The Elbert County tribune., 1915-08-13
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNDNSQlOOL
LESSON
BY E. o. SELLERS. Acting Director OF
Sunday School Course. The Moody Bible
Institute of Chicago)
LESSON FOR AUGUST is
JERosoAM LEADS ISRAEL INTO
SIN.

ness OF anything that is In heaven above.
Or that is In the earth beneath. or that Is
IN the water under the earth; thou shalt
not bow down thyself down unto them.
nor serve them. Eek. 20:4 5a-
Whether Jeroboam melted Israefs
rebellion or was summoned home be-
cause OF his being known as an op-
ponent to Israel. we cannot say He
must have remembered Ahijah's
prophecy (11:29-4o) and he had anoth-
er prophet on his side, Shemaiah
(12:22-24). though Ahijah afterwards
deserted him U4:11S). In Egypt.
Jeroboam had learned of the worship
Of the bull Apis and upon setting up
his kingdom, saw at once the need of
centering the religious life of the peo-
Pile elsewhere than in Jerusalem
1. "caives Of Gold" Wv. $3.50. Given
these ten tribes by God 11:3D the
people had chosen Jeroboam without
seeming consultation with God. and
the result was tragic future for the
Hebrews. Davids monarchy lasted
scaycely two generations. Rehoboam's
second attempt at coercion (12:21-24)
Is rebuked and he settles down in
Judea but fortifles many cities C1
Chron. IL: SIP: Kings 1924; 14:1D.
Jeroboam likewise built cities. She
chem and Penuel. but the result of the
schlsm was a weakened people and
Israel was the first to be carried into
captivity and to extinction as ma
tion. Defensed cities are not adequate
safety for a nation Q1:38; Q Chron.
1920: Zech. Ia, 81. Witness Liege
and Antwerp. AS matter of political
prudence Jeroboam's scheme OF re-
moving the center of worship from Je-
rusalem succeeded admirably. The
center of gravity of man and Of ma
ton Is that place where he centers
his worship. The temple had no i'm
age, and his setting up of his images
of bulls was a backward step. though
doubtless it was regarded as best for
the nation. Jeroboam's fatal error
was in detecting the people from the
invisible Jehovah to the visible crea-
tions OF their own hands. Mankind al
ways prefers to trust to their own de-
vices and to plan their own deliver
ance rather than to trust in God. The
evidence of our trust in God is to obey
him. Note Jeroboam took counsel, not
as did Rehoboam, of the aged or. the
young. but Gin his heart We are not
to lean to our own understanding but
upon the Holy Spirit John 1919.
Man Is .'slow of heart" and that one
at all familiar with Hebrew history
should repeat the mistake Aaron made
is scarcely to be understood (Ex. 32:4-
81. The errors and msms" of today
are but repetition of the false teach.
ings of former days dressed In a new
garb. labeled with new name; such
is the deceitfulness of the human
heart (Jer. 17:9). Jeroboams excuse
was plausible enough ". 2S) and ap-
pealed to the ever-present weakness OF
the human heart to seek some easier
ways becomes the hardest way. Jero-
boam today would be classed as a
liberal and held up as a broad
minded man
u. PRIESTS Of the Lowest" w. 31-33
Jeroboams real concern was not that
of the people but the permanency OF
his kingdom. Jeroboam was not intro
worship. One step always leads to
another. and to fully establish this
new way, and at the same time en-
tirely to control the situation, he Sc
lected from among all the people"
priests who were to carry on Jeho-
vah's worship. God had selected the
sons Of Levi and specially ordained
them for this service (Num. 3:10).
When the devil introduces new re-
ligion. or any false idea of Christ, or
the Bible. he always appeals to sa-
cred memories. or else claims mod.
ern expression of the truth" Jero-
boam not only chose those who would
be beholden to himself, but he also
selected positions in his kingdom, at
either end. each of which was easily
accessible. Thus to build and thus to
select others than the sons of Aaron
as priests was expressly forbidden.
But such Is the natural perversity and
stubbornness OF the human heart that
1t readily follows its leaders into all
sorts of apostasy and error from.
8:O. Jeroboam also changed ". 32)
the feast ordained of God on the 18th
day OF the seventh month Lev.
1888. 34) to one occurring In the
eighth month No possible appeal of
local interests warranted any such
substitution; to obey Is better than to
modify (Matt. 1876 Mark 7:13).
III. The Main Teaching. Jeroboam's
chief purpose was not the glory OF
God. but this new religion was for per-
sonal safety and glorification. His
cunningly devised program became
the agent of his own and the nations
destruction G3:34: 14:7-11; Kings
1929. 81, and his opprobious title has
become (which made Israel to sin :"