Evening journal., 1911-01-07
| $fAnENT Iln6s
ArkBROKLYN ]
|f1lABER.lN1,ACtE !,
lM BIBLE. STUDIES
ABILITY AND OPPORTUNITY MIS-
USED.
/ Kings 12.25-33-January S.


Thou shalt not make unto thee any
craven image. Exodus 20:4.
Today's study brings TO our atten-
ton a man of Large natural ability and
of quite unusual opportunity lt shows
US his disastrous error. which resulted
from his endeavOr To be worldly wise
and to neglect his God and his re-
ligion. Il furnishes an illustration
which can be applied, not only TO
every political and every commercial
enterprise, but also to the life hopes
OF each Individual.
Jeroboam as a young man attracted
the attention of King solomon, who
perceived that he possessed great eN-
ecutive talent and that he was a natu-
raj master and director of men. King
Solomon put JerOboam at the head OF
one of his corps OF drafted workmen
who were engaged after the manner OF
that time in building palaces and for
tresses for the king-without pay 9TH
er than very plain food and clothing.
These labor armies were obliged 10
work for a number of months and then
were replaced by others similarly con-
scripted
Jeroboam became the leader Of a
party of discontents, and an incipient
rebellion was the result. This was
quickly suppressed by King Solomon
and thereupon Jeroboam fled 10 Egypt,
from whence he returned at the death
OF solomon and became the leader and
spokesman of the ten tribes when they
demanded of Rehoboam the reform or
the governments policy
JerobOam's First Mistake.
IL should be remarked that one OF
Gods prophets had specially foretold
to Jeroboam that he was TO be the
king OF the ten tribes. IL was doubtless
this that led him to head the insurrec-
ton. He should have followed the eN-
ample OF King David, who was anolnt-
I ed king OF Israel several years before
| the death of King Saul. Young David
was content to wait Gods time Tor
bringing him to the throne. The fact
that God had indicated that this would
be so did not indicate that the time
had come hence David waited on the
Lord and meanwhile learned valuable
lessons Of self-control and trust IN
Divine Providence.
Not so lerOboam, who was evidently
very different type OF man, no doup'
possessed OF more confidence In him
self than OF trust in God; possessed OF
more impatience TO be a king than OF
LOYALTY and patriotic zeal to serve GOD
and his people. This first mistake
should be noted by all. "Wait ye upon
me. saith the Lordi' The man who
ignores God Is not wise; the man who
opposes God Is fool.
IerObOam's Second Mistake.
When the ten tribes revolted agains
King Rehoboam, Solomon's son, the,
promptly accepted Jeroboam, one o
Solomon's servants, as their king, II
harmony with the Prophets declara
ton of years before Finally the boy o
humble birth had reached a high sta
ton of influence grand opportunit'
for service for his God and his people
Whoever occupies a position OF prom
inence-political social, literary
{ should recognize that thereby he ha
! come under special responsibility an
p obligations toward all with whom b
has to do.
But Jeroboam, king Of the ten tribe
p STYLED Israel, took the course, alas, to
{ commonly taken-the selfish course
He looked not TO the Lord to sery
] him, nor to the people, TO serve thei
. best interests. He looked selfshly
. his own interests. He reasoned thus
; II ] would establish my family in tn
+ kingdom of these ten tribes, | mus
. separate them effectually from the IN
fiuence Of the kingdom Of judah. An
since. in Gods Providence, the Tempt
is IN the land OF Judah, and all tn
( religious rites and interest Of the pee
pie center there, ! must as unobtru
! sively as possible turn the attention
Of the nation / rule away from sym
, pathy with their fellows OF the king
dom Of Judah, and away from the reg
ulations which God has established
there.
Every worldly politician would de
clare Jeroboam a master spirit as
ruler, as a politician. He was world.
wise God through the Prophet had as
! sured him, "If thou wilt h-arken TO al
that l will command thee, and vii
walk I'm my ways. and do right IN m.
sight to keep my statutes and my com
. mandments, as David my servant did
thy kingdom will be prolonged -
King 1898.
God explained that the reason 70
D giving Jeroboam rulership of the tel
tribes was that SOlOmOn's course o
b dealing with the nations round abou
was gradually breaking down the tru
religion and leading the people towar'
idolatry. Jeroboam should have hai
all this IN mind. and should have ap
: piled his heart with special fervor q
the banishment of idolatry.
) Instead. however. for policy's sake
he led the nation, OF which he wa
, king, directly into idolatry. He di
, not come out plainly and say to then
] wish to separate you and alienat
you from God and the religious insti
tutions of your nation by attTactin
. | Nnnr nlfanIinn nWaV from Iarnaalon