Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1904-07-09

he southern kingdom of Judah, had a
/ double history till the exile. We fol-
| low first the story of Israel under
| Jeroboam.
/. The Temptation to Tdoltary.-Vs.
25-27. Jeroboam began his reign en-
srgetically and wisely, taking meas
ares for the security and defense OF
bis kingdom.
%. Then Jeroboam built Shech-
en-" The city, destroyed by Abime-
lech (Judg. 8: 45), had been restored.
and served as the meeting-place of
the council described in the last les
son. I'm mount Ephraim" Or. ", 'the
hill country of Ephraim'D. And
dwelt therein" removing afterward
Il Kings IA: II; 10: 81, S3) to Tirzah.
And went out from thence" Having
established his capital. he transferred
his workmen to another scene of OPP
erations. And built" Strengthened
and enlarged; Gideon had destroyed
its fort (Judg. s: ~. "Penuel." The
name, which means face of God,"
was given it because here Jacob
wrestled with the angel of God (Gen.
80: 24-32).
Jeroboam's Great Opportunity. He
was inspired by the knowledge that
God had chosen him to rule Il Kings
IL: 29-3D.
He was the free choice of his peo-
pie. and thoroughly understood their
needs and character.
He was a man of ability and energy,
proved under Solomon and now.
He was ruler of 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
had given him the kingdom, that he
should walk in Gods ways Il Kings
IL: SS).
&c. "And Jeroboam said in his
heart" He recognized the real rea-
son for his advocacy of idolatry, but
he was ashamed to give it to the
people ". 2S). o
q. IF this people go up" Ito Jerus-
alem) Ito do sacrifice" The law
(Deut. 16; 16) commanded this jour
ney thrice year for all males-at the
Passover (April), Pentecost (June).
and the Feast of Tabernacles( Octo-
Dr.,. Iuef. sslsn Tie meat on tnIs,
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.
%. 90. So Jeroboam proceeded to estab-
lish idolatry, but without giving the
real reason. his fear for himself and
his authority.
%. "Whereupoh 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, so
powerful yet so docile. was the bread
winner, a material embodiment Of the
divine strength and .beneficence. "Of
gold" Not solid, but "a wooden core
overlaid with gold. Bible
Dictionary.
First Pretext.-'It is too much for
you to up to Jerusalem" The proba-
BILE meaning is, as given in X. V. mar |
gin. I'VE 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 /
"-Kent. Gods there.
fore. might be translated God"
Third Pretext.-29. And he set the
one in Bethel" Bethel ("house of
El''-of Cod 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
ION: hence, the proverbial phase,
from Dan to Beersheba."
III. Downward in Idolatry-ys. 30
%. Build the wall slightly aslant at
he base, and it will be ruinously
lslant few yards higher. Jeroboam
ioon found that breaking one COM
nandment led to the breaking of 9TH
.rs.
20. And this thing became a sin"
[ was a sin because o. in itself, il
,roke the second commandment,
against craven images; C9) it led to
breaking the first command.
nent; Co the idolatry involved OBJ.
Gene rites, breaking the spirit of the
cyenth commandment, ca some
ines. as in Moloch.worship. 1t in.
olved murder. human sacrifice. break
1E the sixth commandment: (5)) II
the division of the king.
oms. thus weakening Gods people:
80 it degraded the service of God. the
ure worship which God had intro.
ucet for an example to the nations.