Recently I was reading a brief but stimulating biography of Thomas Edison written by his son. What an amazing character! Thanks to his genius, we enjoy the microphone, the phonograph, the incandescent light, the storage battery, talking movies and more than a thousand other inventions. But beyond all that, Edison was a man who refused to be discouraged. His contagious optimism affected all those around him.

His son recalled a freezing December night in 1914. Unfruitful experiments on the nickel-iron-alkaline storage battery, a 10-year project, had put Edison on a financial tightrope. He was still solvent only because of profits from movie and record production.

On that December evening the cry "fire!" echoed through the plant. Spontaneous combustion had broken out in the film room. Within minutes all the packing compounds, celluloid for records and film and other flammable goods were burning. Fire companies from eight surrounding towns arrived, but the heat was so intense and the water pressure so low that attempts to douse the flames were futile. Everything was being destroyed.

When he couldn't find his father, the son became concerned. Was he safe? With all his assets being destroyed, would his spirit be broken? Soon he saw his father in the plant yard running toward him.

"Where's Mom?" shouted the inventor. "Go get her, son! Tell her to hurry up and bring her friends! They'll never see a fire like this again!"

Early the next morning, long before dawn, with the fire barely under control, Edison called his employees together and made an incredible announcement. "We're rebuilding!"

He told one man to lease all the machine shops in the area. He told another to obtain a wrecking crane from the Erie Railroad Company. Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "Oh, by the way, anybody know where we can get some money?"

Later, he explained, "We can always make capital out of a disaster. We've just cleared out a bunch of old rubbish. We'll build bigger and better on the ruins." Shortly after that, he yawned, rolled up his coat for a pillow, curled up on a table and immediately fell asleep.
[from The Church of Christ at Sycamore Chapel [bulletin], May 24, 1998, p. 3]

Many times we miss the victory or the greater blessing because we do not continue long enough in prayer.

Admiral Peary was victorious in his quest for the North Pole only because he was persistent. He devoted over twenty years to seeking it. The Eskimos told him, "You are like the sun. You always come back." His dominating desire led him to persevere through physical, financial, and natural difficulties. Afterwards he said, "For twenty-four years, sleeping or awake, to place the stars and strips on the Pole has been my dream."

Should we not seek spiritual victories as earnestly and persistently as Peary sought his geographical one?
[from The Church of Christ at Sycamore Chapel [bulletin], May 24, 1998, p. 3]

BUT IF WE HOPE FOR WHAT WE DO NOT YET HAVE, WE WAIT FOR IT PATIENTLY. (Rom. 8:25)
I think of the woman who emigrated from Mexico to the United States with her husband and children. On their way to "paradise," at the border of El Paso, Texas, her husband deserted her, leaving her stranded with the children. A divorcee, twenty-two years of age with two kids, she was poverty-stricken. With the few dollars in her pocket, she bought bus tickets for California. There she was sure she could find work. She did find a job - an awful job, working from midnight until six o'clock in the morning, making tacos. She earned only a few dollars, but she ate meagerly and saved a dime from every dollar she earned.

Why did she save? She saved because she was visualizing a dream - she wanted to own a taco shop. One day she took the few dollars she's managed to save, went to a banker, and said, "There's a little place I'd like to buy. If you'd loan me a few thousand dollars, I can have my own taco shop."

The banker, impressed by her, decided to take a chance and loaned her the money. She was twenty-five years old and the owner of a little taco shop. She worked hard at it, and eventually, she expanded and expanded until today, fifteen years later, she has the largest wholesale business of Mexican products in America. She went on to become the treasurer of the United States. Her name is Ramona Banuelos.
[by Robert Schuller, Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do! via The Church of Christ at Sycamore Chapel [bulletin], May 24, 1998, p. 4]

"By faith we understand..." is the Christian approach to life. There is an approach to life in which people seek knowledge but they do not understand correctly what they learn.

Matters of right and wrong come into this category. E.g., is marriage merely a convenient way of living for numbers of people, or is it actually a way for adult males and females to relate to each other which has been designed by God to be part of the basic structure of human society? Human research into these things does not always give a clear understanding. We find in the teaching of Jesus and the scriptures what we need to know to "understand" how we are to live.

