The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-08-14

LESSON TEXT Kings l2:2o-SS.
GOLDEN TEXT-Thou shalt not make |
unto thee a craven image, nor any IKE
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 theH'
nor serve them. Eek. 20:i, ga.
Whether Jeroboam melted lsraels
rebellion or was summoned home De-
cause of his being known as an OPP
ponent to Israel, we cannot say. He
must have remembered Ahi]ahs
prophecy Q1:29-4O) and he had anoth-
er prophet on his side, Shemaian
(12:22-24), though Ahijah afterwards
deserted him 14:1-1S). In Egypt
Jeroboam had learned of the worship
of the bull Apis and upon setting up
his kingdom, saw at once the need Oh
centering the religious life of the peo-
pie elsewhere than in Jerusalem.
1. "caIves of Gold" Wv. $3.50. Given
these ten tribes by God Q1:3l) the
people had chosen Jeroboam without
seeming consultation with God, and
the result was a tragic future Tor the
Hebrews. David's monarchy lasted
scarcely two generations. Rehoboams
second attempt at coercion 12:2l-24)
| is rebuked and he settles down III
Judea but fortifies many cities I'll
Chron. 11:5-12; / Kings 1924; laid.
| Jeroboam likewise built cities, She-
chem and Penuel, but the result of the
schism was a weakened people ana
Israel was the first to be carried into
captivity and to extinction as a ma
ton. Defensed cities are not adequate
safety for a nation Q1:3S; Chron.
1920; Zech. IA, 81. witness Llege
and Antwerp. AS matter OF politlcai
prudence Jeroboam's scheme OF re-
moving the center of worship from Je-
rusalem succeeded admirably. Inc
center of gravity of man and OF a 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 Tor
the nation. Jeroboam's fatal error
was in DETECTING the people from the
invisible Jehovah to the visible crea-
lions 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 1913
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 lex. 32:4
81. The errors and "isms" OF today
are but a repetition of the false teach
ings of former days dressed In ne"
garb. labeled with a new name; sucf
is the deceitfulness of the human
heart (Jer. 17:9). Jeroboam's excuse
was plausible enough ". 2S) and ap
pealed to the ever-present weakness o
the human heart to seek some easie
way of serving God. But mans way al
ways becomes the hardest way. Zero
beam today would be classed as
liberal and held up as broad
minded man." Note his cunning az
peal to sacred memories ". 2S).
q. priests Of the Lowest" Wv. 31-S;
> Jeroboam's real concern was not tina
of the people but the permanency o
his kingdom. Jeroboam was not intro
ducing a new God but a new way o
worship. One step always leads I
another, and to fully establish thi
new way, and at the same time Ell
tirely to control the situation, he 81
lected from among all the people
priests who were to carry on Jeht
yah's worship. God had selected tn
sons of Levi and specially ordaine
them for this service Mum. Blu
When the devil introduces a new n
ligion, or any false idea OF Christ, Q
the Bible, he always appeals to s.
cred memories, or else claims a "mo'
ern expression of the truth. Jer'
boam not only chose those who woul
be beholden to himself, but he ais
selected positions in his kingdom,
either end, each of which was easll
accessible. linus 10 Duliu anu Ihue
select others than the sons OF Aaro
u as priests was expressly forbidde
= But such is the natural perversity an
stubbornness of the human heart thi
it readily follows its leaders into
. sorts of apostasy and error (Ror
= SID. Jeroboam also changed ". 81
70 the feast ordained Of God on the l5'
day of the seventh month lie
u 1888, 34) to one occurring in II
eighth month. No possible appeal
u local interests warranted any sue
II substitution; to obey is better than
% modify Matt. 1876; Mark 7:13. II
last verse ". 33) tells us whence
70 of these changes originated, "of h
own heart'-hence 1t is not surprislI
that he finally assumed to himself u
a priests office Il Sam. 1912, IL;
&c Chron. 2:16), a browning act OF ape
~ tasy and presumption.
- III. The Main Teaching. Jeroboan
- chief purpose was not the glory
God. but this new religion was for pt
!. sonal safety and Qualification. ID
y cunningly devised program BEGAN
,. the agent of his own and the nation
;. destruction Q3:34; 14:7-11; Kin
~ 1929. 81, and his opprobious title h
10 become (which made Israel to Sill