The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1915-08-12
LESSON FOR AUGUST IS
JEROBOAM 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 myself down unto them,
lOr serve them. Elk. 2O:4, 5a.
Whether Jeroboam melted Israels
rebellion or was summoned home be-
ponent to Israel, we cannot say He
must have remembered Ahijahs
prophecy Q1:29-40) and he had anoth-
er prophet on his side, Shemaiah
Q2:22-24), though Ahijah afterwards
deserted him (14:1-18). In Egypt.
Jeroboanl 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-
pie elsewhere than in Jerusalem.
|. "caives of Gold" Wv. $3.50. Given
these ten tribes by God Q1:3D the
people had chosen JerOboam without
seeming consultation with God, and
the result was a tragic future for the
Hebrews. David's monarchy lasted
scarcely two generations. Rehoboams
second attempt at coercion (12:21-24)
is rebuked and he settles down in
Judea but fortifies many cities Gil
Chron. 11:5-12; I Kings 1924; 14:1O.
Jeroboam likewise built cities, She
chem and Penuel, but the result Of the
schism was a weakened people and
Israel was the first to be carried into
captivity and to extinction as ma
ton. Defensed cities are not adequate
safety for a nation (11:3S; Chron.
2O:2O; 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-
tons 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 eek. 1924
81. The errors and isms'' Of today
are but repetition of the false teach
ings of former days dressed in new
garb, labeled with a new name; such
is the deceitfulness of the human
heart Ger. 1870. Jeroboam's excuse
was plausible enough ". 28) and ap-
pealed to the ever-present weakness OF
the human heart to seek some easier
way of serving God. But mans way all
ways becomes the hardest way. Jero'
boam today would be classed as a
minded man."
II. "Priests of the Lowest" Wv. 31-33.
Jeroboam's real concern was not that
Of the people but the permanency OF
MS kingdom. Jeroboam was not intro,
ducing a new God but a new way OF |
One step always leads to
another, and to fully establish this |
new way, and at the same time en-
,irely to control the situation, he Sc,
ected from among all the people,
priests who were to carry on Jeho-
7ah's worship God had selected the
sons of Levi and specially ordained
hem for this service (Num. 3:10).
When the devil introduces new re-
igion, or any false idea of Christ, or
he Bible, he always appeals to sa-
,red memories, or else claims mod
srn expression of the TRUTH Jero'
,oam not only chose those who would
,e beholden to himself, but he also
elected positions in his kingdom, at
either end, each of which was easily
accessible. Thus to build and thus to
elect others than the sons Of Aaron
Is priests was expressly forbidden.
But such is the natural perversity and
tubbornness of the human heart that
readily follows it's leaders into all
orts of apostasy and error (Rom.
20. Jeroboam also changed ". 32)
ue least OIUdlueu u OOu Ou JIG 1oIA
ay of the seventh month Nev.
1888, 34) to one occurring in the
ighth month. No possible appeal Of
ocal interests warranted any such
to obey Is better than to
nodify (Matt. 1876; Mark 7:1a.
Ill. The Main Teaching. Jeroboam's
hief purpose was not the glory of
iod, but this new religion was for per-
onal safety and gloriication. His
unningly devised program became
be agent of his own and the nations
estruction 1884; 14:7-11; 2 Kings
0:29, 80, and his opprobious title has
ecome (Which made Israel to sim"
raft and trickery succeed for a time,
ut only those who obey God in all
nings build on a solid and lasting