The challenge is for us to trust God ahead of the theories of the society of which we are a part.
[by John Wilson from All Saints' Parish Newsletter, 9 Aug., 1998, p. 1]

Creator God, you have made us not in one mould, but in many: so deepen our unity in Christ; that we may rejoice in our diversity. Amen.
[from All Saints' Parish Newsletter, 9 Aug., 1998, p. 3]

In Luke 10:38-42, we see Jesus again challenging social norms. Without discounting the hard work and service of Martha, Jesus praises the essence of hospitality which he experiences through Mary: the gift of a heart attentive to the presence of another. A question for us: Is our hectic activity focused on the Lord or distracting us from his presence? We are God's gift to one another. Yet many social norms and pressures can eclipse our attentiveness to each other.
[from St Mary's Parish [newsletter], 19 July, 1998, p. 1]

WHAT'S WRONG?
All is not well in the world. Nations are poised one against the other, ready for war. Different systems of government are tried and fail. Problems of hunger and starvation loom. Morally the world is suffering in the grip of many increasing evils. Drunkenness, gambling, immorality and break-up of family life abound.

What is the source of all this evil which springs up and destroys society?

Man's wisdom finds no answer. So let us hear what the wisest teach who ever lived - the Lord Jesus Christ - said on this very matter. (Mark 7:21-23).

The divine answer is that all evil comes from the heart of man. Each one is responsible for his own evil, for nobody is obliged to obey his evil instincts. Man has given a free rein to every evil passion. Every individual is a sinner.

How did it begin? (Rom. 5:12). The one man was Adam and Eve, for God made them one flesh. They founded the human race, so that the first parents, the heads of the whole race, were sinners and we belong to a race of sinners. They became sinners by an act of disobedience to a plain command of God, an act of rebellion to the authority of God.

Sin is essentially rebellion against God. As a famous preacher said: "Sin is the clenched fist, the uplifted arm, the blow struck in the face of God." Every sin is against God. King David confessed...(Psa. 51:4) even in a matter that harmed others.

Every sin will be dealt with by a Holy God at the great white throne. There the books shall be opened, and the dead judged for the things there written, according to their works. (Rev. 20:11-15; Gal. 6:7).

This is a serious and a personal matter between you and God. Unless you find a solution to the problem of your sin, you can never be at peace with God, neither in this life nor hereafter. (John 3:16). If you accept Him as your Lord and as your Saviour, God can and will save you in the act.

You may ask how it is possible for God to be just and yet pardon the sinner. It is because of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Christ came to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Heb. 9:26), so the sin question has been settled to God's satisfaction. Christ died for sins (I Cor. 15:3), so that believers can say that He bore our sins in His own body on the tree (I Pet. 2:24). Christ died for sinners, and the believing sinner can say, "He died for me."

What's wrong with mankind? Mankind pursues its way without God. You are part of it, and will share its doom unless you repent of your sins. You need to take sides with the One that the world crucified, own Him as your Lord, trust Him as your Saviour, and on the ground of His sacrifice you can be reconciled to God. Then you will be able to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present, and with a sure hope for eternity (Titus 2:12).
[by H.W.G. from Gospel Publications, Hastings]

The scriptures tell us the "God loves a cheerful giver". In fact God loves it whenever we do things to please him with glad and willing hearts.

However, sometimes we do not "feel" like being good. Sometimes we have bad moods. The question arises whether we should do what is right if we are not rightly motivated. Jesus told a story about a person who had been beaten up and left to die, and who was helped by a stranger. The stranger may have felt distaste for his task, Jesus did not say, it was not relevant. But Jesus commended the stranger's behaviour.

The message is that regardless of how we "feel", we should always do what is right. And it is always right to do things for God and for others, even when we do not "feel" like it.
[by John Wilson from All Saints' Parish Newsletter, 5 July, 1998, p. 1]

Make us glad, we pray you, gentle God, to give each other your loving care; make us happy to receive it. May there daily grow within us a generous, trusting spirit. Amen.
[from All Saints' Parish Newsletter, 5 July, 1998]

AHAB AND ELIJAH
(II Chron. 17; I Kings 17-19)
Asa had resisted the encroachments of the evil practices in the northern kingdom. Many from Israel had gone down into Judah. (II Chron. 15:8-15).

