St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-06-04

SVNIW M&%MAN# true. This is an
C.HSWSN epitome of the life
1891 - OF King Rehoboam.
~>s- Heir to the glory,
riches, honor and power OF Solomon, his
father, he had great opportunities and
possibilities before him. At the mature
age OF Al he began his reign, but "he for
sock the law of Jehovah, and all Israel
with him." and within five years time
the judgment of God had fallen upon
him by the hand of Shishak, king of
Egypt, who came up against Jerusalem
with an Immense army, and captured all
the fortified cities of Judah and looted
the treasure city, Jerusalem. The mag
nificent temple which Solomon had
builded and furnished with Its golden
vessels and gOld-cOvered furniture was
stripped Of its treasure. The kings pal
ace did not escape in the raid. and all
that was precious was carried OF.
Among the things specially mentioned
as being seized by Shishak and his army
were the 300 shields which Solomon had
made Of beaten gold. Three pounds of
pure metal had gone into each shield.
These shields were in the hall of the
house OF Lebanon, and were carried by
the guard which attended the king when
he went from his palace in state pro-
cession to the temple to worship.
m HB shield was symbolic and sug-
i gestive of the Divine protection, and
the gold from which they were made was
indicative of that purity which God de-
sired in His people. Mere display is
never pleasing to God. He is not to be
fiattered and 4appeased by glitter and
show. The flashing of those magniti-
cent gold shields in tho sunlight AZ the
king passed in royal state 20 pay his
vows unto his God was not pleasing and
acceptable to God, unless&yery blazfng
shield proclaimed the protection God
gave to His children who were pure and
sincere in their worship. AS every part
of the temple service and worship was
significant and symbolic. SO we are war;
ranted in believing that Solomon in max
ing these shields OF gold for the dec
grafton of the-walls of the beautiful
house of Lebanon, and for carrying when
he went to the temple. desired to con-.
vey the thought of purity and the Divine
protection. And these were the shields
which came into the possession of Re-
hoboam, and which we have reason to
suppose he took delight in displaying and
using because his vanity was gratif1ed.
Although he had forsaken the law of
Jehovah and drawn all the people away
with him In heathenish and idolatrous
practices, nevertheless 1t is to be pre-
sumed that he continued his stately and
magnificent professionals to the tenn
pie, fanked on either side by the splen-
didly caparisoned guard bearing the 300
glittering, golden shields. So 1t contin-
ued through five years Five years Of
glorious display, but meaningless wor-
ship. Five years in which God patiently
waited, and then the Judgment fell and
the king was stripped of all his treasure.
DUT although Rehoboam had lost the
ID golden shields, he was not to be de-
MED the vainglorious pleasure OF his
parade to the temple and return. The
400 shields must flash in the sunshine
n Of yore and dazzle the eyes of his
neople. The 300 shields in the hands
Of the guard must circle the temple
door and must tell a waiting people.
that their king was within worshiping.
The 800 shields must open to receive
him as he reappeared and must move
IN stately magniflcence back to the PAL.
ace. And to crafty this passion for
display, having lost the gold shields, he
"made In their stead shields of brass.
This may appear on the surface like
very innocent and proper procedure on
the part 81 the king. It may seem
that in SO readily and quickly adapting
himself to the circumstances OF his
misfortune he displayed skill and wis
dom. but when we consider what. these
shields signined, and the circumstances
which eliminated in their confiscation
nv a heather king, we shall begin to
understand the real meaning OF the
making of the brass shields ana De
able to make deductions that will teach
important lessons. # ~ -
HERE are three periods or epochs
in this experience Of Rehoboam--
the possession of the gold shields; the
loss OF the. gold shields, and the max
,np az tie brass shields. And under
these thI>e divisions we wish to con
slider our -:opic: Spiritual Counterfeit
to Rehoboam was counterfeiter,
and people to-day are prone to commit
.he same error and sin. Losing Gods
cold there il, the temptation to substi-
tnta for it the worlds brass. I'VE put
~. . ,.ase for the pure, the false for the
.ra. the counterfeit for the Genuine.
rhs glitter and display of externaHties
30 If more real concern to us than the
shirt and purpose which should lie pc
IA them. The Scribes and Pharisees 81
r rassa, day had learned the art OF coun-
..s,fe,t,ng. They had lost Gods goid:
"a unwilling to lose the glamour Of
IN. ~. outward display Of their religion
. INV. substituted the base metal OF .nel.
~. snsing. They made for themselves
o s,a,ds Of brass that they might make
= =. same show and appear to have los.
tne .,, ing They cared more for what
-. eyes Of man saw than 1or "na'