Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-12-29
LESSON FOR JANUARY |
THE REVOLT OF JERosoAM.

LESSON TEXT Kings 12:1-33.
GOLDEN TEXT-Thou shalt not make
unto thee any craven image, or any like
ness of any thing that is in heaven above,
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
u:26-4S; 13:17-14. %; II Chron. Il and ID;
Isa 44:9-2O.
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 to the
division of the kingdom began during
Solomon's reign. Solomon was led
astray by his heather wives. His in
PRODUCTION of idolatry displeased the
Lord, and the Lord made known to
him the fact that the kingdom was to
be rent from him.
|. The Peoples Demand (vv. 1-).
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.
il. Rehoboam's Foolish Decision
wv. 5-15).
1. 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 im-
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 (vv.
SID. 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-
pie; therefore they advised that the
burdens be increased.
8. RehOboam follows the advice Of
the young men (vv. 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. 1924.
Upon RehOboam's announcement of
his cash 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. RehobOam's 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).
/. He established calf-worship (vv.
25-33). % His pretext for wv. 26, 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 IL :3S). 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 wv. 2S-3O).
When Jeroboam set up these idols he
said, "It 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, which Is very promi.
nent today.
2. His scheme of worship (vv.
31-33). (1) He built houses of high
places ". 81. This was against the
direct command of God. God had di.
rected his people to destroy the high
places, to break down the idolatrous
cities; but Jeroboam, moved by the de-
mands Of his sinful heart, disObeyed
God (2) He made priests of the low
est of the people ". 81. God had set
aside the tribe of Levi to fill the office
of priesthood. In this again, he dis
obeyed God. (3) He changed the day
of the feast of the tabernacle ". 32).
The time of this feast was set by
Jehovah Oev. % :33-34). Jeroboam,
no doubt, thought that the change in
the time would be better suited to
that northern climate, but God who
made the climate ordained the time of
the feast. (4) Jeroboam himself in
trudes into the priests Office ". 33).
This act of presumption on his part
was the climax of his goddess acts