The Green Forest tribune., 1915-08-13
INTERNATIONAL. SUNDAySQIOOL
 LESSON (By E. O. SELLERS, Acting Director of Sunday School Course. The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago)
LESSON FOR AUGUST 15
JEROSOAM LEADS ISRAEL INTO
 SIN.
LESSON TExT-1 Kings 12:25-ss.


 unto thee a graven image, nor any like ness of anything that is in heaven above that is in the earth beneath, that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down myself down unto them. nor serve them. FIX 2O;4. 5a-
 Whether Jeroboam melted Israels 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 (11:29-40) and he had anoth- CT prophet on his side, Shemaiah (12:22-24), though Ahijah afterwards deserted him (14:I1S). 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- pie elsewhere than in Jerusalem
 |. "CaIves of Gold" w. 25-30 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. David's monarchy lasted scarcely two generations. Rehoboam's 
 is rebuked and be settles down in tudea but fortifies many cities (H Chron. Il: :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 na- tion. Defensed cities are not adequate safety for a nation (11:3S; ? Chron. 2O2O; Zech IA, 5. Witness Liege and Antwerp. As a matter of political prudence Jeroboam's scheme of re- moving the center of worship from Je- rusalem succeeded admirably. The center of gravity of a man and of na- tion is that place where he centers his worship. The temple had no lm' age, and his setting up of his images of bulls was a backward step, though doubtless 1t was regarded as best for the nation Jeroboam's fatal error was in defecting 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 oDey him. Note Jeroboam took counsel, not l 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 16:13). 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: A. 8). The errors and "isms" of today are but a 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 17:9). Jeroboam's excuse was plausible enough (v. 28) and ap- pealed to the ever-present weakness of the human heart to seek some easier way of serving God. But mans way al- ways becomes the hardest way. Jero- boam today would be classed as a liberal and held up as broad minded man"
 II. "Priests of the Lowest" w. 31-33, Jeroboam's real concern was not that of the people but the permanency or his kingdom. Jeroboam was not intro- | ducing a new God but a new way ot 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 se- 1 lected from among all the people, priests who were to carry on Jeho- vahs worship. God had selected the sons of Levi and specially ordained them for this service (Num. 3:10). 1 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. l But such is the natural perversity and stubbornness of the human heart that it readily follows it's leaders into all sorts of apostasy and error tRom. SD. Jeroboam also changed (v. 32) the feast ordained of God on the 18th day of the seventh month Oev. 23:33, 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. 15:6; Mark 7:13).
 IIl. The Main Teaching. Jeroboam's chief purpose was not the glory of God, but this new religion was for per sonal safety and glorifcation. His cunningly devised program became the agent of his own and the nations destruction Q3:34; 14:7-11; Kings l 1O:29, 31), and his opprobious title has become Which made Israel to sin Graft and trickery succeed for time, but only those who obey God in all things build on solid and lasting foundation. Nothing in this world is worth doing wrong for.' Boys do not succeed by breaking the rules Of