The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1922-01-06
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Sll1!ldaySeho'el
Lesson
LESSON FOR JANUARY Z
THE REVOLT OF JERoBoAm.
(By REV. p. B.. FITZWATER, D. D..
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute OF Chicago.)
Copyright. 1922. Western Newspaper Union.

or that In In the earth beneath, or tnAt
is in the water under the earth; thou
shalt not bow down myself unto them
nor serve them-Ex. 20:4, s.
REFERENCE MATERIAL II Kings
n:26-4s; l3:17-14. 20; II Chron. u and 13;
lisa. 1920.
PRIMARY ToPlc-The Story OF Two
Kings
JUNIOR ToP1c-Two Kings Who Dis
obeyed God.
INTERMEDIARY 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.
|. The Peoples Demand (vv. 1-N.
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 &C
.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
1ightened burdens.
u. Rehoboan's Foolish Decision
wv. 5-15).
/. Rehoboam consulted with the old
men wv. sly. He at once consulted
the old men Of experience who had
been Solomon's advisers. Being ac-
uuainted with the conditions as i'm
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 haif-brothess. 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 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
wv. 1924.
Upon RehOboam's 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 F!
Now sec to thine own house, David"
Rehoboam's attempt to collect tribute
from the ten tribes was net 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.
w. Jeroboam's Substitute Religion
wv. 1888.
1. He established calf-worship wv.
25-33). (I His pretext for wv. 26, 30.
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
sure house, even as he had built for
David Il Kings IL :38). Had he be-
1ieved God, this fear would have been
dispelled. Jeroboam only used re-
Iigion to secure personal ends. He
was too shrewd politician to do
away with religion. He knew that re-
ligion was a powerful factor in mans
life. (2) The calves set up wv. 28-3O).
When Jeroboam set up these idols he
said. at 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. III He built houses of high
places ". BY. This was against the
direct command of God. (2) He made
priests of the lowest of the people
". 31). God had set aside the tribe
of Leyi to fill the Office Of priesthood.
In this again, he disobeyed Cod (3)
He changed the day of the feast Of
the tabernacle ". 32). The time Of
this feast was set by Jehovah Nev.
1928 34). "a 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.