Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc18/v19350

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 4KB | 70 lines

19354
 * The ten tribes revolt from Rehoboam.

 - Moderate counsels are wisest and best. Gentleness will do what
 violence will not do. Most people like to be accosted mildly.
 Good words cost only a little self-denial, yet they purchase
 great things. No more needs to be done to ruin men, than to
 leave them to their own pride and passion. Thus, whatever are
 the devices of men, God is doing his own work by all, and
 fulfilling the word which he has spoken. No man can bequeath his
 prosperity to his heirs any more than his wisdom; though our
 children will generally be affected by our conduct, whether good
 or bad. Let us then seek those good things which will be our own
 for ever; and crave the blessing of God upon our posterity, in
 preference to wealth or worldly exaltation.
19373
 * Rehoboam forbidden to war against Israel. (1-12) The priests
 and Levites find refuge in Judah. (13-23)

 #1-12 A few good words might have prevented the rebellion of
 Rehoboam's subjects; but all the force of his kingdom cannot
 bring them back. And it is in vain to contend with the purpose
 of God, when it is made known to us. Even those who are
 destitute of true faith, will at times pay some regard to the
 word of God, and be kept by it from wrong actions, to which they
 are prone by nature.

19385
 #13-23 When the priests and Levites came to Jerusalem, the
 devout, pious Israelites followed them. Such as set their hearts
 to seek the Lord God of Israel, left the inheritance of their
 fathers, and went to Jerusalem, that they might have free access
 to the altar of God, and be out of the temptation to worship the
 calves. That is best for us, which is best for our souls; in all
 our choices, religious advantages must be sought before all
 outward conveniences. Where God's faithful priests are, his
 faithful people should be. And when it has been proved that we
 are willing to renounce our worldly interests, so far as we are
 called to do so for the sake of Christ and his gospel, we have
 good evidence that we are truly his disciples. And it is the
 interest of a nation to protect religion and religious people.
19396
 * Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished.

 - When Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to
 fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his outward profession of
 godliness. It is very common, but very lamentable, that men, who
 in distress or danger, or near death, seem much engaged in
 seeking and serving God, throw aside all their religion when
 they have received a merciful deliverance. God quickly brought
 troubles upon Judah, to awaken the people to repentance, before
 their hearts were hardened. Thus it becomes us, when we are
 under the rebukes of Providence, to justify God, and to judge
 ourselves. If we have humbled hearts under humbling providences,
 the affliction has done its work; it shall be removed, or the
 property of it be altered. The more God's service is compared
 with other services, the more reasonable and easy it will
 appear. Are the laws of temperance thought hard? The effects of
 intemperance will be found much harder. The service of God is
 perfect liberty; the service of our lusts is complete slavery.
 Rehoboam was never rightly fixed in his religion. He never quite
 cast off God; yet he engaged not his heart to seek the Lord. See
 what his fault was; he did not serve the Lord, because he did
 not seek the Lord. He did not pray, as Solomon, for wisdom and
 grace; he did not consult the word of God, did not seek to that
 as his oracle, nor follow its directions. He made nothing of his
 religion, because he did not set his heart to it, nor ever came
 up to a steady resolution in it. He did evil, because he never
 was determined for good.