The Holt County sentinel., 1915-08-06
LESSON FOR AUGUST 8
THE KINGDOM TORN AsuNpgR.

GOLDEN TENT-rride goc,h before
!, s,ructiun. and u naughty spirit before
a fall Prov. 1918
Solomon's kingdom though outward.
ly magnificent contained within II
those germs Of oppression, formal re.
lisious obseryances and the lax ex.
ample Of an indulsent monarch which
speedily led TO It's disruption after his
death. Forty years Solomon reigned,
but the latter end Of his life was none
too peaceful "He loved many strange
women" and his heart was not per.
feet with the Lord his God" u1:i. ~.
Recon was his adversary" ul:25)
and Jeroboam whom he ut first sought
TO conciliate I'll: 26.2s) was finally
driven from the land ". 4O). Chapter
eleven contains the prophecy Of which
this lesson Ia the fulallment. And
Rehoboam, his son, reigned In his
stead" ul:t3).
I. The Convention Al sheeher,, w.
10. This place has an important his.
tory beginning In the days OF Abraham
and Jacob. II was IA city OF the Levites
and the place where Joshua gave his
final charge Josh. 2t:1. 25D. Ablme.
lcch destroyed II though II Was soon
rebuilt Here Israel gathered TO con.
hrm Solomon's son upon the throne.
Jerusalem and Judca readily accepted
Rehoboam as king. but the ten tribes
hositated and. according TO one trans.
lation there was years delay during
which time Jeroboam was sent for and
| certain reforms were formulated " ~.
| Their charges were entirely selfish
| and made no reference to the rights OF
Jehovah nor offered any protest
against the increasing idolatry. lie.
fore allegiance was sworn Jeroboam
as spokesman presented these reforms
~. ~ and Rohoboam wisely asked for
time to consider the request ". 81.
n. Good Counsel Neglected, w.
Gle. Rchobuam came Of bad stock
ich. li:2b. yet his first step was a
wise one. His name means "Enlarger
Of the people" but he sadly belied the
same. Too long had he lived In the
atmosphere Of luxury and encryation
The northern tribes suffered greatly
through taxation and shared none OF
the prosperity Of Jerusalem. solomon's
yoke" like that Of every earthly mon
arch. had been heavy Matt. II -. 3OI
The counsel of the old men was good
". -. II was singly. manly.
Jesus tells us that the greatest must
be the servant OF all and sets us III,
example himself Matt. 20 - Reho
beam next consulted those of his own
circle who were grown up with him.
men Of like position ana passions
youths rs inexperienced as himself
who had no sympathy but were Wild
Concoitcd. ovorb,aring selfish Rcho
beam asked advice" ". 81 Of the old
men. but asked for counsel" ". ~ ol
the young men, but In neither case IL
there any suggestion that God was
consulted flames l ~. These young
men cOunsoicd bOastlng and burden
some course which brought RchObOau
Ia grief, Oppression always results
IN rebellion. n fact that those who GOV
ern or employ others should ponder
well. Rchoboam's choice Of Couusclors
and his consequent course Of action
WINS the height of foolIsbness PROV
1920.
m, BAD co,,,. cons,n.a 90
,e.I, Jcrohoams suhs.onsn, c,,so,
confirms ma IN hal,.yIng ina, he mar,
linn mn others cnco,r.yed and ,os
,orod Tho d,vis,on ., m. r,n,dom nm,
he and Tho nromd ,oo,,sh nr,nc.,,n,
wore both opiv carrying IN, ,he uor1
ana vii, n, Jehoyan ~ ~. ps "a I'M
This does nat, boweyer Iesssn nj,
su,,, mr. ,o,,v acts . %, No, con,sn,
Win dsciari,y h,s accen,anca n, IN.
ev,i counse, bs snoIe "ronsh,v" ,v
"a, ana this verse sugyes,s 10 ms ,ba,
",ho Old mana counsel" uas Srown a.