Jehoshaphat became king in Judah after the death of Asa and continued the good work his father had done. He fortified his country against invasion from the north and remained, for the most part, true to God. God prospered his kingdom. (II Chron. 17:7-9). In the third year of his reign he sent out a number of teachers into the cities of the kingdom. Some of them were princes; some were priests. (II Chron. 17:9). This is the first missionary effort on a large scale of which we have a record.

The prosperity of Jehoshaphat's kingdom is described beautifully in II Chron. 17:10-18. What a welcome contrast that is to the conditions in the northern kingdom where the people had deserted the way of the Almighty! With that report on Judah, we turn back to have a look at what was happening in Israel.

Ahab had become king in Israel. See I Kings 16:29-34. We will follow straight through the record in I Kings 17-19 for the remainder of this study.

Elijah the Tishbite appears suddenly on the scene. He told Ahab there would be neither rain nor dew in Israel during the following years except as Elijah ordered it. Then God sent Elijah out of the country, to live by the brook Cherith. The prophet was fed by the ravens bringing him food morning and evening. But the brook dried up after a while and he sought another dwelling place.

The prophet moved on to Zarephath. As he came near the gate of the city he saw a widow gathering sticks. He asked her to bring a drink for him and as she was going to do that he asked that she bring him a morsel of bread also. She replied that she had nothing but a handful of meal and a little oil in a cruse. She was gathering the sticks to make a fire for cooking that last remnant of food. Then she and her son would die of starvation. Elijah told her not to fear; make a little cake for him first and then the woman and her son might eat. He promised her that the meal would not waste nor the oil fail. She did as he told her and the little meal and oil she had did not run out during the days of the famine. This incident is referred to by the Saviour during his personal ministry. (Luke 4:25-26).

The woman's son died sometime later. She felt that was a punishment for her sins. The man of God had brought her sin to remembrance and had slain her son. But Elijah certainly did not cause it. He prayed God to let the child live again and his prayer was answered so that he restored the son alive to his mother.

After the famine had continued in Israel for three years, God sent Elijah back to confront Ahab. The prophet came upon a servant of Ahab first, an officer named Obadiah. When he told Obadiah to call Ahab, the man pled not to be sent on such a mission. He would get Ahab and when they came to the place, Elijah would have disappeared and Ahab would be so angry that he would kill Obadiah. He told Elijah of how he had saved the lives of a hundred prophets and asked for mercy. Elijah promised that he would be there when Ahab came so Obadiah brought him.

From Obadiah's account it is seen that there were still some in Israel who did not agree with the wicked ways of Ahab, notably Obadiah himself, and at least a hundred prophets.

When Ahab came up to Elijah he greeted him...(I Kings 18:17). Is that not like we do often; try to place the blame upon someone else? Because Elijah had brought the punishment on the land, Ahab accused him of being the one who was responsible for their trouble. But Elijah replied truly...I Kings 18:18). He followed that with his famous challenge to a contest on Mt. Carmel with the priests of Baal.

On the top of Mt. Carmel the contest was staged. The priests of Baal arranged their altar with an animal sacrifice upon it and Elijah arranged a similar one for himself. He said to the people...(I Kings 18:21). The people stood sullenly, not answering a word. Then, with the sacrifices arranged he said...(I Kings 18:24).

There is fine ridicule in Elijah's taunts of the priests of Baal as they cried for their god to send fire. They leaped about and shouted in a great way, while Elijah told them...(I Kings 18:27). In desperation the priests cut themselves with knives and lances so that the blood gushed out upon them. But their god gave no heed to his bloody followers. Finally they gave up.

Elijah repaired the alter of Jehovah which had been thrown down, placing in it twelve stones, one for each tribe of Israel. A trench was dug about it; the wood put in place and the sacrifice upon that. He called for four jars of water to be poured over it all; to do it a second time and a third time. At the time for the evening oblation Elijah stood near the altar and prayed simply...(I Kings 18:36). Then fire came and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the altar and even the water in the trench.

