Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1921-12-29
LESSON FOR JANUARY /.
THE REVOLT OF JERoBoAm.

or that Is in the earth beneath, or that
| Is In the water under the earth; thou
shalt not bow down thyself unto them
nor serve them.-Ex. 20:4, s.
| REFERENCE MATERIAL Kings
n:26-43; 13:l7-l4. 20; II Chron. Il and Ii;
lisa. 4:9-2O.
PRIMARY ToPlc-The Story Of Two
| Kings
JUNIOR ToPIc-Two Kings Who Dis
| obeyed God.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Two Kings Who Lost Their Opportuni-
| dies.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
industrial Unrest and Its Cure.
The movements leading up to the
division of the kingdom began during
Solomon's reign.
!. The Peoples Demand wv. 1-4).
| 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
t1plicity Of his wives, this became very
burdensome. The people were groan-
ing under Its weight. Upon the ac-
cession Of the new king, Rehoboam,
the people through their leader, Jero-
beam, 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).
4 1. Rehoboam consulted with the old
4
the old men Of experience who had
been Solomon's advisers. Being ac-
| quainted 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.
S-11). These young men were most
likely half-brothers, sons Of Solomon's
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.
8. Rehoboam follows the advice Of
the young men wv. 12-15). At the ap.
1 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.
Ill. The Revolt of the Ten Tribes
wv. 1924.
Upon Rehoboam's announcement OF
his rash purpose, all Israel cried out,
4 what portion have we In David?
/ Neither have we an inheritance in the
son of Jesse: to your tents, o Israel !
Now see to thine own house, David"
Rehoboam's attempt to collect tribute
from the ten tribes was met by ston-
ing Adoram, the tribute gatherer, so
that he died. Rehoboam's failure to
heed the advice of experienced men
caused the work of two generations to
be undone in moment
/ wv. $3.50.
/. He established calf-worship wv.
25-33). a. His pretext for wv. %, 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 q Kings IL :3S). Had he be-
lieved God, this fear would have been
dispelled. Jeroboam only used re-
ligion to secure personal ends. He
was too shrewd politician to do
away with religion. He knew that re.
ligion was powerful factor in mans
life. (2) The calves set up wv. 2S-3O).
When Jeroboam set up these idols he
said, ut 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.
81-33). (D 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 Nev.
% 1880. (4) 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.