The Dolores star., 1921-12-23
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Si1aadoySchoo1 2
' Lesson '
lBy REV. II. b. FITzwATER. u. D..
Teacher OF English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute of ChicagoD
Copyright 1929, Western Newspaper Union
LESSON FOR JANUARY I
THE REVOLT OF JERosoAM.

| GOLDEN TENT-Thou shalt not make
unto thee any craven image. or any ike
ness of any thing that is In heaven above.
| or that is in the earth beneath, or that
liz in the water under the earth: thou
! shalt not bow down thyself unto them
| nor serve them.-EN. 2o3 5,
J REFERENCE MATERIAL Kings
IL :26-4S; Is:l7-A. 0. IL Chron- Il and 49,
| lisa H:s-2o.
PRIMARY ToPIC-The Story OF Two
| Kings.
JUNIOR ToPIC-Two Kings who Dis
obeyed God.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Two Kings Who Lost Their Opportuni-
ties.
! YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Industrial Unrest and Its Cure.
The movements leading up In the
division of the kingdom began during
Solomon'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
tiplicity 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-
boam, came with the request that
their burdens be made lighter, promis-
ing loyalty to him on the condition Of
lightened burdens.
u. Rehoboam's Foolish Decision
(vv. 5-15).
]. RehOboam consulted with the old
men wv. SD. He at once consulted
the old men of experience who had
been Solomon's advisers. Being ac-
quainted with the conditions as i'm
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 SOlomOn's
many wives. Being thus brought up
In the luxury of the harcm, they were
ignorant of the real rights of the peo
pie: therefore they advised that the
burdens be increased.
3. Rehoboam follows the advice OF
the young men wv. 12-15). At the ap-
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
| wv. 1920.
Upon Rehoboams announcement OF
his rash purpose, all Israel cried out,
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. RehobOams failure to
heed the advice of experienced men
caused the work of two generations to
be undone In a moment
~. Jeroboam's Substitute Religion
wv. 25-33).
l. He established calf-worship wv.
25-33). G His pretext for wv 28, 2T).
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 Rehoboum
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
dlspelled. Jeroboam only used re-
liglon to secure personal ends. He
was too shrewd a politician to do
away with religion. He knew that re.
ligion was powerful factor in mans
life. (2) The calves set up wv. 2s-sO).
When Jeroboam set up these idols he
said, ut Is too much for you to 70 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.
3l-33). Q) He built houses of high
places ". 3l). This was against the
direct command Of God. (2) He made
priests Of the lowest of the people
". 3D. 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 Lev
% :3-34). (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.