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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
June, 1939
TO REACH YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE LORD Send 25c for package of attractive litera ture giving information about the world wide campus and neighborhood study groups for college and high school young people who wish to know what God has to say. MIRACLE BOOK CLUB 1423 Bissell Ave. • Richmond, Calif. Coming AIR-RAID SATAN, .“prince of the power of the air|s£j and his age-end activities— articles every C h r is t ia n s h o u ld read — in JUNE “PROPHECY MONTHLY." Also read of new subtle theories of SIN; Civilization killing us off; “Lemuria," new Utopian scheme; Morris Gordin, converted Jewish Communist. An issue literally packed with vital information. Trial offer—-4 mo. 25c; single issue 10c. Those who send $1 for year sub. W ITH TH IS AD will receive FREE a valuable book- by Neighbour, “From the Top to the B o t t o m . f u l l of spiritual blessing. PROPHECYMONTHLY Official Organ American Prophetic League, Inc. 4747-4751 Townsend Ave. Los Angeles, Calif. Communion Cups Send for Folder and SP E C IA L OFFER at low prices. Glasses $1.00 Dozen. Tray and 36glasses $6.50 up. Beautiful CHROMIUM - PLATED. Aluminum. Wood and Silver-plated I Services. Collection& Bread Plates, Pastor's Sick Outfits, etc. Thomas Communion Service. Box 1214 Lima. Ohio
JULY 16, 1939 REHOBOAM: A MAN WHO MADE A FOOLISH CHOICE 1 K ings 12:1-20
1 Kings 12:1 And Rehoboam went to She- chem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. 2 And it came to pass, When Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solo mon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt,). 3 That they sent and callea him. And Jero boam and all tne congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, 4 Thy father made our yoke grievous; now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us lighter, and we will serve thee. 5 And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people de parted. 12 So Jeroboam and all the people came tof Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. 13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him; 14 And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 15 Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the Lord, that he might perform his saying, which the Lord spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 16 So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. 17 But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 20 And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only. Lesson Text: 1 Ki. 12:1-5, 12-17, 20. Golden Text: “A man’s pride shall bring him low” (Prov. 29:23). Devotional Reading: Phil. 2:1-11. A LL TH E tribes had gone to Shechem M to make Rehoboam king. But they -L- A - had sent to Egypt, whence Jeroboam had fled from Solomon, and called the fugi tive back, and he was at Shechem ryith them. The whole congregation, headed by Jero boam, placed before Rehoboam a request that should have had careful attention and wise handling. The people were under a burden of taxation that was gradually mak ing them slaves. They asked for some relief from this condition—a condition that even tually would have a baneful effect upon the whole nation and thus upon Rehoboam him self. Plainly and clearly they told Rehoboam that they must have relief from burdens im posed upon them by Solomon, Rehoboam’s father and predecessor. The people were, as yet, quiet and patient, willing to wait for an answer, and giving no signs of rebellion. Perhaps none of them, with the possible ex ception of Jeroboam, had any thought of the grave consequences of their interview’ with the king. The latter listened to the re quest and told them to return in three days, at which time he would have an answer for them. So the people went away to await the outcome. II. T h e R e pl y (12-15) At the end of the three day?, Jeroboam Outline and Exposition I. T h e R eq u e st (1-5)
and all the people gathered to receive the answer to their request, and the folly of Rehoboam was exposed. His mistake was that he had made no attempt to counsel with God. And, even though he had con sulted with the elder men, his question to them was, "How do ye advise that./ may answer this people?” (v. 6 ), while to others, his youthful and hot-headed companions,' his question was, “What counsel give ye that we may answer this people?” (v. 9 ). Instead of dealing with the request on the ground of justice and equity, Rehoboam followed the advice of the young men and threatened the people with even greater burdens than Solomon had imposed upon them. Filled with pride, and urged on by the irresponsible young men, he spoke as a dictator might speak. But he evidently forgot, if he ever knew, the wisdom his father embodied in the proverb, “Pride go- eth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall’’ (Prov. 16:18). It is very easy, when one has been exalted to a com manding place among people, to exaggerate one’s own importance. We must not interpret the words, “the cause was from the Lord” as meaning that God directly led Rehoboam to answer as he did. Natural results follow moral and spiritual causes, and mingled with human affairs are the providences of God working out His wise and gracious purposes. It was so in this case. Knowing Rehoboam as He did, God was aware of what sort of answer the people would receive; He knew, too, their reaction to it, and He had already pre pared for the outcome, III. T h e R e su l t (16, 17, 20) The result of Rehoboam’s rashness and folly was that the foretold purpose of God came into effect, and Jeroboam was made king of Israel, even as the prophet Ahijah had declared (cf. 1 Ki. 11:29-31). The people openly revolted, and Rehoboam was left with but one tribe, later to be joined by one other, to form his kingdom. The ten tribes called Jeroboam and offi cially made him their king; thus the word of the Lord through Ahijah was fulfilled by seemingly natural causes. To the onlooker, or to the later historian, it would appear that the movement was wholly on man’s side and by man’s doings, but over all the Lord was working out His purposes con cerning His people. Thus it is seen that even bad men and their evil designs are forced to contribute to (and even Satan’s actions are compelled to aid) the working out of God’s eternal purposes. BLACKBOARD LESSON
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