Ahab was told to get back to his city quickly for there was the sound of abundance of rain. The prophet then went to the top of Mt. Carmel and sent his servant to look toward the sea while he sat with his head bowed between his knees. At the seventh look toward the sea, the servant reported the cloud no bigger than a man's hand. Then Elijah ran toward Jezreel and reached there ahead of Ahab. In a little while the sky was black with clouds, the wind came up and there was a great rain.

But poor Elijah was disappointed bitterly. It did not work out as he possibly thought it would. He had four hundred priests of Baal killed but that did not stop the idolatrous worship. Ahab's queen, Jezebel, was not converted but swore vengeance upon Elijah. When he heard of her threat he fled toward the south. When he had gone through Judah he left his servant at Beer-sheba. A day's journey in the wilderness found him so weak that he lay down under a juniper tree. An angel appeared to him and refreshed him with food. He went in the strength of that food forty days.

Finally, he came to Horeb, the mount of God. Moses had stood on that mountain centuries before at the burning bush. On that mountain he had received the law from the hand of God. Now one of God's discouraged prophets fled to it. Elijah went up on the mountain and into a cave. Then a very strange and significant thing occurred.

Elijah heard God's voice asking...(I Kings 19:9). He replied woefully that he had been jealous for God but the children of Israel had forsaken God's covenant; they had thrown down His altars; slain His prophets with the sword. Only Elijah was left, and they were looking for him to slay him. God told him to go and stand in the entrance to the cave. There was a mighty wind that tossed the rocks from their places on the cliffs, but God was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but God was not in the earthquake. Then there was a fire seen, perhaps the lightning running along the ground, but God was not in the fire.

Then the still small voice asked...(I Kings 19:13). He replied as he had before; he had been faithful to God but the Israelites had deserted God, thrown down His altars, slain his prophets and only Elijah was left. They were after him to kill him, too.

How surprised Elijah must have been at what God told him next. He was to get back down where the people were. He could not serve God out there in the desert. He was to anoint Hazael king over Syria; Jehu to be king over Israel, and, severest of all; he was to anoint Elisha to take his place as prophet. There were still seven thousand in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal. Elijah was not alone and he was not indispensable. His successor was to be chosen and started in his training right away.

Perhaps Elijah had thought he was going God's service when he had the false prophets slain; as they would have slain their enemy. But God's purpose is not accomplished by the use of force. And God's work cannot be accomplished by running away from responsibility; by running away from people. Only among people can one have an influence upon them. All these things seem to be the lesson God was teaching Elijah that day. And through him we, too, must learn these lessons.

We are in the midst of the age of the Oral Prophets. There were many prophets, as we have already seen, other than those whose writings we have in the Old Testament. Those who did great work but left no written message are called the Oral Prophets. Outstanding among them are Elijah, of this study, and Elisha. Consider all the prophets whom we have learned of up to now, and notice the work they did. How did they differ from the priests? What seems to have been their chief mission?
Discussion questions:
When Jeroboam started the northern kingdom on the road to ruin did all his people have to follow him. Tell of the people who migrated into Judah. Describe the teaching campaign Jehoshaphat put on in Judah. Was he prospered for his faithfulness?

Who was the wicked king in Israel at that time? What was the name of his queen? What idolatrous religion did she sponsor? Where was their capital?

What great prophet came on the scene just then? What calamity did he bring on the land by way of punishment? Where did he go and how did he live during the time? In what two places did he live?

Whom did Elijah first meet on his return to Israel? What had that man done for the prophets? What was Ahab's greeting to Elijah? And how did Elijah reply?

Describe the contest on Mt. Carmel. Tell of the cloud "as small as a man's hand." How did Jezebel receive the news of what had happened? Where did Elijah go to escape her wrath?

Tell of Elijah's experience on his flight and at Horeb. What other notable things had occurred there?

Can one do God's work in seclusion? Discuss the need for being among the people, even when they are unfaithful, if we would help them. Was Elijah indispensable? Do you suppose God's purpose ever depends upon a single individual?

Discuss the work of the prophets. Name as many as you can of those we have already become acquainted with.

