The Tupelo journal., 1904-07-01
THE SUNDAY BIBLE SCHOOL.
Lesson in the International Series
for July 8, 1eO4-'The King
dom Divided"
prepared by the Highway and By
ruov,, proachorl

LooO
(tKings 12:12-20; Memory Verses, l2-l4)
IL. So Jeroboam and all the people came
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 mems counsel
that they gave him;
IA. And spake to them after the counsel
of the young men, saying. My father mace
your yoke heavy, and will add to your
yoke; my father also chastised you with
whips, but / will chastise YOU with scor-
pions.
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.
IL. So when all Israel saw shat the KIM
hearkened not unto them, the people an
swered the king, saying: What portion
have we in David? neither have We inheri-
lance in the son of Jesse; to your tents,
o Israel; now see to thine own house,
David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
II. 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 it 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 l Kings 12:1-24
with the Parallel Passages, 2 Chron.
10:I-19; lila
GOLDEN TEXT.-"Pride goeth before
destruction, and a naughty spirit before a
fall."-Prov. 1918.
TIME.-Common Chronology, 975 B. c.
PLACE.-Schechem, about q miles north
of Jerusalem.
PERSONS.-Rehoboam, son of Solomon;
Jereboam, son of Nebat. and Zeruah Il
Kings 1925, 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
Israel.-Verses 21-24.
Temple spoiled of treasure by Shis-
hak.-l Kings l4:2l-3l.
The eleventh and twelfth chapters of
2 Chronicles contain fuller accounts Of
Rehoboam's reign.
Comparing Scripture with Scripture.
"Forsook the old mems COUNSEL
See VS.. 6 and Z. Read Prov. IL.
"Jereboam Read his record in I
Kings l1:26-40.
LAS the king had appointed See
v. 5.
Answered the people roughly."-It
is not the only instance where harsh
words have cost dearly. The kings
speech that day cos him more than
half his kingdom. Prov. 1871 suggests
a better course.
Spoke 20 them after the counsel Of
the young men."-See VS.. Sill. Prov.
1920 finds striking illustration here.
THE cause was from the Lord
1t was fulfillment of prophecy. See
l Kings 11:11-12, and 1898. But there
is no real conflict between Gods ON
niscience and mans free will. Comp.
hardening of Pharoah's heart, Elk. 4:21,
and crucinxion of Jesus, Acts 2:23.
Gods fOreknowledge does not nullify
mans freedom of choice or lessen his
responsibility. Rehoboam's pride and
folly and Jereboam's cunning plotting
were but carrying out the will and
word of God.-See Ps. 1910.
$50 Israel departed."-Incompetency
and u~nworthiness always bring disas-
ter and loss of possessions and power.
See Luke 1924, rs.
"Rehoboam made speed to
ee."-Compare his boast in verse IA.
None hat followed the house OF
David, but the tribe of Judah only
See for fuller explanation of this, VS..
10, 81 and %.
Rehoboam's Observation-Disclosures
had a backslider for a father and a
heather princess e Chron. 1913 for
a mother. He was brought up amidst the
voluptuousness and idolatry that
marked the closing years of SolomOn's
reign. How a young man is handi-
capped who has not a good mother
and father. And on the other hand see
how blessing rested upon Rehoboam in
that one tribe and Jerusalem were left
to. him, because of the promise of God
to David, his grandfather.-Q Kings
1l:13).
Rehoboam's Opportunity. Reho-
boam's pride shut the door of oppor-
tunity and opened that of disaster. He
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 deaf
His mind was made up from
the first and he was not sincere in
seeking advice, but rather wanted fiat
tering confirmation of his own views.
How common Is this sin of pride and
self-will, and how it shuts the way Of
wholesome opportunity and invites dis
aster. How prone we are to reject adj
vice that is counter to our own preju-
diced views. The Rehoboam spirit is
not yet extinct. The Golden Text finds
most striking eXemplification in the
events of our lesson.
Seed Thoughts.
Earthly rulers generally impose griev-
Gus yokes, but there is one King Whose
yoke is truly light, for He shares the
yoke and always bears the heavier end.
King Rehoboam boosted and then fed
for his life. 1t nearly always proves true
that the boaster in the end is forced to
take flight and makes a sorry spectacle