The Globe-republican., 1904-07-07

|
| Il Kings IA: II; Is: 81, S3) to Tirzah.
"And went out from thence" Having
established his capital, he transferred
his workmen to another scene Of op.
erstions. "And built" Strengthened
and enlarged; Gideon had destroyed
Its fort (Judg. 8: ~. "Penuel." The
name, which means face Of Cod"
was given It because here Jacob
wrestled with the angel Of sod (Gen.
| 80: 24.32).
Jeroboam's Great Opportunity. He
was inspired by the knowledge that
God had chosen him to rule Il Kings
IL: 29-31).
He was the free choice Of his peo.
pie, and thoroughly understood their
needs and character.
He was q man Of ability and energy,
proved under Solomon and now.
He was ruler Of a large and rich
nation, whose people were strong and
active, though somewhat turbulent
He had made a good beginning Of
his reign.
But all Of these advantages he
threw away by scorning the one con.
dition Of permanence on which God
Nod given him the kingdom, that he
should walk in Gods ways Il Kings
II: SS).
26. "And Jeroboam said in his
heart" He recognized the real rea-
son for his advocacy Of idolatry, but
he was ashamed to give 1t to the
people ". 2S).
81. III this people go up" Ito Jerus-
alem) ITO do sacrifice" The law
(Deut. 1G; 10y commanded this jour.
ney thrice a year for all males-at the
Passover (April), Pentecost June,
and the Feast Of Tabernacles( Octo.
ber). Then shall the heart Of this
people turn again unto their lord"
To Rehoboam, whom, as Jeroboam
feared, they would soon come to re.
gard as their lord" their legitimate
king "And they shall kill me-" To
get him out Of the way so that the
two kingdoms might be more readily
united, and also to win favor with his
enemy, Rehoboam.
II. The Pretexts for Idolatry.-Vs.
| 28, 20. So Jeroboam proceeded to estab-
lish idolatry, but without giving the
real reason, his fear for himself and
his authority.
2S. "Whereupon the king took coun.
sell" With men like-minded with him.
self, the tribal leaders who had helped
him to his throne. "And made two
calves Of gold" The ox-symbol Of God
was most natural for an agricultural
people, for whom the great animal, 50
powerful yet SO docile, was the bread.
winner, a material embodiment Of the
divine strength and benefcence. "Of
gold" Not solid, but "a wooden core
oyerlaid with gold" -Hastings Bible
Dictionary.
First Pretext.-"It Is too much for
you to up to Jerusalem" The proba-
BILE meaning is, as given in R. W mar
gin, Eye have gone up long enough"
Second Pretext.-"Behold thy gods
which brought thee up out OF
the land Of Egypt" "That the Israel
ties originally regarded these images
as symbols Of Jehovah can scarcely be
questioned" Kent. Gods" there
fore, might be translated God"
Third Pretext.-29. "And he set the
one in Bethel" Bethel ("house Of
Ep'-of God) was regarded as a sacred
city. 1t would be a convenient sane
tuary for Jeroboam's southern tribes,
and would intercept any who might
be on their way to Jerusalem. "And
the other put he in Dan" This was
the most Northern point in the king
dom; hence, the prOvcrblal phase,
from Dan to Beersheba." W..
iii. Downward in Idolatry.-Vs. 80
80. Build the wall slightly aslant at
the base, and 1t will be rulnously
aslant a few yards higher. Jeroboam
soon found that breaking one com
mandment led to the breaking Of 9th
erS.
80. "And this thing became a SIM"
II was a sin because az in Itself, 1t
broke the second commandment,
AGAINST craven images; (2) 1t led to
iaolatry, breaking the first command
ment; (3) the idolat1y involved OBJ
scene rites, breaking the spirit Of the
seventh commandment; az some
times, as in Moloch.worship, 1t In.
volved murder human sacrifice, break
;r0 tina sIYth commandment. (5)) Il