There are several hundred churches. They all believe they go by the Bible and yet they all contradict each other. Something is wrong! You can understand the Bible, read it for yourself. In Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3-4 and Gal. 3:27, see if Jesus says we must be baptized before we are saved, before we have our sins forgiven, and before we get into Christ? The Bible is right. Most people are taught, "Give your heart to God and take Him as your personal Saviour and you will be saved." Let me say, with love, that is not all Jesus teaches to be saved. Acts 20:7 gives us the example to eat the Lord's Supper every Sunday. We should follow that example today, shouldn't we?

Many others have been sprinkled and caused to believe they have been baptized. We are told in Rom. 6:3-4 and Col. 2:12 that baptism is a burial. You wouldn't sprinkle a little dirt on your dead dog and say it was buried, would you? God will not accept sprinkling for baptism, either. Buried in baptism is being completely covered up in water.
[by G.S. Edwards, Searcy, Arkansas]

WE MUST OBEY THE GOSPEL
The Bible teaches that we must obey the gospel to be saved (II Thes. 1:8). If you study I Cor. 15:1-4, you will see that the gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. That is "good news" because it proves we can be resurrected, too.

Rom. 6:3-4 tells us that we obey the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus through baptism. Baptism is a likeness of Jesus' death (Rom. 6:5). Notice what happens in verse 5 to a person who obeys the gospel. He is raised a new creature, like Jesus. He is a new creature because he has had his sins washed away (Acts 22:16) and is no longer condemned (Rom. 8:1). Baptism puts us in Christ. (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27). After the people realized that Jesus was the Christ, they had conviction and asked what they should do. Peter told them to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:36-38).

Another thing a person must do to obey the gospel is to confess with the mouth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10:9-10). The example of someone doing this is found in Acts 8:36-39.

Baptism is the final step that puts a person into Christ (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27). Being raised from the waters of baptism is the new birth (John 3:3-5). We are born into the family of God, an heir of eternal life (Gal. 4:7).

In summation, the steps that lead a person to Christ are belief, repentance and confession of Christ. He then is ready for the next step, baptism, which puts him into Christ where he is in a saved condition.

Friends, obey the gospel of our Lord. Study the scriptures to show yourselves approved. Walk steadfastly in the ways of our Lord until the very end, for if we do not, we shall be cut off.

If a person will take these steps and live a faithful life to Christ (Rev. 2:10) he is promised a home in heaven. These steps also put a person into Christ's church, among the saved people of this world (Acts 2:47).
[by G.S. Edwards, Searcy, Arkansas]

IS SALVATION IN CHRIST?

1.	(John 3:16). If we obey God, will we perish? Yes No
2.	(Rom. 10:17). Do we get faith from hearing the word of Christ? Yes No
3.	(Matt. 7:13-14). Are most people going to heaven? Yes No
4.	(Matt. 7:21-23). Will Jesus say to many people who have prophesied, cast out demons, and performed miracles, "Depart from me, I never knew you"? Yes No
5.	(Mark 16:15-16). Does one have to believe in Christ to be saved? Yes No
6.	(Acts 2:37-38). Does one have to repent to have his sins forgiven? Yes No
7.	(Acts 8:35-39). The eunuch confessed he believed Jesus Christ was the Son of God. Should we confess that today? Yes No
8.	(Eph. 4:4-5). Is there only one baptism? Yes No Is there only one body? Yes No
9.	(Col. 1:18). Is the church Christ's body? Yes No
10.	(Rom. 6:3-4). Were these baptized into Christ? Yes No Is baptism a burial? (Matt. 3:16) Yes No
11.	(I Cor. 16:2; Acts 20:7). Were Christians to give of their means and to eat the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week? Yes No Would it be proper to change the Lord's Supper to once a month or every three months? Yes No
	A.	Have you made a commitment to God? Yes No
	B.	Have you been baptized? Yes No
	C.	Do you feel you were saved before you were baptized? Yes No
12.	(Mark 16:16). Did Jesus say in this verse, a believer has to be baptized to be saved? Yes No
13.	(Acts 2:38). Did Peter tell believers who repented, they had to be baptized to have their sins forgiven? Yes No
14.	(Acts 2:47). Did the Lord add the saved to the Church? Yes No
15.	(Rom. 16:16). Would it please God to call that church, the church of Christ? Yes No
16.	(Acts 8:35-39). Was the eunuch baptized in water? Yes No Did they both go down into the water? Yes No Did the eunuch change his religion when he found he was worshipping wrong? Yes No
17.	(Acts 22:16). Did Paul change, too? Yes No
18.	(II Tim. 2:10). Is salvation in Christ? Yes No
19.	(Gal. 3:27). Is it your understanding that the way to enter Christ is by baptism? Yes No Would you like to be baptized into Christ? Yes No
	A.	Did you say you were saved before you were baptized? (see number 11-c) Yes No Did you also say baptism puts you into Christ where salvation is? (See number 19) Yes No Many are taught wrong, as these do not agree.
	B.	(Mark 16:15-16). Jesus said: Believe + Baptize = Saved. Men say: Believe = Saved (without baptism). Are these the same? Yes No
	C.	(Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). Does God command singing? Yes No Does God command playing drums, tambourines, fiddles, and organs? Yes No

