The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-12-30


mons reign me last glimpse We
had Of the great King was Ike the
glimpse we have sometimes had OF
the sun just as it was passing behino
DARK cloud near the close of a day
OF dazzling brightness. 1t was a mel
ancholy picture--so melancholy In
deed that we cannot. even now, look
into the face of the young man who
comes to succeed him upon the throne
without sense of fureboding. Re
hoboam's face is not reassuring. He
Is not dullard. perhaps. but he Is
what the plain speaking world would
not hesitate to cab fool and 1t is
never assuring to look into the face
of a fool. 1t is painful to note that
while he has not inherited his faith
er's wisdom he has infF3rited the
fruit Of his fathers mistakes Solo
men had almost impoverished his
Kingdom in his efforts TO surround
himself with glory like an aurecia.
Rather he had exalted Jerusalem and
Judah Ivy the inpoverishment of the
rest Of the nation. And the rest Of
the nation. We remember, had never
liked Judah. So long as Solomon
lived the people bore their burdens
fer the most part In silence, but when
the end came they saw their oppor-
tunity and they seized upon 1t. No
king should ever again have their
allegiance who would not promise 70
treat them with ordinary huicanitq.
When Kehoboa:n went 20 Sheehem
he doubtless expected the people to
acknowledge his authority without
word. But the people were not at
his mercy. They had taken the pre-
caution to send to Egypt tor Jero-
beam, popular faHorite, who was
in exile because he had rebelIed
against Solomon. and they were de-
tarmined that IL they did not get
what they wanted they would cat
loose from Judah and have Iero-
beam for their king, They did net
want Il great deal, They only asked
that the burdens which Solomon had
placed upon them should he light
ened. II was reasonable request,
which ceuld nave had but one rea-
sonabie response, sbUt EehobotaIn
was not reasonable and he waved
them away. They could come hack
in three days for their answer. he
said.
Inc Lesson Text in Everyday Dress.
Rehoboam talked fret with the ola
men who had been his fathers conn
seiors. They advised him to speak
kindly to the people and grant their
request. That was not the advice
he wanted. SO he called in some young
men--foolish youths after his own
heart-~and presented the matter to
them. They gave him the advice he
wanted, and because it was the ad-
vice he wanted he accepted II.
He had told the people that he
would need three days 10 consider
their petition and on the third day
they came for their answer. IL WAS
n distressing interview. The son OF
the wisest man the world had ever
known played the foo. Instead OF
speaking 10 them as men who had
rights which he was bound 10 re-
spect. he spoke TO them as slaves
My father made your burden heavy.
he said. but / Will make it heavier
Ny father held the whip over yoa
but / VIII chastise YOU with scorpions"
probably referring to the cruel
thongs with which slaves were whip
ped. Naturally such q speech could
have but one effect, and when some
one n the crowd reminded the king
that Israel was not upon the same
basis IN the kingdom 9s Judah-that
while Judah had inherited her king
and was bound to keep him. the Is
raeiites had not inherited their King
and could do as they pleased-there
arose a great cry, What lot have We
in this new king TO your tents. q
Israel" Another moment and the
multitude had swept away and the
young king was left to reflect upon
his peril Presently he made an e{-
fort to conciliate the people and sent
Adoram 10 them. But the people
ere in no humor to listen To this
man who had apparently made him
:. HnnnnIItDY 81 - a forced
la Dor in SoIomon's time and they
greeted his words with stones. The
news OF his death frightened the foot
ish king. and mounting his chariot
he fed for his life back TO J.rH-
salem. Meanwhile the people called
for Jerohaam and made him King.
The Heart Of the L.ssoai.
Eehoboam WAS at the parting Of
the ways. There had come t. him at
the very outset. as there comes to
every man, the opportunity to choose
between the path of wisdom and the
path of folisbnesa: and there was
presented clearly before him as there
is presented 10 as all, the possible CEN
sequences Uf either choice. He could
not but $50 that II lie acted the parI
of wisdom all would 60 well. and that
II he chose auother way he would run
a risk It is not that Il fool Is alto
gether blind TO danger that he goes
the wrong way; It Is because he is
reckless The difference between an
idiot and a fool is, the idiot sees no
danger. while the fool secs il and In
his vanity scoTns 1t. lie does not COM
front il as hero: he simply feels
that he Is toe big u be hurt ny H.
The matter before Rehoboam was
10 choose between securing the ser
Vice OF his people by serving them.
and trying 10 secure their service
without serving them. Experience has
taught men that he that would be
great among mon must he their ser.
want. But that is a lesson which men
never learn. except by experience. II Is
Lesson in humility. and We never
learn humility until something has
happened. The Young man starts ont
TO reach the pinnacle of greatness by
ladder--by trying to climb up into
view. and nos until he has tried II
tor himself does ne consent TO give I'D
his idea and pursue the only path
by which man has ever reached the
pinnacle-the path that leads through
the valley OF humility. Reason tells
him that the best way to secure ser
vice IL to serve: but his own proud
heart insists that he shall secure SER
vice By setting himself up to lord il
over men. And it was from the proud
hearts and not the heads Of the young
men whom tsehoboam had gathered
about him that their silly advice came
There has never been an exception
To the rule that no that would be
great must serve. Service is the eX-
preston OF greatness. God himself Is
y rFt ~ tt..,. ~. -.