prophets and kings-第15节
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ar…seeing judgment； and under the rulership of these sovereigns the blessings resting upon the men of Judah were extended to the surrounding nations。 At times the name of Jehovah was exalted above every false god； and His law was held in reverence。 From time to time mighty prophets arose to strengthen the hands of the rulers and to encourage the people to continued faithfulness。 But the seeds of evil already springing up when Rehoboam ascended the throne were never to be wholly uprooted； and at times the once…favored people of God were to fall so low as to become a byword among the heathen。
Yet notwithstanding the perversity of those who leaned toward idolatrous practices； God in mercy would do everything in His power to save the divided kingdom from utter ruin。 And as the years rolled on and His purpose concerning Israel seemed to be utterly thwarted by the devices of men inspired by satanic agencies； He still manifested His
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beneficent designs through the captivity and restoration of the chosen nation。
The rending of the kingdom was but the beginning of a wonderful history； wherein are revealed the long…sufferance and tender mercy of God。 From the crucible of affliction through which they were to pass because of hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil； those whom God was seeking to purify unto Himself a peculiar people； zealous of good works； were finally to acknowledge：
〃There is none like unto Thee； O Lord； Thou art great； and Thy name is great in might。 Who would not fear Thee； O King of nations？ 。。。 Among all the wise men of the nations； and in all their kingdoms； there is none like unto Thee。〃 〃The Lord is the true God； He is the living God； and an everlasting King。〃 Jeremiah 10：6； 7； 10。
And the worshipers of idols were at last to learn the lesson that false gods are powerless to uplift and save。 〃The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth； even they shall perish from the earth； and from under these heavens。〃 Verse 11。 Only in allegiance to the living God； the Creator of all and the Ruler over all； can man find rest and peace。
With one accord the chastened and penitent of Israel and Judah were at last to renew their covenant relationship with Jehovah of hosts； the God of their fathers； and of Him they were to declare：
〃He hath made the earth by His power； He hath established the world by His wisdom； And hath stretched out the heavens by His discretion。
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〃When He uttereth His voice； there is a multitude of waters in the heavens。
And He causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth； He maketh lightnings with rain； and bringeth forth the wind out of His treasures。
〃Every man is brutish in his knowledge： Every founder is confounded by the graven image： For his molten image is falsehood； and there is no breath in them。
〃They are vanity； and the work of errors： In the time of their visitation they shall perish。 The portion of Jacob is not like them：
〃For He is the former of all things； And Israel is the rod of His inheritance： The Lord of hosts is His name。〃 Verses 12…16。
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Chapter 7
Jeroboam
Placed on the throne by the ten tribes of Israel who had rebelled against the house of David； Jeroboam； the former servant of Solomon； was in a position to bring about wise reforms in both civil and religious affairs。 Under the rulership of Solomon he had shown aptitude and sound judgment； and the knowledge he had gained during years of faithful service fitted him to rule with discretion。 But Jeroboam failed to make God his trust。
Jeroboam's greatest fear was that at some future time the hearts of his subjects might be won over by the ruler occupying the throne of David。 He reasoned that if the ten tribes should be permitted to visit often the ancient seat of the Jewish monarchy； where the services of the temple were still conducted as in the years of Solomon's reign； many might feel inclined to renew their allegiance to the government centering at Jerusalem。 Taking counsel with His advisers； Jeroboam determined by one bold stroke to
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lessen； so far as possible； the probability of a revolt from his rule。 He would bring this about by creating within the borders of his newly formed kingdom two centers of worship； one at Bethel and the other at Dan。 In these places the ten tribes should be invited to assemble； instead of at Jerusalem； to worship God。
In arranging this transfer； Jeroboam thought to appeal to the imagination of the Israelites by setting before them some visible representation to symbolize the presence of the invisible God。 Accordingly he caused to be made two calves of gold； and these were placed within shrines at the appointed centers of worship。 In this effort to represent the Deity； Jeroboam violated the plain command of Jehovah： 〃Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image。 。 。 。 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them； nor serve them。〃 Exodus 20：4； 5。
So strong was Jeroboam's desire to keep the ten tribes away from Jerusalem that he lost sight of the fundamental weakness of his plan。 He failed to take into consideration the great peril to which he was exposing the Israelites by setting before them the idolatrous symbol of the deity with which their ancestors had been so familiar during the centuries of Egyptian bondage。 Jeroboam's recent residence in Egypt should have taught him the folly of placing before the people such heathen representations。 But his set purpose of inducing the northern tribes to discontinue their annual visits to the Holy City led him to adopt the most imprudent of measures。 〃It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem；〃 he urged； 〃behold thy gods； O Israel； which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt。〃 1 Kings 12：28。
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Thus they were invited to bow down before the golden images and adopt strange forms of worship。
The king tried to persuade the Levites； some of whom were living within his realm； to serve as priests in the newly erected shrines at Bethel and Dan； but in this effort he met with failure。 He was therefore compelled to elevate to the priesthood men from 〃the lowest of the people。〃 Verse 31。 Alarmed over the prospect； many of the faithful； including a great number of the Levites； fled to Jerusalem； where they might worship in harmony with the divine requirements。
〃Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month； on the fifteenth day of the month； like unto the feast that is in Judah； and he offered upon the altar。 So did he in Bethel； sacrificing unto the calves that he had made： and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made。〃 Verse 32。
The king's bold defiance of God in thus setting aside divinely appointed institutions was not allowed to pass unrebuked。 Even while he was officiating and burning incense during the dedication of the strange altar he had set up at Bethel； there appeared before him a man of God from the kingdom of Judah； sent to denounce him for presuming to introduce new forms of worship。 The prophet 〃cried against the altar； 。 。 。 and said； O altar； altar； thus saith the Lord； Behold； a child shall be born unto the house of David； Josiah by name； and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee； and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee。
〃And he gave a sign the same day； saying； This is the sign which the Lord hath spoken； Behold； the altar shall
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be rent； and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out。〃 Immediately the altar 〃was rent； and the ashes poured out from the altar； according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the Lord。〃 1 Kings 13：2； 3； 5。
On seeing this； Jeroboam was filled with a spirit of defiance against God and attempted to restrain the one who had delivered the message。 In wrath 〃he put forth his hand from the altar〃 and cried out； 〃Lay hold on him。〃 His impetuous act met with swift rebuke。 The hand outstretched against the messenger of Jehovah suddenly became powerless and withered； and could not be withdrawn。
Terror…stricken； the king appealed to the prophet to intercede with God in his behalf。 〃Entreat now the face of the Lord thy God；〃 he pleaded； 〃and pray for me； that my hand may be restored me again； And the man of God besought the Lord； and the king's hand was restored him again； and become as it was before。〃 Verses 4； 6。
Vain had been Jeroboam's effort to invest with solemnity the dedication of a strange altar； respect for which would have led to disrespect for the worship of Jehovah in the temple at Jerusalem。 By the message of the prophet； the king of Israel should have been led to repent and to renounce his wicked purposes； which were turning the people away from the true worship of God。 But he hardened his heart and determined to follow a way of his own choosing。
At the tim