[by G.S. Edwards, Searcy, Arkansas]

THE DIVISION OF THE KINGDOM
(I Kings 12-16; II Chron. 10-16)
The last bit of information about Solomon is recorded in I Kings 11:41-43 and II Chron. 9:29-31. The rest of the things which he did, the historian tells us, are written in the "book of the acts of Solomon," "in the history of Nathan the prophet," "in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer." "And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead."

Soon after Rehoboam became king Jeroboam was called back into the land of Israel. He had fled into Egypt to escape Solomon's attempt to have him killed. The friends of Jeroboam sent for him and he headed a delegation which called on the young king Rehoboam. The people asked through those representatives that Rehoboam lighten the oppressive burden which Solomon had place upon them. Now we can see that the glittering glory of Solomon's kingdom was made possible by severe oppression of the masses of the people.

Rehoboam showed good judgment in asking the advice of the older men who had served in his father's government. But he showed very poor judgment in failing to follow their advice. Instead, he followed that of the young men who had grown up with him. He spoke roughly to Jeroboam and his men when they came back three days later for their answer. He said that his little finger would be thicker than his father's loins; he would use scorpions on them whereas his father had chastised them with whips. Then the people cried, "to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house David,"

Rehoboam apparently did not believe that they would go through with the threatened division. He sent one of his men among them on some mission and they stoned him to death. The king saw that they meant business and returned to Jerusalem as quickly as he could. He raised an army from the men of Judah and Benjamin to march against the rebels but God sent him word by Shemaiah the man of God that he must not fight, because this thing was from Him. The division was complete. There were two kingdoms where there had been only one.

The prophet Ahijah had appeared to Jeroboam and told him that this would happen. The prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam with instructions from God. Notice the prophets who become more numerous and more active from here on.

Jeroboam led ten tribes in rebellion. His kingdom took the name Israel for themselves. Rehoboam was left with one tribe and became known henceforward as Judah. In a few places both Judah and Benjamin are mentioned as remaining to Rehoboam, as in II Chron. 11:12. Both tribes were under his rule but Judah was so much stronger that it overshadowed Benjamin and thus Rehoboam's subjects are often called only Judah.

The seeds for the destruction of the northern kingdom were sown from the very first of Jeroboam's rule. He said in his heart that if the people were allowed to mingle freely, his subjects would soon be returning to Jerusalem and to Rehoboam and they would kill him. He counselled with his men and they set up two calves of gold and proclaimed, "behold thy gods O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." The influence of his Egyptian sojourn is seen in this. It does seem that the people would have learned their lesson from Aaron's golden calf, but here they were committing the same sin again. One idol was set up at Bethel, near the border of Judah, and the other one at Dan, near Israel's northern boundary. Jeroboam piously pretended that it was for the good of the people because it was too far for them to go to Jerusalem to worship.

