wisclom and zeal for the God of Israel. The memories of his grandfather were glorious. To this must be add eel the most material circumstance that the Covenant was with his house ; for Messiah Himself was to be the Son of David. (8) These things were not without their influence. For three years after the revolution under Jeroboam, Rehoboam governed Judah in the fear of God, and so established his throne (see 2 Chron. xi. 17). (4) When, after this, Rehoboam "forsook the law of the Lord," his subjects should have dissuaded him and, if necessary, resisted him. But they went " with him" (2 Chron. xii 2). (6) To such excesses did they go that they" sinned above their fathers in provoking the Lord tojeaJousy."-J. A. M. Vers. 25-31.-The Ent/J/ilments of Sin. During the three first years of his reign in Judah, Rehoboam walked in the steps of Solomon and David, enjoyed peace, and became established in his throne. Afterwards he gave himself up to idolatrous abominations, and brought evil upon himself and upon his people. The entailments of their sin were- I. TROUBLE. 1. There waa continual W(Jff' between the kingdoms. (1) While they remained faithful to God they had peace. God interposed to preserve peace by the hand of Shemaiah (eh. xii. 21-24). (2) But when they forsook the Lord, they soon got to strife, which continued as long as the kings lived (ver. 30). This strife was also handed down to their successors. (3) Thus sinners become God's instruments to punish one another. So it is seen to this day in the conten- tions and litigations of individuals. Men are slow to see the hand of God. 2. Shishak aggrQ/Vated the mischief. (1) The influences which brought him upon the scene may be discerned. Hadad, who occasioned so much trouble to Solomon, was Shishak's brother-in-law. Shishak was thus disposed to give asylum to Jeroboam when he fled for his life from Solomon. Shishak now conspires with Jeroboam to ruin Rehoboam. (2) The array brought against Judah by Shisha.k was formidable (see 2 Chron. xii 3). It would have been crushing had not Rehoboam and his people, in their extremity, humbled themselves before God (2 Chron. xii 7). (3) But they still had to feel the smart of their sine. II. FORFEITURE. 1. In war there is always Zoss. (1) Necessarily there is the forfeiture of peace. Who can estimate the value of peace? Perfect peace is the resultant of perfect harmony as the white light is composed of all the colours in the iris. (2) There is the loss of property. Labour is the source of wealth: the labour withdrawn from industry to wage war is so much loss of wealth. The soldier also is a consumer. When be does not provide for his own sustenance, the labour of others must be taxed to feed him. (3) There is the loss of life. War is seldom bloodless. Often the slaughter is fearful. Wellington is reported to have said that the calamity next in severity to e. defeat is a victory. 2. Shishak despoiled the temple of its treasure. (1) The booty here was enormous. The spoils of David's victories were there; also the accumulations of Solomon's peaceful com- merce. (2) The shields of gold that Solomon had made are particularly mentioned. It is added that Rehoboam had brazen shields made to replace them. How sin reduces the fine gold to brass I 3. Shishak also rifled the palace. (1) The treasures here also were immense. Perhaps there never was such plunder as this in human annals. (2) Rehoboam handed down a diminished inheritance to his son. By his folly he alienated ten tribes of his nation from his kingdom. Abijam likewise succeeded to a kingdom greatly impoverished. He became heir also to embroil- ments. The entailments of sin pursue the spirit into the invisible world. Forfeiture. Tronble.-J. A. M. Vars. 21-31.-Unf/J/ithfulness and its rebuke. I. JuDAB's SIN. 1. The nature of the transgression. The grossest idolatry wll.B se.t side by side with the pure worship of God. The temple and its services were still His (ver. 28), but on every high hill and under every green tree were the images and altars of the false gods. The preservation of the pure worship of God is no proof that all is yielded which Goel demands. The he11,rt may be full of tl!.e world's idolatries, of its covetousness and lust and manifold sin. 2. Its enormity. (1) It was wrought in Jerusalem, 1 KINGS. Z 388 THE FIHST DOOK OF KINGS. [en. xv. 1-24.
" the city which the Lord did choose,'' &c., and this, too, in the face of the defection of the ten tribes. It is high treason against Jehovah when those whom He hM called and honotu"ed are faithless to the trust committed to them. It is the darkest crime against God and man to betray the last enrthly refuge of the truth. (2) It wa.s done after an interval of repentance and religious zeal (2 Chron. :xi. 17; xii. 1). They had l,.,iown and yet forsaken the better way. (3) Their idolatry was more unrestrained and daring than any that Israel had ever known (ver. 22). 8. Its fro-its (,er. 24). E1Tors in worship become vices in life. The soul that is out off from the fountain of life must needs break out into corruption. II. JuDAn's CHASTISEMENT. It inflicted deep humiliation and loudly prcclaimed God's indi-gnnt~on. 1. It 'll;as infi:wted by an old and beaten foe. Their temple songs, celebratmg the ancient triumph over "Rahab," must have deepened their shame, 2. The holy city a;nd the temple it8elf were spoiled. God loathed their holy things. We need not marvel that rationalism and infidelity are rampant in a, faithless, worldly Church. It is God's way. Israel's idolatry is punished by Egypt's triumph. 8. It left its mark in enduring poverty (vers. 26-28). The splendour passed away from the royal pomp, and doubtless also from the temple ser,ice. The nation and Church which Egypt has spoiled, whose faith has been shaken by doubt, or swallowed up in unbelief, have lost their strength and glory. They are but the shadows of what a true and pure faith once made them.-J. U.