Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-07-07
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JULY 10.

Subject: Jeroboam's Idolatrv, I Kings'
Kill, 25-3s-Golden Text, john xv.'
a1-Memory Verses, 2s-30-Commen-
tary on the Days Lesson.
7. improvements made ". 25). %.
"Then Ieroboam built" After he was
made king Jeroboam. Immediately took
measures to establish himself in his KING
dom. There were bright prospects before
him. "Shechem.'" This city was enlarg geo
and fortified and thus made fit to be the
royal residence. But he soon removed hls
capital to Tirzah, few miles north Il
Kings l4:l7; Is, 2l), and this remained the
capital until Omri removed it to Samarla
Mount Ephraim." See r. V. Not sin.
ole mountain, but the hill country OF
Ephraim, extending from Bethel to the
nlains of Jezreel 1t is the richest and
most beautiful part of the land. "Wens
out from thence. Shechem was tne pase
of operations in the building and fortltying
other cities. "Penuel." The place east OF
the Jordan, near the fords of Jabbok,
where Jacob wrestled with the angel Gen.
32:3O). and whose tower and inhabitants
in the time of the Judges Gideon had de-
stroyed (Judg. SAD. Jeroboam probably
regarded it as an important position, com
handing the great caravan road 20 the
farther East, and accordingly fortified it.
II. Idolatrous worship established Tvs
26.3I. 26 "Said in his heart" He did
have been ashamed to have done that and
it would have been poor policy. His real
reasons were in AIS heart, but ne used an
other argument to the people. Return to
David" Jeroboam was eXaltlng pohcy
above principle. Joscphus says the idea
was forced on the kings mind by the ap.
proach of the feast of Tabernacles, at
which time it had been usual Tor the peo
pie to go up in great numbers to Jerusa'
lem, and to live there for some days ~.
''To offer sacrifices" OR. W. His keen eye
saw at once that the religious element in
mans nature is a great power to be taken
into account i'll politics. Human y, speak
ing. Jeroboam's fear was, it must be con.
tossed we'll founded. 'Shall kill me-
When they we had time to repent OF the
step taken. Such revulsion of feeling il,
not uncommon. Uneasy lies the head
that wears a crown Jeroboam had tor
tilted himself so he did not fear war, but
now another danger seems to ARISE Whlc'
throws a gloom over his prospects. In re
atty, however, there was no such danger,
for God had promised to establish his
kingdom on condition that he would serve
Him Il Kings ll;3S), and Gods promise
was sure.
%. TOOK counsel" With his counsel
lors. or the heads of the nation who had
helped him to the throne. They were evi.
IDENTIFY like the king in worldly policy and
plans. Made two caves Jef4 9'i;as
resldeE1e IN tgypt mao n'aue h,ln ral.,,,o
WIZ the ca,i WORSHIP 30 idis,'a pn Lha - DO
theTe' ana this' uouo,icss nay shr ~
Wlth lhe erection 'i ',,Tr RG,"In ao a, 49,
cuStomed to the sight of the figures OF
oxen in their religious ceremonial by their
presence as supporters pi wy r illo'''l
at the tempe IN 'etusalei,. ,nI'e e. '? ;dnls
were not Sct up 70 pG "oisii'pJ,' a. .uo ,a
any, more 'h'h were .ne arh ANU t p,nIi %"
cred ShrlneS al 'eruaaSli', puI ua,;p;",',
saw that ne must lr9Nl'c ~. ''e ne go,
instincts oil ms people, anu at ONE 'n'tJ
dured a system OF ms own Jie' i ,h -
though ne 9lu not uess ~ '.at t,'I l"k o
PIE INTO ldoialrF se, nc ueIi'I' "tei' o.ono
the secona commandment anu i,o" ,,, No.
shIpng God under lalSe ana unnu'i'ot
wed form, the people graauaHy learned 10
worship other Soa' "i'"5c' n "m, rn5
sahcluar'SS at he,uri "nT i DIn p,tIp' and
the way Tor the temples OF AshtarS'h a ,,.
l}aal at Samarla ana 'eIreci' ~ ~ s",r,
1t was pfnnaDIN o'eria,a WIN Ho'u, H.
much. me sense lilienae' Is pl"o HE
gwen IN the margin oi lhc iel''L
SION ie nave gone up io,ts ."ouEn
ropoam argument vas iou nay, 80
new KING, choose aso new pr, l3t
WORSHIP. MS was d" "Pp'"' ~ '''N ''e''
" love OF ease. , ~, .,
~; 'betheI a elty IN ihe e anS
southern part OF the new ki.lguomh '" .ho
Formerly caIIcI La'sh, s.tua'GT III Wv
northern part OF 'he klhgdon. lhele W1s
PoI'E III choosing .mtIe l raGeS, 10 .o, W.
had been associated WIN re'iElouS wo OF, 5
IN ancient tLmtS; see zen 90 "a ,p -o.iia-