His departure from God's law went even further; he appointed others than Levites as priests; he appointed other feast days than those provided in the law of Moses. The Levites, and many others, "such as set their hearts to seek Jehovah," fled into Judah and strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam strong. (II Chron. 11:13-17). Since some did that, it may be believed that all who wanted to remain true to God might have done so. Those who remained with Jeroboam were partakers in his evil deeds.

I Kings 13 gives the most interesting account of "a man of God out of Judah," who came to Jeroboam as he was burning incense before the idol in Bethel. The young prophet cried out against the altar prophesying that a descendant of David, names Josiah, would one day sacrifice on that altar the priests who burnt incense upon it. As a sign that he spoke the truth the altar would crack open and the ashes spill out. As he finished speaking that very thing occurred. Jeroboam reached out to seize the man but his arm was withered so that he could not draw it back. He asked the prophet to pray for him. He did so and Jeroboam's arm was restored. Then he invited the prophet to eat with him but he refused because God had told him to deliver his prophecy and return home by another way without stopping to eat or drink. So he took his departure.

An old prophet who lived there was told by his sons what had happened. He took out after the young man and found him resting under an oak tree. He should have kept travelling, but his stopping gave the lying prophet a chance to overtake him. He believed the old man's lie and returned to eat with him. Then the old prophet told him he would never reach home. On the way he was killed by a lion and the old man went after him again; recovered his body and buried it in his own tomb.

When Jeroboam's son, Abijah, fell sick he sent his wife to inquire of the old prophet Ahijah. God revealed to Ahijah that the woman was coming pretending to be someone else. When she arrived Ahijah told her who she was and asked why she was trying to deceive him. He said that when she entered the city on her return the child would die. Then he prophesied the utter destruction of Jeroboam's house because he had departed from God's law. When he died his son Nadab reigned in his stead.

Down in Judah Rehoboam fared little better after his first three years of strength. He did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah. Shishak, king of Egypt, invaded the country and took away the treasures from the house of Jehovah and from the king's house. The shields of gold which Solomon made were carried away and Rehoboam made imitations of them in brass. So soon after Solomon's glory and power his son had reduced the kingdom to a mere remnant, a prey for the king of Egypt, with which country Solomon had friendly relations. How quickly the fortunes of nations change even to this day!

Abijam, the son of Rehoboam, became the second king of Judah, beginning his reign in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam. Each kings' reign is dated with respect to that of the king in the other little nation.

Abijam did evil and lasted only three years. An account of a notable battle is given in II Chron. 13. He had war with Jeroboam all his days and when he died his son Asa became king.

Asa began to reign in the twentieth year of Jeroboam and reigned for forty one years. It is a welcome relief to learn that he was a good king. He made many reforms.

Nadab, who followed Jeroboam in Israel did evil and was slain by Baasha. (I Kings 15:25-32.) He had reigned only two years and Baasha killed all his family according to the word of Ahijah the prophet. Baasha began to reign in the third year of Asa of Judah. He did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah. (I Kings 15:33-34.)

There was war between Asa and Baasha all their days. (I Kings 15:16-22.) But Asa fortified his cities and was very strong. The prophet Azariah encouraged him after he had won a great battle against the Ethiopians. (II Chron. 14-15). Be sure to read those two chapters. Many of the citizens of Israel came into Judah when they saw that God was with them, because of the reforms Asa had made.

But when Baasha attacked Judah, Asa made a confederacy with Benhadad king of Syria, by buying him off with more money than Baasha had given him. Baasha left off building the fort he was erecting for defense against Judah, and turned northward to defend himself against Syria. Then the seer Hanani brought Asa word from God that because he had relied on Syria he would not be able to overcome them. God had given him victory over the Ethiopians. Why had he not continued to rely on God? (II Chron. 16; I Kings 15:16-23.)

Jehu uttered a terrible prophecy against Baasha because of his wickedness. He died and was succeeded by his son Elah. (I Kings 16:17). Elah reigned two years and was killed by one of his own officers, Zimri, who wiped out the house of Baasha. Zimri reigned seven years. When Omri laid siege to his city, Zimri would not fight but burnt his house down upon himself.

