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ess。 Their entrusted capabilities become a snare。
Till the conflict is ended； there will be those who will depart from God。 Satan will so shape circumstances that
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unless we are kept by divine power； they will almost imperceptibly weaken the fortifications of the soul。 We need to inquire at every step； 〃Is this the way of the Lord？〃 So long as life shall last； there will be need of guarding the affections and the passions with a firm purpose。 Not one moment can we be secure except as we rely upon God； the life hidden with Christ。 Watchfulness and prayer are the safeguards of purity。
All who enter the City of God will enter through the strait gateby agonizing effort； for 〃there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth。〃 Revelation 21：27。 But none who have fallen need give up to despair。 Aged men； once honored of God； may have defiled their souls； sacrificing virtue on the altar of lust； but if they repent； forsake sin； and turn to God； there is still hope for them。 He who declares； 〃Be thou faithful unto death； and I will give thee a crown of life；〃 also gives the invitation； 〃Let the wicked forsake his way； and the unrighteous man his thoughts： and let him return unto the Lord； and He will have mercy upon him； and to our God； for He will abundantly pardon。〃 Revelation 2：10； Isaiah 55：7。 God hates sin； but He loves the sinner。 〃I will heal their backsliding；〃 He declares； 〃I will love them freely。〃 Hosea 14：4。
Solomon's repentance was sincere； but the harm that his example of evil…doing had wrought could not be undone。 During his apostasy there were in the kingdom men who remained true to their trust； maintaining their purity and loyalty。 But many were led astray； and the forces of evil set in operation by the introduction of idolatry and worldly practices could not easily be stayed by the penitent king。
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His influence for good was greatly weakened。 Many hesitated to place full confidence in his leadership。 Though the king confessed his sin and wrote out for the benefit of after generations a record of his folly and repentance； he could never hope entirely to destroy the baleful influence of his wrong deeds。 Emboldened by his apostasy； many continued to do evil； and evil only。 And in the downward course of many of the rulers who followed him may be traced the sad influence of the prostitution of his God…given powers。
In the anguish of bitter reflection on the evil of his course； Solomon was constrained to declare； 〃Wisdom is better than weapons of war： but one sinner destroyeth much good。〃 〃There is an evil which I have seen under the sun； as an error which proceedeth from the ruler： folly is set in great dignity。〃
〃Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor： so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor。〃 Ecclesiastes 9：18； 10： 5； 6； 1。
Among the many lessons taught by Solomon's life； none is more strongly emphasized than the power of influence for good or for ill。 However contracted may be our sphere； we still exert an influence for weal or woe。 Beyond our knowledge or control； it tells upon others in blessing or cursing。 It may be heavy with the gloom of discontent and selfishness； or poisonous with the deadly taint of some cherished sin； or it may be charged with the life…giving power of faith； courage； and hope； and sweet with the fragrance of love。 But potent for good or for ill it will surely be。
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That our influence should be a savor of death unto death is a fearful thought； yet it is possible。 One soul misled； forfeiting eternal blisswho can estimate the loss！ And yet one rash act； one thoughtless word； on our part may exert so deep an influence on the life of another that it will prove the ruin of his soul。 One blemish on the character may turn many away from Christ。
As the seed sown produces a harvest； and this in turn is sown； the harvest is multiplied。 In our relation to others； this law holds true。 Every act； every word； is a seed that will bear fruit。 Every deed of thoughtful kindness； of obedience； of self…denial； will reproduce itself in others； and through them in still others。 So every act of envy； malice； or dissension is a seed that will spring up in a 〃root of bitterness〃 whereby many shall be defiled。 Hebrews 12：15。 And how much larger number will the 〃many〃 poison！ Thus the sowing of good and evil goes on for time and for eternity。
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Chapter 6
The Rending of the Kingdom
〃Solomon slept with his fathers； and was buried in the City of David his father： and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead。〃 1 Kings 11：43。
Soon after his accession to the throne； Rehoboam went to Shechem； where he expected to receive formal recognition from all the tribes。 〃To Shechem were all Israel come to make him king。〃 2 Chronicles 10：1。
Among those present was Jeroboam the son of Nebat the same Jeroboam who during Solomon's reign had been known as 〃a mighty man of valor；〃 and to whom the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite had delivered the startling message； 〃Behold； I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon； and will give ten tribes to thee。〃 I Kings 11：28； 31。
The Lord through His messenger had spoken plainly to Jeroboam regarding the necessity of dividing the kingdom。 This division must take place； He had declared； 〃because that they have forsaken Me； and have worshiped
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Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians； Chemosh the god of the Moabites； and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon； and have not walked in My ways； to do that which is right in Mine eyes； and to keep My statutes and My judgments； as did David。〃 Verse 33。
Jeroboam had been further instructed that the kingdom was not to be divided before the close of Solomon's reign。 〃I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand；〃 the Lord had declared； 〃but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David My servant's sake； whom I chose； because he kept My commandments and My statutes： but I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand； and will give it unto thee； even ten tribes。〃 Verses 34； 35。
Although Solomon had longed to prepare the mind of Rehoboam； his chosen successor； to meet with wisdom the crisis foretold by the prophet of God； he had never been able to exert a strong molding influence for good over the mind of his son； whose early training had been so grossly neglected。 Rehoboam had received from his mother； an Ammonitess； the stamp of a vacillating character。 At times he endeavored to serve God and was granted a measure of prosperity； but he was not steadfast； and at last he yielded to the influences for evil that had surrounded him from infancy。 In the mistakes of Rehoboam's life and in his final apostasy is revealed the fearful result of Solomon's union with idolatrous women。
The tribes had long suffered grievous wrongs under the oppressive measures of their former ruler。 The extravagance of Solomon's reign during his apostasy had led him
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to tax the people heavily and to require of them much menial service。 Before going forward with the coronation of a new ruler； the leading men from among the tribes determined to ascertain whether or not it was the purpose of Solomon's son to lessen these burdens。 〃So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam； saying； Thy father made our yoke grievous： now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father； and his heavy yoke that he put upon us； and we will serve thee。〃
Desirous of taking counsel with his advisers before outlining his policy； Rehoboam answered； 〃Come again unto me after three days。 And the people departed。
〃And King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived； saying； What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people？ And they spake unto him； saying； If thou be kind to this people； and please them； and speak good words to them； they will be thy servants forever。〃 2 Chronicles 10：3…7。
Dissatisfied； Rehoboam turned to the younger men with whom he had associated during his youth and early manhood； and inquired of them； 〃What counsel give ye that we may answer this people； who have spoken to me； saying； Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter？〃 1 Kings 12：9。 The young men suggested that he deal sternly with the subjects of his kingdom and make plain to them that from the very beginning he would brook no interference with his personal wishes。
Flattered by the prospect of exercising supreme authority； Rehoboam determined to disregard the counsel of the older
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men of his realm； and to make the younger men his advisers。 Thus it came to pass that on the day appointed； when 〃Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam〃 for a statement concerning the policy he intended to pursue； Rehoboam 〃answered the people roughly； 。 。 。 saying； May father made your yoke heavy； and I will add to your yoke： my father also chastised you with whips； but I will chastise you wit