The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1927-09-15
Lesson for September Is
THE KINGDOM DIVIDED

LESSON TEXT Kings 12;1-24.
GOLDEN TEXT-Pride goeth before
destruction, and a naughty spirit be-
fore a fall.
PRIMARY TOPIC-God Furnishes 8
Foolish King.
JUNIOR TOPIC-God Furnishes q
Foolish King
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-The Folly of Pride.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-How to Prevent Divisions.
The movements leading up to the
disruption of the kingdom had begun
in SolOmon'S reign. He saw in Jero-
bO,m the leader of Instruction and
endeayored to kill him. Jeroboam
fled to Egypt until Solomon's death
Il Kings II :40). Having been in
formed by the prophet Abijah that
he was to have ten tribes over which
to rule, as soon as he heard of Solo
mons death he returned to be ready
to take up his work.
|. The Demand of the People
wv. Ia.
This was occasioned 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. The
people were grooming under its weight.
Upon the accession of the new king
Rehoboam, the people, through their
leader Jeroboam, came with the re
quest that their burdens be made
lighter promising loyalty to him on
the condition of lightened burdens.
II. Rehoboam's Foolish Decision
wv. 5-15)
l. RehobOam consulted with the
old men wv. SD. These were men
of experience who had been Solomon's
advisers. Being acquainted with the
condition as imposed by Solomon, and
knowing the temper Of the people,
they advised that the peoples request
be granted.
9. Rthoboam consulted the young
men wv. SID. These young men had
grown up with him, possibly were his
haIf-brothers, sons of Solomon's many
wives. Being thus brought up in the
luxury of the harem, they were igno-
rant Of the legal right of the people.
Therefore they advised that the bur
denS be increased,
g. 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.
He assumed that it was his right to
rule and that it was the peoples role
to obey regardless of conditions.
III. The Revolt of the Ten Tribes
wv. 16-2D.
Upon RehOboam's announcement of
his rash purpose all Israel cried out,
"What portion have we in David?
to your tents, o Israel"
l. Rehoboam's attempt to collect
tribute wv. IS, 49,. AS he endeav-
ored to collect tribute from the ten
tribes, Adoram, his tribute gatherer,
was stoned to death. SO violent was
the opposition on the part of the
people that RehobOam had to flee to
Jerusalem to save his life.
2. Jeroboam made king over Is
rael ". POI. They seem to have lost
no time in selecting a head so as to
be strong in their opposition to
Rehoboam.
3. Rehoboam's attempt to compel
the ten tribes to return to David
wv. 21-24.
To effect this, he assembled his
army of 10000 men. Through the
prophecy of Shemaiah, which forbade
them to go against their brethren,
they were persuaded to return.
". Jeroboams Scheme to Unity
the Ten Tribes wv. 1888.
/. He established calf worship tvv.
31-33).
% lie built houses and high
places ". 81. This was against the
direct command of God. God had di-
rected His people to destroy the high
places and to break down the idol
atrous centers. SO we see that Zero
boam, by the demands of his sinful
heart, disobeyed God.
10 lie changed the day of the
Feast of the Tabernacle ". 32). The
time of this feast was set by the Lord
(Lev. % :33, 34). Jeroboam argued
that the change in the time would be
better suited to their northern eli
mate, but God, who made the climate,
ordained the time of the feast. Ii
was his business, therefore, to obey
God.
"a Jeroboam himself intrudes into
tie priests office. The act of pre-
sumption on his part was the climax
of his goddess acts, all of which grew
out of his wicked heart.
God Established Prayer
God has established prayer to com