QUARTER, IN
TERNATloNAL SERIES, DEG. 22.
Text of the Lesson Kings xi, a6-43-Com-
nit Verses az, I43-G olden Text, Eccles.
Xii, documentary by the
Rev. ID. NJ. Stearns.


Rev. ID. NJ. stoarns.
Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per.
mission of H. 5. Hoffman, publisher Philadol-
phia.
&c. "Jeroboam the son of Nebat" Over
twenty times is this man, whom we now meet
for the first time thus mentioned in the two
books of Kings and in most places il. is as
".eroboam, the son Of Nebat, who made Is
rael to sin" lie became the first king Of the
ten tribes and set up the two golden calves
at Dan and Bethel for Israel to worship.
Chap xii, 2G-30) His name, according TO
Young, signifies "Tnarger," and he was Ger
tainly an expert in the way of charging tho
sins Of Israel
Even he lifted up his hand against the
king" At the beginning of Solomon's reign
it was written that the Lord his God had
given him rest on every side and that there
was neither adversary nor evil occurrent
| chap. V, A. but now all is chang d.
81, %. "And this was the cause that he
| lifted up his hand against the king" The
most of our lesson today is an opening up of
this sentence, shelving that Jeroboam's rebel
| lion was of Jehovah. We are first told that
as Solomon built and repaired various works
/ be observed that Jeroboam was an indu,tri-
Gus Young man, and he therefore promoted
/ him to he ruler over all the charge of the
/ house of Joseph.
/ 29-3l. The Prophet Ahijah, the Shilonite
found him in The way Here is another man
whom we now meet for the first tine but
what u contrast to JerobCam, for Ahijah
is twice called by that exalted name, Serv-
ant of Jehovah chnptcrs xiv, IS; XIV. 20,
and he bears the word of jehovah. As to
Jeroboam, he is found in the way, no doubt
in the way of industrious service in the posi-
ton in which Solomon had exalted him.
little thinking that he was also in the way to
a kingdom Literally he was in the way out
/ of Jerusalem. and probably on the way TO
oversee the work appointed to him. lie is
clad in new garment, and as the prophet
meets him he seizes the garment, rcnds it in
twelve pieces and hands ten Of the pieces to
Jeroboam, by tins rather startling but very
significant act assuring him that the Lord
God of Israel win rend ten OF the tribes from
| Solomon and give them to him
49, Because that they have forsaken mo.
\ and have not walked in my ways"
! Passing over, for the present, the verses re-
ferriug to what God will do for Davids and
| Jerusalens sake. we continue the story of
| JerobOam, and here is the reason why ten
twelfthS of the kingdom is to pass from Solo
. mon to him. Wisdom and her ways give
peace, prosperity and true happiness; but if
we forsake wisdom and give ourselves to
folly we must expect to reap as we SOW. We
wonder how Solomon. who had been so ex-
ceediur ablndantIv blessed by-the Living and
True God, could turn from Him to the abom-
nations OF the worship of idols, but we have
already been told that it was because le
loved many strange women. Woman is
Gods best earthly Gift to man. but Gods
gifts abused become curses instead of bless
inps
IS civil take the kingdom outof his sons
hand and will rive it. INTO thee. even ten
tribes As notice the ten or more II
wills Of God in this lesson and wonder WHY
God sbould select .Jeroboan can only
think of the words of the Spirit in Dan. iv.
32 81: "The Most High lrIleth in the king
dom of men and giveth it TO whomsoever He
will: He doeth ACCORDING. 10 His will in the
army of Heaven and amonsr the inhab,ont,
of earth: and none can STAY Hi, hand or saw
INTO Him. What does, Thour Ii i, no
mower Of ,Jeroboaiu that is TO wrest the king
dom from Solonou's son. il is all the Lords
eloinc- fran first to last
81 "And will take thee. and tAou shalt
reign according to all that thy soul desjre,h.
md shalt he. king over Israel . Here is a So
cret of the heart laid omen bv the great
scarcher of hearts, who is often pleased to
erivo us yhat our hearts desire that fins Tie
may prove Us to see whether we will walk in
His wavs or NOT lyer.od that Solomon
gave the ouee1 of Sbeba all her desire. lut
here is a Greater tban Solomon Granting IA
.Jeroboam hi, souls desire. and the ~lme lord
is SAYING, To rs. "Whatsoeyer va shall al; in
NV Maine. that will do. that the Fothcr ma '
be plorifie,l in the Son"
s. "If thou wilt hearken. X y will
he with thee Not only is the Kingdom,
promised 70 .Terobonn but God ofYors n
make il permanent if he will only he obe.
dent The Lord Himself is the true KING
and He will establish any one who will truly
represent Him by obeving His commands
walking in His WAYS, and doing right in Hi,
SIGHT.
81, 81, 30. 'sFor my servant David's sake s.
We return now TO the reason WIN tba whole
kingdom was not to be rent from solomon