Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-31
SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON
For Jan. 1st, 1922. Kings H.: to 1876
BY DR. MARION NH. HULL

day is the mad rush which prevents
time for reflection.
Rehoboam then consulted with
others-another good thing as a
principle. He asked his fathers
trusted friends and advisers. They
were men Of experience and of ma
ture judgment. Then he consulted
the men Of his own age, and who
had been raised under the same in
fuences. They were hot-blooded and
immature. He took their advice, and
disrupted the kingdom. A word
about that later; but let us see if
the advice of the older men was any
better. Would the result have been
different if he had followed theirs?
I think not, except that it would
have delayed the break a little
longer, for here is what they adj
vised. They are in turbulent state
of mind now. "a soft answer turn
eth away wrath" as your father
said; so do you speak kindly to them.
Tell they you are going to be their
servant. That will satisfy them;
they will go home; and you can keep
on the way your father did. Side
step the real question of taxes. III.
Their answer was wise from. Il
worldly point of view; but it showed
the corrupting influence of Solo
mons autocratic government. 1t
was deceptive, and hence immoral;
but it showed also a remarkable in
sight into human nature.
If Rehoboam had had any political
training Aeor any common sense he
would not have made the foolish
mistake OF taking the advice of the
younger men, which was this-shoW
that you are going to be king by
taking the whip in hand at once, and
harder than. your father did.
The people were in no mood for
such an answer as that; the young
men showed as little insight into
human nature as the older man
showed much.
What Rehoboam should have done
was to have consulted God; but his
Ammonitess mother had never
taught him to know or talk with
Him; and Solomon had been too busy
with other things to give his boy
that training.
heard that reply they exploded. Ito
your tents, o Israel! What have we
to do with you, o house Of David?''
And the work of David and Solomon
for a united kingdom was torn down
that instant.
Rehoboam's next step was equally
foolish. He sent Adoram to quell
the riot. Now Adoram -7as the tax
collector; and although he might
have been most efficient when Solo,
mon was alive, he was like red rag
to bull now. The people stoned
him to death in short order.
Rehoboam then fed for his own
life, back to Jerusalem, raised an
army of 100000 men, and was ABOUT
TO go and force the northern tribes
to be subject to him when he was
stopped by Shemaiah, a prophet or
God. He obeyed God in this in
stance, but the record Of him is that
there were wars between him anc
Jeroboam continually.
.Jerob0am's Rise
Jeroboam, the industrious young
aspirant to the throne, made the
most of his opportunity and. was
proclaimed King of Israel at Sne-
chem. He reigned % years and
showed many signs of power; but his
rise was to end in ignominious fah.
Instead of trusting in God, he de-
pended upon himself. Instead OF APP
preciating that kingdom to be Sc
c11re must have its foundation in
God, he made the mistake of suppos-
ing he could build it with the sane
ton of God. He began to devise
Uavs of his own. Fearing the strong
influence of a centralized worship at
he erected affairs at Dan
and Bethel under the plausible eX-
cuse of greater convenience to the
people. Here he made calves OF
gold-probably some representation
of the cherubim with an Egyptian
to replace the worship
of God, but to enable the people to
have a better sensual appreciation
of Jehovah. But God is a Spirit and
desires Spiritual worship. Jeroboam's
expedient soon developed into the
basest Of debauchery.
He instituted feasts on the 18th
of the Sth month, instead Of the TIN
as God had spoken. His excuse for
this probably was also very plaus-
ible. The harvest was about a
month later in the north than in the
south but it was his time, not GODS.
These acts of his drove many OF
the priests and Levities from him.
They migrated to Jereusalem and
Joined themselves to Rehoboam. SO
also did many of the children Of
Israel who were more loyal to Goo
than they were to their own triba!
SO Jeroboam made
priests of the lowest of the people;
any one who could present a young
bull and seven rams could be made
q priest-when God had said they
must come from the tribe of Levi
only.
Jeroboam's influence was, there
fore, most pernicious. His kingdom
did not stand because it was not
in God. The northern ng
dom lasted about Is years, had is
kings, and dynasties, and of eV-
cry one without exception of he
kings it is recorded che did that
which was evil in the sight of the
Lord, for he walked in the way OF
Jeroboam, the son Of Nebat, who |
made Israel tC sin What an awful
thing to have attached to ones
name!
Rehoboam and Jeroboam were en-
tirely different characters. The first
was the pampered son of rich man,
the second the Industrious, ambi-
tious, self-reliant son of an obscure
widow. Rehoboam was weak
Jeroboam q very strong
one But both made the same mis-
take-they left God out Of their lives
Nor can you afford to leave God
out of your life. Perhaps you have |
been consulting everybody else but