The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1939-07-13

ne QIu evil UGCdLSG ne pIGpdIGu
not his heart to seek the Lord -
this is the divine epitome of the
life of Rehoboam as given in II
Chronicles 12:14.
Life is full of choices, and the
decisions we make determine our
destiny both in this life and in the
life to come. Since the great issues
of our life may hinge on the sim
plest of choices, it is obvious that
we need guidance at every point
and in every moment of life. The
counsel of men, the right impulses
which are born of good breeding,
the light of knowledge-all these
may help us to make right choices.
But since there is only One who
has all the knowledge, who can see
the end from the beginning, who has
all the power to make His decisions
effective, it is obviously folly of the
highest degree to do without His
holy guidance, especially since God
is willing to give it without money
and without price even to the hum
blest believer.
Men and women, let US not follow
the foolishness of Rehoboam. Let us
seek first Gods kingdom and His
righteousness, and then we are as
sured that everything else shall be
added unto us Matt. 6:33).
The picture before us is astonish-
ingly up-to-date. People were cry
ing for relief from tax burdens. One
group of leaders counseled modera-
ton; another group, said in effect,
tax them all you can and keep on
spending. The king, who in a mon
archy had the final decree in his
power, replied to the plea of the
people with the 900 B. C! equivalent
of our modern slang expression,
ooh, yeah?" and the ten tribes
promptly revolted.
l. A Reasonable Request wv. l.
81.
Governments exist for the people,
not the people for the government.
Political leaders seem to forget this
axiom and begin to rule as though
they need not listen to the reason
able pleas of the people. Tax bur
dens rise, RECOMMENDATION of the life
of the nation takes place, and soon
er or later the people rise to over
throw the government. 1t happened
in Rome, it was back of the French
Revolution, it brought an uprising of
the serfs of Russia, it can and will
happen elsewhere if men who rule
do not listen to reason.
Rehoboam made at least one wise
decision-to wait three days before
speaking and to seek counsel. He
needed this, for having been
brought up in the palace of Solomon,
without proper training for his place
as king, he was quite unable to
make immediate answer to their re-
quest. incidentally, we note that
much of the folly of Rehoboam is
chargeable to the neglect of his IA
Their to rear him properly. May
that terrible thing never be said
about you and me regarding our
children.
IL. An Unreasonable Refusal wv.
12-15).
The picture of the two groups of
advisers is most graphic one and
should afford the teacher an excel
lent opportunity to show young peo-
pie especially, how important it is
to heed the counsel of their elders.
Even so youth stands today at the
fork of the road. Let us in all kind
ness, love, and tact seek to help
them choose the right way.
iii. The Inevitable Revolt wv. is,
II, 2O).
p The people, long submissive and
apparently servile, ultimately come
to the point where they think, and
when they do, dictatorial rulers
tumble from their self-made
thrones. Would that the people of
the earth realized the power which
they have and that they would use it
for the glory of God. Rehoboam felt
the power of the people who re-
VOTED, others have followed him,
for it is still true in the world that
the rulers "do evil'' because "they
prepare not their hearts to seek the
Lord"
Rehoboam, who had awaited the
arrival Of this crucial hour in an
ticipation of taking his place as the
king of the ten tribes, was ready,
and was at once chosen as the lead
er of those who withdrew from the
rule of the house of David. Reno
boam's sin brought this about, but
it was also in the counsels of God
". 15). AS Alexander Maclaren ex-
presses it, &C. the historian draws
back the curtain. On earth stand
he insolent king and mutinous peo-
pie, each driving at their ends. and
neither free of sin and selfshness.
A stormy sea of people, without
thought of God, RACES below, anG
above sits the Lord, working His
great purpose by mems sin. That
divine control does not in the least
affect the freedom or the response.
bility of the actors. Rehoboam's
disregard of the peoples terms was
"a thing brought about of the Lord,
but il was Rehoboan'S sin none the