The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-18
SABBATH SCHOOd
INTERNATIONAL LESSON
DECEMBER %.
lesson Text: "Close Of Solomon,
Reign" I Kings xi., 26-4S-
Golden Text: Eccles. Kill,
1S- Commentary.

'tJeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made Is
rael to SIN" He 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, 26-30l His name, according to-
Young, signifies 'tEnlarger," 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 Ephrathite of Zereda; that he
was Solomon's servant: that his mothers
name was Zeruah, and that she was q widow.
Every word the Holy Spirit has written Is
significant and important, and If we cannot
at first see anything in such statements as
these, let US read them all the more prayer
fully, relying upon the Spirit to give US light.
other widows are mentioned in this first book
OF Kings Chapters vii, Il: xvii, o.; but We
knew the name of none but this one eSee.
Luke H., 81; vii, IL; xxi, 2, 81
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. ", a, but now all is changed tsWhen
mans ways please the Lord, He maketh
even his enemies to be at peace with him.
now pleasing unto the Lord, and both Jeho-
yah and Elohim were stirring up adversaries
against him (verses Il, 23, besides this enemy.
in his own household.
81, 49, 'tAnd this was the cause that he
lifted up his hand against the King.r Tha:
most Of our lesson to-day is an opening up OF
this sentence, showing that Jeroboam's rebel
lion was Of Jehovah. y
% 81. "The Prophet Ahijah the ShiIonita.
found him in the way" Here is anothes
man whom we now: meet for the first time;
but what a contrast to Jelpboam, for Ahijah
is twice called by that exalted name sSer-
want Of Jehovah chapters xiv, 18; xv., 29,
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-
tion in which Solomon had exalted him, lit
tie thinking that he was also In the way to
kingdom. Literally he was in the way out
of Jerusalem, and probably on the way to
oversee the work appointed to him. BE 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
Jerohoanl, by this rather startling butvery
significant act assuring him that the Lord
God of Israel will rend the ten tribes from
Solomon and give them to him.
SO because that they have forsaken me,
+ and have not walked in my ways
ferring to what God will do for David's and
Jerusalem;s sake, we continue the story Of
Jeroboam, and here is the reason why ten-s
twelfths Of the kingdom is to pass from Solo,
mon to him. Wisdom and her ways give
peace, prosperity and true happiness; but Il
we forsake wisdom and give ourselves to
folly we must expect to reap as we sow.
IS. II will take the kingdom out OF his
sons hand and will give it unto thee, even;
ten tribes" AS notice the ten or more IT
wills'' Of God in this lesson and wonder why
ol T ~
think Of the words Of the Spirit in Dan. w.,
so. 35: 1.-THE Most High ruleth in the king
dom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he
will; He doeth according to His will in the
army Of Heaven and among the inhabitants
of earth; and none can stay His hand or say.
unto Him, What doest Thou"
81. "And Twill take thee, and thou shalt
reign according to all that thy soul desireth,
and shalt be King over Israel" Here Is a
secret of the heart laid open by the great
searcher Of hearts, who is often pleased to
give us what our hearts desire that thus He
may prove us to see whetheFITe will walk In
His ways or not We read that -Solomonj
gave the Queen of Sheba all her desire, bat
here is greater than Solomon granting to
Jeroboam his souls desire; and the same Lord
is saving to US: Whatsoever We shall ask in
My Name that will do, that the Father may
be gloriled in the Son." and again: .Al
things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, be
ieving, ye shall receive" but he that pom.
doreth the heart considers whether we earn.
estly desire what we ask for, and desire it for
His glory John xiv, 13; Matt. XXI, %;
Prov. xiv, 12) 1t may be that .Jeroboam
never breathed his souls desire to be King to
a single person, but God notices the things
that come into our mind, every one Of them.
(Ezek M., 81
3S. 'sIf thou wilt harken, y I will
be with thee" Not only is the Kingdom
promised to Jeroboam, but God offers to-
make it permanent if he will only be obedi-
ent. The Lord Himself is the true King, and
He will establish any onewho will truly rep
resent Him by obeying His commands, walk
ing in His ways, and doing right In hls
sight.
SO, "a, 49, "For my servant Davids sake"
We return now to the reason why the whole
kingdom was not to be rent from Solomon,
and we find this as the first reason. Four
times in this lesson Jehovah speaks Of him as
David my servant" and twice we find the
expression 'For my servant David's sake, v
and it is also said, because he kept INV 90.
mandments and my statutes" This was the
manner Of David's life, taken asa whole, and
his love for the statutes and commandments
of the Lord is fully told forth in Psalm cxix.
This it is that delights the Lord and brings
from Him the riches of His grace. Jesus the
Son OF David fulfilled all Righteousness, and
it is for His sake that we receive forgiveness
and all the benefits of His salvation.
"And for Jerusalem's sake, the city which
have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel"
See also verses 13, So; Israel was a chosen
people, Jerusalem chosen city, David
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, as it is written: "You only have /
known Of all the families Of ths>oceeStb there.
fore will punish you for all your iniquities:
&c. ssI will for this afiict the seed of David,
but not forever" David aud his obedience
brought blessing, Solomon and his sins
brought affliction, but inasmuch as Gods
covenant with David is forever III Sam. W.,
12-16), therefore there will be q restoration
and the Kingdom shall be established in the
True David in due time lisa. *, 6, z: Luke l.,
32, 33.
40. Solomon sought therefore to kA
Jeroboam." Thus did Saul to David, but
not thus did David to SAUL not even to
Sinner when he cursed and threw stones.
Death is the devils weapon; he who walks
with God leaves vengeance to Him, that Is TO
God, and does not take matters into his own
hands.
AZ, 49, Solomon slept with his fathers,
and was buried in the city of David his
father" Forty years hln2, rlcneS anu
wisdom and honor unprecedented bestowed
upon him, yet he acts as fool; thousand
wives ana one sor, and that son robbed OF
his inheritance by his fathers SINS Is it not
a sad story? But was Solomon saved!
Where we have no clear testimony we cam
not say positively We may hope that ere
he went out to meet God he truly repented
and turned to Him. How is it with you
dear reader?-Lesson Helper.
Mr.. GLADsNoNE has an iron library,
which is erected close to the parish