The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-06-30
THE SUNDAY BIBLE SCHOOL.
Lesson in the International Series
for July 8, 1904--"The King
dom Divided"
(Prepared by the Highway f'd By
way" Preacher.)


to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had
appointed, saying: Come to me again the
third day.
10. And the king answered the people
roughly, and forsook the old men counsel
that they gave him;
Il. And spake to them after the counsel
of the young men, saying: My father made
your yoke heavy and will add to your
yoke: my father also chastised you with
whips, but l will chastise you with scor-
pionss
is. Wherefore the king hearkened not
unto the people; for the cause was from the
Lord, that he might perform his saying,
which the Lord spake by Ahijah the Shilon-
lite unto Jeroboam the son OF Nebat.
16 So when 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 inheri-
tance In the son Of Jesse: to your tents,
David So Israel departed unto their tents
IL. But as for the children of Israel which
dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam
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 Jerusa-
lem.
10. SO Israel rebelled against the house
of David unto this day.
20. And 1t came to pass, when all Israel
heard 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 1 Kings 12:1-H
with the Parallel Passages, Chron.
101-19; 111-4
GOLDEN TENT pride goeth before
destruction, and naughty spirit before a
fall."-Prov l6lS
T1ME-Common Chronology, 975 Il. G.
PLACE. -Schechem about q miles north
of Jerusalem.
ONS.-Rehoboam son of Solomon;
Jereboam. son of Nebat. and Zeruah q
Kings 1920, leader Of northern tribes.
Events of Rehoboam's Reign.
Ten tribes present grievances to
king.-1 Kings 12:1-11.
Events OF the lesson.-verses IL
to 20.
Rehoboam forbidden to make war on
lsrael.-Verses 21-24.
Temple spoiled of treasure by Shis-
hak.--1 Kings 14:2l-31.
The eleventh and twelfth chapters of
2 Chronicles contain fuller accounts of
Rehoboams reign.
Comparing Scripture with Scripture.
"Forsook the old mems counsel
See VS.. and 7. Read Prov. 1:7
"Jereboam Read his record In
Kings ll:26-40.
las the king had appointed. See
g.
Answered the people roughly."-N
is not the only instance where harsh
words have cost dearly. The kings
speech that day cost him more than
half his kingdom. Prov. 15:l suggests
a better course.
Spoke to them after the counsel of
the young See VS.. Sill. Prov.
1920 finds striking illustration here.
"The cause was from the Lord
It was fufillment OF prophecy. See
l Kings lille, and 29-39. But there
is no real conflict between Gods ON
niscience and mans free will. Comp.
hardening OF Pharoah's heart, Ex. 421,
and crucinxion of Jesus, Acts 1923.
Gods foreknowledge does not nullify
mans freedom Of choice or lessen his
responsibility. Rehoboam's pride and
folly and Jereboam's cunning plotting
we're but carrying out the will and
word Of God.-See Ps. 1910
so Israel departed d"-lncompetency
and unworthiness always bring disas-
ter and loss Of possessions and power.
See Luke 1924. rs.
"Rehoboam made speed to
fee. Compare his boast in verse IA.
"None that followed the house oi
David, but the tribe Of Judah only
See for fuller explanation of this, VS.
13. 21 and %.
Rehoboam's Misfortune.-Rehobo
had a backslider for a father and q
heather princess e Chron. 1919 fol
a mother. He was brought up amidst the
voluptuousness and idolatry thai
marked the closing years of Solomon's
reign, How young man is handi'
capped who has not good mother
and father. And on the other hand see
how blessing rested upon Rehoboam II
that one tribe and Jerusalem were left
! to him, because of the promise of Goo
to David, his grandfather.-u King!
1l:13).
Rehoboam's Opportunity. - Reho
boams pride shut the door Of oppor,
tunity and opened that of disaster. Ht
had the splendid opportunity of deal
ing justly and generously and healing
, 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 II
, seeking advice, but rather wanted fiat
tering confirmation of his own views
How common is this sin of pride AM
self-will, and how 1t shuts the way O
wholesome opportunity and invites di ,
aster. How prone we are to reject ad
vice that Is counter to our own preju
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
r 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 I
take fight and makes sorry spectacl
of himself.
Pride and folly shrink the characte
and generally there is correspondent
dminution in ones worldly possession