The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-08-11
SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES
!. Side Lights on Next Sundays
Lesson for Teachers and PupHs
Edited by Charles K. Meyers.
g Colo X NJ


g g Colo x Nj 1905
August 15-Jeroboam Leads Israel
Into Sin.--I Kings -, 1888.
While on it's face this lesson is but
an account of the way in which the
ten tribes of Israel which revolted
against the son of Solomon, set up a
kingdom with one Jeroboam as king,
yet it carries with it a warning for us
all which is Of much import.
When it was clear that Solomon
had so fallen into wrong doing that
the kingdom could not be handed
over to his natural successor, Keno
boam, God made choice OF young
man to in time be king of the ten
northern tribes. The person in ques-
ton was JerobOam, the son OF JeDat.
In l Kings it is recorded that JeroDo-
am was mighty man OF Valolr ana
Solomon seeing that he was lndustrl-
Gus made him ruler over important
matter. Later the prophet AhiJah met
Jaroboam and told him that in time
he would be the king over ten tribes
and could reign according to all that
thv soul desireth." Now the reasons
given Jeroboam for dividing the king
dom came from the fact that Solomon
and many of his people had gone 10
worshiping idols, and not walked IN
Gods way, keeping His statutes.
Jeroboam was distinctly told as 1oi-
lows:
IF thou wilt hearken unto all
that command thee, and wilt
walk in My ways. and do what is
right in My sight, to keep My
statutes and My commandments,
/ will be with thee, and build
thee a sure house as | built for
David. and will give Israel unto
thee"
In due time Jeroboam became king
over the ten northern tribes his peo.
pie having rebelled from the son OF
Solomon, Rehoboam, when he would
not promise to make lighter their bur-
dens. Backed by the promise OF GOD
that he should be prospered if he but
did the right things there opened up
before him a glorious career. We
shall next find out why he soon fell
from favor, and went down into his
tory as the man who made Israel to
sim" Jeroboam fell because OF lack
of faith in the promises OF God. he
thought it necessary to mix some
worldly ,shrewdness into the plans OF
the governing of Israel, and just there
came his grief. :.
In the separation OF the tribes, the
city of Jerusalem. where the great
temple was located, became the seat
of government Of Rehoboam. Know
ing that it was the bounded custom
for all good Jews to visit the temple
city once q year if not oftener, and to
gather there at some OF the great
DAYS. IJeroboam reasoned that in time
the ,worshippers would be drawn
again to allegiance to the government
of his rival, RehOboam. Ordinary
good sense would suggest, he said,
that the Ijeople be kept away from Je-
rusalein if possible. He evidently
thought that if he made places OF
worship handy, near at home, ana IN
duced the people to go to these ana
not Jerusalem, his kingdom would De
all the more firmly established. ne
first fortified Shechem and 7Penuel,
and then turned his attention to the
question of where the people should
Worship. He made two calves OF gold,
placed one at Bethel and the other at
Dan, and proclaimed that these rep
resented the God which had brought
the people out of the land OF Egypt.
He selected priests from other men
than those of the tribe of Levi, and
&c
dates as those ordained by Cod IN HIS
laws made through Moses. Now ne
congratulated himself he was safe on
the throne, with the great forts Tor
military protection, and tho people
content to stay away from the temple
at Jerusalem in religious matters.
From the human standpoint Jero
boam had done wisely and well, Du'
in the sight of God there was griev
Gus sin, for the people soon fell away
into idolatry and the king won the
designation in bible history OF "Je
rohOam who made Israel to sim" III
Il Kings IA, III, God makes known &
fearful sentence on Jeroboam for his
: Wickedness.
The problem which confronted Je
roboam confronts every man and wo
man today who must manage AFFAIRS
in life. God has declared that the on
Nv way to have His support is by nav
? ing heed to His commandments. Jesus
gave that royal command:
Seek We first the Kingdom or
God and His righteousness, ana
all these things shall be added
unto you.
The question thus comes, shall one
hew strictly to the line of honest deal
ing; take no advantage OF others
do as he would be done by; place Coo
first in everything and thus apparent
ly at times lose the chance to galI
-. nc On A1irllnE