The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-08-04
SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES
Side Lights on Next Sundays
Lesson for Teachers and Pupils
Edited by Charles K. Meyers.
Augnst s The Kingdom
Asunder.-I Kings II, 1-24.

August s. The Kingdom Torn
Asunder.-I Kings II, 1-24.
Our lesson this week follows closely
in history that of last wherein we saw
the great glory Of the kingdom with
Solomon as king Wealth, honor, pow
er flowed in, and it reached the high
est point in magnifcence. 1t might be
remembered that when the people
first came to Samuel the prophet ask
ing for king he told them they must
pay the price in taxes, the taking OF
the sons and daughters for klngly
uses, if they persisted in their request.
During the times of Solomon this
prophecy came specially into truthful
ness, and on his death there was a
day of reckoning. The masses OF the
people rose up and would not consent
to recognizing his son as the king un-
til a promise was made of relief from
excessive taxes and other kingly bur
dens which the splendOr OF the great
rulers reign had brought into being.
On the death of Solomon his son,
Rehoboam, desired to succeed him as
king. AS is well known there was not
entire unity in spirit among the twelve
tribes. David at first became king
over the two southern tribes of Judah
and Benjamin, and it was after num-
Der Of years kingship OF these that he
was able to unite all the tribes under
his ruIership. This division OF inter-
oh i
on the death of Solomon. A condition
confronted Rehoboam which called for
tact and careful handling. He recog-
nized that the consent OF the men OF
the northern tribes was needed, and
SO left his capital at Jerusalem and
went to Shechem in the mountainous
country OF Ephriam and Samaria. The
record says "All Israel We're come to
Schechem to make him king"
Rehoboam was not destined to be-
come king over all the tribes as were
his immediate ancestors. David and
Solomon. The father, Solomon, had
done wrong in Gods sight and it was
told him that the kingdom would be
rent after his death. The people of
the ten northern tribes were in re-
bellious mood. They put forth for
their spokesman one JerobOam, a man
who had shown willingness in the past
to be Independent of Solomon. and
who had gone to Egypt for time to
get away from this king. The setting
forth of complaint said that Solomon
had made their burdens grievous and
that promise was asked that the son
make things lighter. If this was CIV
en- willingness to serve him was held
out.
The sins of the father were now to
be visited on the child. RehObOam
brought up in the luxury of the court
OF Solomon was not the man to lend q
sympathetic ear to the complaints OF
the common people. The father had
ruled with a high hand and why should
not the son? It is true that at first he
asked advice of the older men, but
when they counseled to heed the COM
plants and to promise to be the serv-
ant OF the people rather than their
master, he turned from them to the
young men of no experience. These
said to put forth bold front, declare
that the son would be even harder to
them than the father in ruling. The
advice of the young men was more to
Rehoboam's liking and was adopted.
AS the result there was rebellion and
the ten northern tribes broke away
and soon made Jeroboam their king.
Looking back on this affair very
many things come to mind, more than
can here be set forth. The entire
spirit of the gospel of Jesus is Violat-
ed in the conduct OF RehOboam. Jesus
said that He came not to be minis
tered unto but to minister. He set
ever the example of humility and do
ing justice to all men. 1t is where
His gospel is carried out in spirit that
men have the best government and
their rights are most respected. There
has been long fearful struggle up
from absolute monarchy to the en-
,1igl,tened governments of the United
States, England, Canada, Australia and
France. The assembly at Schechem
calls to mind the day when the Great
Charter OF English liberties was de-
manded of King John and obtained
That monarch was wiser in his day
titan fRehobOam and recognized that
the people were not to be denied their
just dues.
The lesson also brings up the duty
Of kings, presidents, congress, govern
ors, courts, to listen to the grievances
OF the country and to act with justice
toward them. While those at the
head Of affairs cannot change the man
ner OF government to meet the pass
ing within of any certain body Of indi'
viduals, yet there is no gain in meet.
ing their demands with contempt, and
trying to ride rough shOd over public
sentiment. Evils do exist, and wise
rulers set about to wipe them out
rather than to announce with AFRO
eance that nothing can be done. Hap
pily in our land there is the feeling to
right wrong. Laws are gradually be-
ing put on the books which curb cor
porate greed and give the producers OF
wealth some of the benefits. Mayor
Thompson of Chicago has done well in
deciding as arbitrator in the dispute
between the workers and the car line
corporation that the men should have
living wages and hours which will not
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