The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-07-01
THE SUNDAY BIBLE SCHOOL.
Lesson In the International Series
for July 8, 1eo4-"The King
dom Divided"

dom Divided"
prepared by the Highway and By
way" Preacher.)
copyright. 1904. by ]. M. Edson.1
LESSON TEXT.
q Kings I2:12-20; Memory Verses. 12-14)
II So Jeroboam and all the people came
TO Rehoboam the third day. as the king had
appointed, saying: Come to me again the
third day.
13. And the king answered the people
| roughly, and forsook the old mems counsel
that they gave him:
IA. And spake to them after the counsel
c: the young men. saying: My father made
your yoke heavy. and will add to your
yoke; my father also chastised you with
whips. but 1 will chastise you with scor-
pions.
Is. Wherefore the king hearkened not
unto the people: for thecause was from the
Lord. that he might perform his saying
which the Lord spake by Ahijah the Shiion-
lite unto Jeroboam the son OF Nebat.
! 16. So whom all Israel saw that the king
hearkened not unto them. the people an
swered the king. saying: What portion
have We In David? neither have we inhsri-
tance In the son of Jesse: to your tents.
U Israel: now see to thine own house.
David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
IL. But as for the children of Israel which
4
| reigned over them
Is Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram,
who was over the tribute; and all Israel
stoned him with stones that he died.
Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to
get him up TO his chariot. to flee to Jeruss-
lem
ls. So Israel rebelled against the house
| OF David unto this day
%. And 1t came to pass. when all Israel
hearo that Jeroboam was come again, that
| they sent and called him unto the congre-
| CATION. and made him king over all Israel;
there was none that followed the house OF
| DAVID, but the tribe of Judah only.
THE LESSON includes / Kings I2:l-2.
with the Parallel Passages, Chron.
io:l-1s: lila
| GOLDEN TEXT.-"Prids gosth before
destruction. and a haughry spirit before 9
fal-"-Prov. 1918.
| TIME.-Common Chronology. s75 B. C.
of Jerusalem.
| PERSONS.-Rehoboam son OF Solomon
| Jereboam. son OF Nebat. and Zeruah q
Kings u:2G. leader Of northern tribes.
Events Of Rehoboam's Reign.
Ten tribes present grievances te
king.-1 Kings BILL.
Events Of the lesson.-verses 1;
to 20.
Rehoboam forbidden to make war OF
Israel.-Verses 21-24.
Temple spoiled of treasure by Shis
hak.-1 Kings 14:21-31.
The eleventh and twelfth chapters o
2 Chronicles contain fuller accounts ol
Rehoboam's reign
Comparing Scripture with Scripture
"Forsook the old mems COUNSEL
See VS.. 6 and z. Read Prov. IL.
"Jereboam." Read his record In
Kings 11:26-40.
''As the king had appointed. ."-Se'
Tvs.
Answered the people roughly
is not the only instance where harsh
words have cost dearly. The king
speech that day cost him more thar
half his kingdom. Prov. ISL suggests
a better course.
Spoke to them after the counsel o1
the young men."-See VS.. Sill. Prov
1920 finds striking illustration here.
THE cause was from the Lord
1t was fulfllment Of prophecy. Sc
1 Kings I1:1-12. and 29-39. But ther,
Is no real conflict between Gods ON
niscience and mans free will. Comp
hardening Of Pharoah's heart, Ex. 4:21
and crucifixion of Jesus, Acts 2.23
Gods foreknowledge does not nullif,
mans freedom Of choice or lessen hi.
responsibility. Rehoboam's pride an,
folly and Jereboam's cunning plotting
were but carrying out the will an,
word Of God.-See Ps. 7e:10.
Il Icroaf Aano
and unworthiness always bring disas
ter and loss Of possessions and power
See Luke 1924. 26.
"Rehoboam made speed Il
fiee."-Compare his boast In verse IA
None that followed the house o
David, but the tribe of Judah only
See for fuller explanation of this, Va
13. 81 and %.
Rehoboam's Misfortune.-Rehobo
had a backslider for a father and
heather princess e Chron. 12:13) 70
a mother. He was brought up amidst tn
voluptuousness and idolatry tina
marked the closing years Of Solomon
reign. How a young man is handi
capped who has not a good mothe
and father. And on the other hand Sc
how blessing rested upon Rehoboam II
that one tribe and Jerusalem were lef
to him. because of the promise of Go,
to David. his grandfather-Q King
1l:13).
Rehoboam's Opportunity. - Reho
boam's pride shut the door Of oppor
tunity and opened that OF disaster. H
had the splendid opportunity of deal
ing justly and generously and healinl
the breach between Israel and Judah
but pride and self-will made him dea
to wise advice and blind to the righ
course. His mind was made up from
the first and he was not sincere /,
seeking advice. but rather wanted fiat
tering confirmation Of his own views
How common is this sin OF pride an,
self-will. and how 1t shuts the way q
wholesome opportunity and invites dis
aster. How prone We are to reject ad
vice that is counter to our own pretu
diced views. The Rehoboam spirit 4
not yet extinct The Golden Text find
most striking exemplification in tn
events of our lesson.
Seed Thoughts.
Earthly rulers generally impose griey
Gus yokes. but there is one King Who's
yoke is truly light. for He shares tn
yoke and always bears the heavier enc
King Rehoboam boasted and then fie
for his life. 1t nearly always proves tru
that the boaster in the end is forced 3
take fight and makes a sorry spectacl
/ ~ tfpnealf