The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-01-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED.

q Scholnrly Exposition Of the Lessou-
Thoughts Worthy of Cam Reflection
Half an Hours Study Of the Scriptures
Time Well Spent.
The lesson for Sunday. January 4, may
be found in Kings 12: LIZ.
The sunday-school editor wishes all a
happy new year in Sunday-school work.
With this lesson we go back to the Old Tes-
lament, taking up the new career upon
which Israel entered with the separation
OF the two Kingdoms. We are in a good
state OF readiness now for the perusal of
these Old Testament lessons. The proper
way to study the Bible Is to begin with the
gospels. The first thing We do when we
would go through and examine a house
Is to get the key. AND what is the key
to the Old Testament? 1t was given to
us by Jesus himself a week or two since:
"And beginning at Moses and all the proph-
cts he ~expOunded unto them the things con.
corning himself.n
WHAT Fl LESSON SAYS.
(Note.-1t Is not proposed here to make
comment on all the words and incidents
involved. Thu abundant literature now
within reach OF almost all would seem to
make such full treatment needless. Our
aim is to give hints and suggestions in a
study OF the language used, not otherwise
~attainable by the reader. The intention,
In fact, Is to present in this department
matter fairly original, and such as may
justly reward supplementary study on the
part of all.)
Rehoboam. Roboam, says the Douay
version. So also Matt. 1: z. The Septua-
gint and the Vulgate likewise. Thu word
literally means. enlarger of the people.
The parallel account is in 2 Chronicles 10.
All Israel This was probably a popular
ratification. Judah had already accepted
time, the closing sentence Of the preceding
chapter SO implying.
Jeroboam. This name is strikingly SINH
lar In the original to the name Kehoboam,
especially as used in the septuagint. 1t
crisinally means his people are many. The
derivation which makes 1t signify peoples
contention Is probably al after-thOught.
In Egypt. Here he is said to have married
into the royal family. Dwelt. Implying
established residence.
Sent and called. The language suggests
a formal embassage OF the people. The al
tered form of tho Revision does not seem
called for by the original. (see Varia-
tions.)
Yoke. There is an intimation Of ex-
action on solomon's part in several places,
c. g, l Kings, 4:T. Lighter. The word is
used of tightening the load on the back Of
a beast of burden. And we will. The
proposition OF terms implies u spirit Of in.
dependence already strongly developed.
Departed. The word following so clost
upon tho preceding word depart, as Spoken
by the king, hints at the ready obcdienc,
the people were inclined to give a true SOW.
ereign.
Consulted. One OF the earliest intima.
lions OF a cabinet. Before Solomon, Solo
mons wisdom shown in measures formed
and the advisers chosen. How do We ad.
wise? Same root as con ,ulted above. No,
Implying that he was prepared to follow
their advice. 1t may nav been a mert
form on his part to fill the letter OF law q:
precedent.
spake unto him, saying. Or, gave words
and said. The strictly formal language OF
a BODY OF advisers, as il draw n up anC
formulated by a secretary after delibera.
ton and discussion BE a ervant. SET
the strong language OF the Douay version
here (VariatiOns).- Answer, i. e., favor.
ably. Somewhat so used in Gen. 80: 80
$3.50 shall my righteousness answer for me.
Forsook. A strong word, to neglect, sligh.
discard.-Consulted. Same word as "coup;
sci" al l. e., to ask counsel. The wore
counsel occurring three times in succession
In the original OF this rse.-Gro up
Literally, to become great, to become OF
age. 1t is to be found at Isa., 1:2; Ps
144:1 IL. Probably brought up with him I'M
harems, introduced by Solomon. Abijah
seemst to refer to this in his complaint a,
2 Chron, 1897 (when Rehoboam was young
and tender-hearted and could not with
stand).
Unto them. Emphatic form and position
counsel. Same proposition as i
made to the old men, though the iransia.
tion does not bring this out.-Spoken t.
me. saying. Formal language again, I'M
plying q legal presentation on the part O
the people.
Spoke unto him, saying. Another forma
declaration. Thou shalt not. In the dicta
torial words Of rash youth. Contrast witt
| tho rn1p, l -, 40 ~ thu nr;~o t. ~, n
My little finger. Or. my smallest member
Literally, my smallest, /. e., my smalles
shal be thicker than my fathers largest O
strongest. See Variations. There Is a kin
of play in words here, Katane-matani be
Ing the sound OF the terse Hebrew.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
And Rehoboam went to Shechem. Shecher
means opportunity. But 1t was Rehoboa1
who came to the opportunity. Therefor
Shechem means failure. The word ShecheI
literally signifies shoulder or strength; tn
word Rehoboam, on the other hand, mean
ing, by its etymology, enlarger Of the PEG
pie. 1t was a splendid day for the son o
solomon. All Israel came there to max
him king. But his day of strength wa
turned to weakness, his enlargement wa
not OF the Lord. He was selfish, arrogant
heady. Hence the king, instead of liftin)
himself higher by means OF these shoulder
OF strength, fol! therefrom, to the nation
discontinue and disintegration. Their,
come Shcchem times in the lire OF all of US
taken at their flood. they lead on to for.
tune. But the fortune that is won depend:
wholly on who it is that comes to Shechem
Is it a Rehoboam2 There is no prosperity
for him.
They sent and called him. A formal sum
mons; but Jeroboam was waiting to receive
1t. 1t was the opportune time for him
There in the land of his honorable exile,
where it Is said he had already been re-
ceived into the royal family, he was waiting
for the time to come when, as the prophet
had assured him, he should be called to lead
the people. aWhose people are many was
the meaning Of his name, and he doubtless
felt within himself the aspirations and the
capacities that We're like whispering
prophecies Of what was to come. AS with
Rehoboam, this. the future leader of Israel,
had his redeeming traits, and there are
lessons Of good to be learned from his life.
God always has his man ready for every
emergency in the worlds affairs. 1t might
be a Cyrus, or a Pharaoh, like a messenger
of Satan to buffet. Even a PLATE and a
Judas do not subvert the plans or purposes
OF God. When Israel was determined to
have a king, there was Sau When she
would live apart, there was a J%eroboam.
And we will serve Thea. 1t was like q dec
laration OF II parliament of the people. or
like the old demands OF the barons of En-
gland when truculent kings came to the
throne, Very much like sedition it sounds,
this making terms with q king, but the king
who mocks at it and over'ooks it Is king nc
longer. The only true leader OF the people
is the one who goes before them like a shep-
herd rather than behind them with whips
like a overscer. This was not Rehoboam.
If thou wilt be a servant. Let the king
keep 1t in mind. He is nothing more than q
servant. Like the pastor OF a flock, servus
seryorum is his NAME servant of servants
servant par excellence. The evils that
have come in statecraft have been because
men in high station have forgotten this and
have gone to serving self rather tina the
people. 1t is a lesson applicable to other
forms Of government than the monarchical
In our own free Amerlsa we may we'll pom
der it. The party that is lifted into power
Is the party that best serves the people;
and as soon as the dominant party begins
to figure and manuever for itself and the
personal interests of it's leaders, the people
arise to vote it down. So mote it be!
My little finger shall be thicker than my
fathers loins. 1t was a sentence ~cleverly
turned. Possibly, some young rhetorician
among the kings attendants framed it for
him. So pretty it was, so neat and shrewd
and sharp, that they all said, aJust the
fhfpr. i,,e% 10 xls.- a ,L~1I ~