Pith and Pivot T. C. H. Israel is beginning to have her harvest. She sowed to her fleshly desire for a king, departed from Jehovah, and is reaping her reward. Three periods of probation, 40 years for each of the three kings, proved the instability of the kingdom and human governments all a failure. Democracy must be superceded by theocracy before peace will prevail. Solomon had a thousand wives and one son, and he was a fool. The father was too much married, and though he had time to write proverbs, he had failed to' train up his child in the way he should go, Prov. 22:'6, and Rehoboam had never learned that "Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall," Prov. 16:18, and that ''A prudent man dealeth with knowledge, but a fool spreadeth his folly," Prov. 13: 16. Had he listened to the coUnsel'of the wise men he would have learned that "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise." Prov. 12:15. Had he looked to God instead of conferring with flesh and blood, how different it might have been. Jas. 1 : 5; Jer. 32:19. , Rehoboam played a bold game of bluff, but the people had the underhold and threw him hard. He was shorn of his power in short order. B,ehind the scene is the hand of Jehovah—"This thing is of me." God had said to Solomon, "Forasmuch as thou hast not kept' My covenant and My statutes, I will sure rend the kingdom from W e . " Kings 11: 11-13. Gold and silver were as plenteous in Jerusalem as stones, 2 Chron. 1: 15, but the people had to pay the price. That Rehoboam was left to sit upon the throne of Judah, was clue to the promises made by the Lord to David, 2 Sam. Z.: 12-13, and not to any ability of his own. Rehoboam had no hold upon the hearts of the people, played poor policies and lost through lack of love. Had he sweetened his spirit he might have saved his sovereignty. You can fool and rule the people for a season, but the worm will turn. God restrained the rashness of Rehoboam and left-him a remnant to rule. He is the safest sovereign who steadfastly serves. Many a man has lost his kingdom through lack of kindness.
LESSON FOR JANUARY 8, 1910.
was " N e b a t , " " c u l t u r e ." - If Jero- boam's disposition was his cultivation he is deservedly linked with the man " w h o made Israel to s i n ." Zeruah, " l e p r o s y ," was his mother. Leprosy is the symbol of idolatry with which Jeroboam infected the nation. Parents have great responsibility. There is more in the bringing up of children
The Man Who Did Things. T Kings 12:25; 13:6. I. Jeroboam the Man.
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1. His Origin. His name, " En l a r g er of the People." was synonymous with " R e h o b o am ." The names were mis- fits. Each should have been " P e l e g ," for " i n their days the land was di- v i d e d" (I Chron'. 1:19). His father
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