Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1921-12-28
L.esOgED UNIFO2m INTERNATIONAL
SllndaySchool
' Lesson '
(By REV p. b. FITzwATER. d. D..
Teacher OF English Bible In the Moody
bibic Institute Of Chicago)
LESSON FOR JANUARY |
The REVOLT OF ,JERosoAM.

uess Of any thing thh Is In heaven above,
or that is In the earth beneath. or that
is IN the water under. the earth; thou
shalt not bSw down myself unto them
nor serve tliem.-Ex. 20st. g..
REFERENCE MATERIAL II Kings
II :ss-4S lsiI-iL 20; II chron. u and u:
lisa. 1890
PRIMARY ToPIc-Ths story of Two
Kings. ~
JUNIOR ToPIc-Twq Kings Who p;s-
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Two Kings Who Lost Their opportuni-
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Industrial Unrest and It's Cure.
The movements leading up to the
division of the kingdom began during
SOromon's reign.
!. The Peoples Demand wv. Id.
This was Occasioned by the burden
of excessive taxation and enforced
labor required by Solomon In order to
build costly houses and temples for
his heather wives. Owing to the null
tlphcity Of his wives. this became very
hurdensomc. The people were xroun-
ing under its weight. Upon the ac
cession of the new king, Rehoboam
the people through their leader. Zero
boam, came with the request that
their burdens be made lighter, promis,
Ing loyalty TO him on the condition of
lightened burdens.
II. Rehoboam's Foolish Decision
wv. 5-15).
/. Rehoboam consulted with the old
men wv. 90. He at once consulted
the old men Of experience who had
been Solomon's advisers Being ac-
qualnted with the conditions as inn
posed by solomon, and knowing the
temper Of the people, they advised
that the peoples request be granted.
2. Rehoboam consulted the young
men who had grown up with him wv.
SID. These young men were most
likely half-brothers. sons Of Solomons
many wives. Being thus brought up
In the luxury of the harem, they were
ignorant Of the real rights of the peo-
Pile; therefore they advised that the
burdens be increased.
3. Rehoboam follows the advice OF
the young men wv. 12-15). AT the APP
pointed time he announced his pur-.
pose to the people. He answered them
roughly, asserting his purpose to In.
crease their burdens and sorrows
Rehoboam lost the great opportunity
of his life.
III. The Revolt of the Ten Tribes
(vv. 1920.
Upon RehOboams announcement Of
his rash purpose, all Israel cried out,
"What portion have we in Davidl
Neither have we an Inheritance in the
son of Jesse: to your tents. o Israel !!
Now see to thine own house, David"
RehobOams attempt to collect tribute
from the ten tribes was met by stOE-
ing Adoram, the tribute gatherer, SO
that he died. Rehoboam's failure to
caused the work of two generations to
be und0ne In moment.
w. Jeroboam's Substitute Religion
wv. 1888.
/. He established calf-worship wv.
25-33). ~ His pretext for wv. 90 27).
He feared lest the religious unity
should heal the political separation.
His plea was that the people would
go back to Jerusalem to worship, and
therefore would gradually be led to
acknowledge allegiance to Rehoboam,
and his own life would be taken. This
act Of his had its root In his heart Of
unbelief. God had promised through
the Prophet Ahijah to build him a
sure house. even as he had built for
David Il Kings II 1887. Had he be.
iieved God, this fear would have been
dispelled. Jeroboam only used re-
ligion to secure personal ends. He
was too shrewd a politician to do
away with religion. He knew that re.
ligion was a powerful factor In mans
life. (2) The calves set up (vy. 2S-30)
When Jeroboam set up these idols he
said, st is too much for you to go up
to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O
Israel, which brought thee up out OF
Egypt" His religion was the religion
of convenience.
2. His scheme of worship wv
1889. a. He built houses of high
places ". 81. This was against the
direct command of God. (2) He made
| priests OF the lowest of the people
| ". BY. God had set aside the tribe
of Levi to fill the Office of priesthood
In this again. he disobeyed God. (3)
He changed the day Of the feast Of
the tabernacle ", 32). The time Of
| this feast was set by Jehovah Uev
% :33-34). az Jeroboam himself in
| trudes into the priests office ". 33)
| This act of presumption on his part
| was the climax of his goddess acts
| All this grew out of wicked heart.