The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-01-02
THE klnoooM DIVIDED.
International SUNDAY school Lssson 90
january 8. 1891.

i LrssoN TExr-i Kings i3:i-i7.
GOLDEN TExr-rrldc foeth before sie~sruc
tion and naughty spirit before . fall PROV
iG:is
TInr-n II. &. oss. Immediately after the death
| a. solomon
| PLACE The coronation assembly was held az
| Shechem between mounts Etal and Gcrizim.
| then the metropolis ~ the tribe % Ephraim
| PARALLEL AccOr>T rhrun. 10.
| HELPS OVEN Hard PiAcEs-i ITO make
him kins." II was not for the purpose Of re-
| volt that the company had assembled hut 10
| crown now King the son 81 Soioms n and his
| natural successor. y "Jcrohoam." He was q
young Ephramstc. that solomon had riadc
| chief OF the forced labor. from thc tribes Of
| Ephrairl and Mnnnssch. "who was yet IN
| Egypt" The prophet AhiJah had forcicd
| that be should be Solomon's successor over ten
! tribes. and u i probable that. in view a the
| dissatisfaction of the cople. he made some 1T
tempt 70 take possession before solomon's
/ death. 50 that his plot being discovered. he had
| - escape "a Egypt. where he heard 81 the pro
| posed assembly ~ Shcchcm. 3 They sent
| AMI called him" from Egypt. that he might
| collc and speak 70 Rehohoam In their behalf
| He, having been In charge oi the forced labor.
! knew better than most the full cxtcnt IL tho
| disqualification and grievance OF the REQ
pie. 4 'Thy father made cur yoke gricv-
GUS Tho yoke. as laid upon beasts %
burden. has IN all time and In al countries
been used as type ~ complete scrvitudc.
| Their chief grievances were the excessive tax
alton and the luxury and cost 81 Sclornon's
| court. Make thou his heavy yoke
lighter This the people had a right TO ask.
| the temple anu other great works were cum.
| plettd, and there no longer any need for the
lavish expense. 8 And he said unto them.
Depart yc yet fcr three days" This seemed
reasonable request. and set right heart would
have decided Instantly IL their behalf O. 10
hoboam consulted with the old men" Not
Old men as In q sense 81 rgr. but used probably
a. IN the expression elders o. Israel :. IL
thou wilt hc servant unto this people. this
day" The advice was not that the King should
permanently resign the once OF ruler. but that
he should for once be led by his people
ANSWER them" Grant their request. 4 -But
hc fcrsook the council OF the old men . II AMI
consulted with the young mca." His first
counselors alvicc did not suit his designs. so
he sought that of the young men. those who
had Leon his companions from his youth up.
y. "Anl he said unto them" lie put 10 them
tho question he had asked the old men
! ~ MY little finger shall be thicker than my
fathers loins." This Is not threat ~ stili
heavier inpositions. but a boast II his superior
strength nnd frmucss n. II will add TO your
yosc." Make II much heavier a. the body Is
than the little finger MY father chas-
tiScd you with whips" II Is quite pos
eihle that the forced lahorrfs were
kept at their tolls ~ the lash. But will
chastisc you with scorpions A. the scorpion
lash icalcn balls with hooks projecting from
them. a Is supposed this speech was only use a
f4suraiyciy 10 And the King answered the
people roughly" His speech was harsh and
cruel. and hismanncr rough aud insolent. 1911.
'sFcrs0ok the old mems counsel srakc
- Them after the counsel Of the young men
He dd not follow the advice given him by the
wise men ~ his fathers day. but told them the
things that suited his purpose and own mind
better -. For the cause was from the Lord"
II was thing brought about hy The Lord
"Ahlah the prophet" prophet OF Shiloh.
He had prophesied. some time before. that the
Kingdom should be divided. aud Jeroboam rule
ovrr the tribes Sec / Kings n :3D39 10.
What portion have we ia Davilr' The name
Is put for his house family. The ten tribes
would have nothing more 10 DO with the royal
family and renonnced their allegiance. Now
see 70 thine house. = They meant for Re
koboam 70 see 70 the affairs Of Judah his tribe.
and 70 have nothing more 20 DO with them
LESSON COMMENTS.
With the beginning OF the New Year.
we begin our studies in a new part Of
the Bible. The story is sorrowful one
Israel had been prosperous under the
rcigns OF David and Solomon; but after
the death OF Solomon we find. BY our
lesson to-day that the people quarrelcd
among themselves. and. by dividing the
kingdom. throw away the great promise
contained in . sam 7:1O-iG; 23:5. where
God says that lie will make them
great people. and that the children Of
wickcdncss shall bother them no more;
neither shall they move away from their
own land.
The name Rchob0am means ..cnlargcr
Of the people. and we can picture the
hopes and bright visions Of tho future
that were in the minds Of his parents
when he was given that name. But in
what strange irony do the acts 81 his
life contradict the meaning Of his name.
How many parents ~ our time look for
ward 70 bright future for theiv chill
drcn. and yet how many arc disap-
pointed. Just as solomon must have
been q, the results Where arc We 10 lay
the blame for this failure? When wc
remember that his mother. in place q
being Christian woman. was an idola-
ter. worshipcr Of Molcch; that the
young prince grew 10 manhood in an
Eastern harcm. where he was waited
upon. flattcred. favored and courted;
encouraged to regard himself as being
Of superior kind who can scarcely do
wrong-hc had no special instructor.
no business TO employ himself in. but
was left with heather mother. and bad
companions % lead him into wrong
ways and wreck his life.
Who then was to blame for his being
conccitcd. short-sightcd. proud. selfish.
tyrannical and weak? His father and
mother in part. for his character; but
he. himself. was chiefly TO blame for his
-
religion Of his grandfather David with
that Of his mother. and thus made his
surroundings a means OF reaching to
better things.
Young people should thank God for
restraints. and burdens, and the ncccs-
sity Of work. for good parents and their
government, and for Christian training
Parents should not leave their children
70 seek the ways o. the world and evil
companions We see that the new King