Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-08-04
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson W.-Third Quarter, For
Aug. 8, 1915.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, Kings xiis6-to
Memory Verse, to Golden Text,
Prov. xvi. fs-commsntary Prepared
BY Rev. D. m. Stsarns-

memory verse, 10 9oIoon SKI.
Prov. xvi. 1s-commsntary Prepared
BY Rev. o. N. Stsarns-
In this record Of the division Of the
Kingdom and its cause we still see God
over all controlling and in all working,
for He has foreseen everything from
the beginning and provided for every
% called emergency and always tells
the final outcome. This division Of the
kingdom has never been healed till
this day. but 1t win be In HIS time, ac-
cortiing to Eek. xxxvii, 81, p Il
viii make them one nation In the land
upon the mountains of Israel; and one
king shall be king TO them all, and
they shall be no more two nations.
neither shall they be divided into two
Kingdoms any more at all" The i'm
mediate cause of this division Is found
IN chapter xi. o. 10, The Lord was
angry with solomon because his heart
was turned from. the Lord God OF Isra-
81, which had appeared unto him twice
and had commanded him concerning
this thing that he should not SO after
other gods Therefore was the king
dom rent In twain. Departure from
God and disotedience to Him Il back
Of all trouble, as rule, and the devil
Is back Of that but the time viii come
when on this earth there shall be no
more trouble, and from this earth and
this atmosphere the devil shall have
gone forever tRev xx. 10; XXI. IA:
xii. 3-5l. Whether It be providing a
king for Israel as we have seen in the
case OF Saul. and David. and solomon.
or dividing the kingdom, as we are
about to see. the Lord generally works
by ordinary human instrumentaliy.
In our lesson story today we see
Hadad Recon and Jeroboam and Re
hoboam and old men and young men
ell doing seemingly as they saw ct.
but behind the scenes Is an unseen
hand controlling. The Lord stirred
up an adversary unto solomon. Hadad.
the Ednmite" God stirred him up
another adversary. Recon. the son OF
Eliadah." THUS saith the Lord. the
God of Israel. Behold | will rend the
kingaom out of the hand OF solomon
and viii give ten tribes 10 thee" The
cause was from the Lord, That He
might perform His saying, which the
Lord spake by Ahijah, the Shilonite.
unto Jeroboam, the son OF Nehat"
Thus saith the Lord. Ye shall not 80
up nor fight against your brethren. the
children Of Israel return every man to
his house, for this thing Is from Me.
Il Kings XII IA. %. 81; XII, Is, 2sp.
Even the devil cannot touch child of
God without Gods permission. as we
rec In the case OF job and OF Simon
Peter.
The believer who aims to walk with
God In humility and obedience may
live In continual peace and quietness.
assured that all things are Gods best
for him and that no real evil can ever
befall him. But IL there Is disobeIi-
snce or willfulness God wifi In love
and wisdom chasten for our good. Sol
onion being dead. Rehoboam- his son.
reigned In his stead, all Israel having
made him king at Shechem (xh. /: III
Chron. X. II. When Jeroboam heard
In Egypt that solomon was dead he
returned and. with deputation. wait
ed upon Rehoboam with request that
he would tighten the burdens which
his fathers magnificent reign had
caused to be placed upon them. He
asked for three days to consider their
request. and meantime he consulted
FIRST with the old men and then with
his young men The former advised
moderation and that he speak kindly
to the people, but the latter advised
increased severity. So when the third
day came and Jeroboam and the peo-
pie came again for his reply he spake
to them as the young men had advised,
for the Lord was by their evil counsel
working out His purpose verse 15). "A
He also wrought by the counsel of
Hushai, which was evil toward Absa-
lom, to overthrow him. THE counsel
OF the Lord standeth forever. the
thoughts Of his heart to all genera
tons" but ali other counsel or device
He bringeth to nought (Ps. xxxiii. 10
III. Whatsoever the Lord pleased
that did He in heaven and In earth, In
the seas and all deep places Ps
cxxxv, g.
However people may associate them
selves against Him or take counsel to
esther against His people, all shall be
broken to pieces and come to nought
Qsa viii. o. 10). For ~the Lord OF
hosts hath sworn. saying, Surely az
have thought. so shall 1t come 10 pas
and as I have purposed, 50 shall II
utand." Qsa. xiv, 2A. He maketh the
wrath of man to praise Him, and the
remainder He restraints. He saith t.
the sea, Hitherto shalt thou come, bui
no further: and here shah thy proud
waves be stayed" FPS. lxxiv. 10; Jot
xxxvifi, III. II our hearts are whole
toward Him He win hold strongly