The Holly chieftain., 1924-04-03
Lesson for April 6
THE KINGDOM RENT AsvNDER

LESSON TEXT Kings 12:1-3s.
GOLDEN TExT-"Pride goeth before
destruction. and an naughty spirit be-
fore a fall."-Prov. 1918.
PRIMARY TOPIC-The Story of Z
Foolish King.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Rehoboams Folly.
. INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
1C-The Division of the Kingdom.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Why the Kingdom Was Divided.
The kingdom so glOriously admins
tered in Davids time reached Its
climax in the time of Solomon. Solo
mon was led astray through the infiu-
ence of his heather wives, and the
kingdom had begun to wane. God had
expressed his indignation toward him
and made known the fact that the
kingdom was to be rent from him, yet
not in his time, but In the time of
Rehoboam Il Kings II :9-13).
I. The Demand Of the People (vv.
1-4).
This was occasloned by the burden
Of excessive taxation and enforced la
Dor, which was required by Solomon
In order to build costly houses and
temples for his heather wives. Owing
to the multiplicity of his wives, this
became very burdensome. They prom
ised loyalty to him on the condition OF
lightened burdens.
n. Rehoboam's Foolish Decision
(vv. 5-15).
/. Rehoboam Consulted With the
Old Men wv. 90. These were men
Of experience who had been Solomon's
advisers. They advised that the peo-
pies request be granted.
2. RehobOam Consulted the Young
Men wv. BID. These young men
had grown up with him. possibly were
his half-brothers, sons Of SOlomOn's
many wives. Being thus brought up in
the luxury of the hnrem. they We're ig-
norant of the legal right of the people.
Therefore. they advised even that the
burdens be increased.
3. Rehoboam Followed the Advice
of the Young Men wv. 12-15). At the
appointed time he announced his pur-
pose to the people. He even answered
them roughly, asserting his purpose to
increase their burdens and sorrows.
~. The Revolt of the Ten Tribes
wv. 1920.
Upon Rehobonm's announcement Of
his rash purpose, all Israel cried out,
"What portion have we in David?
to your tents. o Israel"
]. Rehoboam's Attempt to Collect
Tribute wv. is. 1O. Adoram, his
tribute gatherer, was stoned to death.
So violent was the opposition on the
part of the people that Rehoboam had
to fee to Jerusalem to save his life.
.. Jeroboam Made King Over Israel
". 20). They seemed TO have lost no
time in selecting n head so as to he
strong in their opposition to Reho-
boam.
3. Rehoboam's Attempt to Compel
the Ten Tribes to Return to David
wv. 21-24). To effect this, he assem-
bled his army Of 10000 men. Through
the prophecy of Shemaiah, which for
bade them to go against their brethren
they were persuaded to return.
~. Jeroboam's Scheme to Unity the
Ton Tribes wv. 25-33).
l. He Established Calf Worship wv.
25-30). His pretext for this worship
was his fear lest the religious unity
should heal the political separation
Hla fear 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. He
was too shrewd politician to do
away with religion. He knew that
religion was Il powerful factor in
mans life. The prevailing religion
of the world today Is n political one.
1t Is used as sort of cement to hold
together people and political interests.
2. His Scheme Of Worship wv.
31-33).
az He built houses and high places
". 3D. This was against the direct
command of God God had directed
His people to destroy the high places,
to break down the idolatrous centers.
{2) He made priests of the lowest
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.
90 He changed the day Of the Feast
OF the Tabernacle ". 32). The time
of this feast was set by the Lord
Uey. 23 :33, 80. IerobOam argued
that the change in the time would be
better suited to their northern climate,
but God who made the climate or
dained the time of the feast. II was
his business, therefore, to obey God.
(4) Jeroboam himself intrudes into
sumption on his part was the climax