The Carlisle independent., 1915-08-12
LESSON FOR AUGUST 15
JERCSOAM LEADS ISRAEL INTO
 SIN.
LESSON TExT-I Kings 12:25-S3.

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 i not bow down myself down unto them, nor serve them. Ex. 20:4, 5a-
 Whether Jeroboam melted Israers 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 12:22-241, 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 of centering the religious life of the peo- pie elsewhere than in Jerusalem.
 I. "calves of Gold" w. 25-3O. 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. Rehoboams 8 second attempt at coercion (12:21-24) is rebuked and he settles down in Judea but fortifies many cities QI Chron Il: 5-12; Kings 12:24; 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 a na- tion. Defensed cities are not adequate safety for a nation Q1:3S; ? Chron 20:20; Zech. IA, 3. 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 man and of na- ton is that place where he centers l 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 for the nation. Jeroboam's fatal error was 1n 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 obey him. Note Jeroboam took counsel, not as did Rehoboam, of the aged or the young. but "in 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: f. 8. The errors and "isms" of today are but 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 (Jer 17:9). Jeroboam's excuse was plausible enough (y. 2S) 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 a broad minded man."
 II. Priests of the Lowest" w. 31-93, Jeroboam's real concern was not that of the people but the permanency of his kingdom. Jeroboam was not intro- ducing a new God but a new way of 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- lected from among all the people priests who were to carry on Jeho- vah's worship. God had selected the sons of Levi and specially ordained them for this service (Num. S:10). 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. But such is the natural perversity and stubbornness of the human heart that l it readily follows its leaders into all sorts of apostasy and error (Rom. l SD. Jeroboam also changed (v. 32) the feast ordained of God on the 18th 1 day of the seventh month (Lev. | 23:33, 34) to one occurring in the 1 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).
 TIT. The Main Teaching. Jeroboam's chief purpose was not the glory of God, but this new religion was for per sonal safety and glorification. His cunningly devised program became the agent of his own and the nations destruction Q3:34; 14:7-11; 2 Kings 10:29, 3D, 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 a solid and lasting foundation. Nothing in this world
 is worth doing wrong for" Boys do