Then the people were divided, some following Omri; some Tibni. But Omri prevailed and began reigning in the thirty first year of Asa. He bought the hill of Samaria and established his capital there. He did evil and was succeeded by his son, one of the most infamous of all the rulers of Israel or Judah, the evil Ahab, who ruled Israel twenty two years.
Discussion questions:
Name the periods of Old Testament history up to this point, telling with what event each began and closed and the dates. Name some of the "Bibles before the Bible" which are mentioned in this section.

Describe Jeroboam's changing the worship of God; the objects of worship; the priests; the feast days, etc. Who else had set up a golden calf as the god who had brought the Israelites out of Egypt; where and when? Tell the story of the "man of God" from Judah and the lying prophet. Do you suppose any religious teachers nowadays deceive their people? (See II Thes. 2:11-12 and I Tim. 4:1-5).

Give two instances of people from Israel migrating to Judah and tell why they did so.
Name the prophets who are told of in this study. What was their work?

Describe the battle in which Asa won a victory over the Ethiopians. (II Chron. 14-15). What was wrong with his making an alliance later on with the Syrians?

Who established the city of Samaria as his capital? Give the circumstances. Notice that this is the beginning of the city which figures so prominently in the life of Christ.

Make a list of the kings in each of the divisions of the Israelites and list beside each king the prophet, or prophets, who were associated with him.

WHEN DAVID BECAME KING
(II Sam. 1-6; I Chron. 11-16)
"And it came to pass after the death of Saul -" is the beginning of II Samuel. In the King James version it reads "Now it came to pass." That implies that something has gone before of which this is the continuation. Notice the beginnings of the first seventeen books of the Old Testament.

Genesis begins with "In the beginning." Exodus begins "Now these are the names." Through the first five books, each one begins with "and" or "now", except for Deuteronomy. Thus the Pentateuch has each section linked with the preceding one. Through the next twelve books, "The Books of History," there is the same linking of each one with the preceding one, nearly every one beginning with "and" or "now". Turn to each one and observe that the writers of these books are building upon what has gone before. The Old Testament is truly history, the most authentic history in the world. It is the record of God's dealings with his people. It is a dramatic and thrilling history. You will get the feeling that it is history if you will read it carefully enough to visualize what is happening in these records. And you will sense that it is an amazing history if you remember that it was written by so many different people, separated from each other by centuries and by great distances in many instances. Is it any wonder that the inspired writers of the New Testament encourage its study as in I Cor. 10:1-11 and Gal. 3:23-25!

"And it came to pass after the death of Saul," that the news of his tragic death was brought to David. He had just returned from a slaughter of the Amalekites when an Amalekite brought the news that he had finished off Saul as he lay wounded. This is an additional detail to that given in I Sam. 31:1-6. When David asked for proof of what the Amalekite told, the luckless fellow showed the king's crown and bracelet which he had taken off Saul. Thinking that he might be rewarded for bringing news of the death of David's enemy, he was put to death for killing the king.

David's grief was very sincere and he uttered an eloquent lament over the death of Saul and his good friend Jonathan. "How are the mighty fallen!" is still quoted over the death of great men by those who preach their funerals.

Since Saul was removed David inquired of the Lord whether he should return to Judah and was told to go to Hebron. There he was made king over the house of Judah. (II Sam. 2:1-9.) But the other tribes did not accept David because Abner, Saul's commander-in-chief, set up a weakling son of Saul, named Ishbosheth, as king over the ten northern tribes. Obviously he was using Ishbosheth as a figure-head while Abner was the power behind the throne. (II Sam. 2:8-11.)

Skirmishes followed between the men of David and those of Abner. Three brothers, Joab, Abishai and Asahel, led the fighting for David, Joab being his commander-in-chief. The youngest brother, Asahel, was killed by Abner, and the other two pursued their enemy. Then Abner called out to them with a memorable saying: "Shall the sword devour forever? Knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end?"

One could wish that Joab had heeded the warning. One wishes that the nations today would learn that lesson. But Joab did not learn and there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David with David getting stronger. (II Sam. 2:12-3:1.)

Finally Abner was angered by his puppet king, Ishbosheth, and he decided to throw in with David. Abner called his elders together and found them willing to unite the tribes under David. David was quite willing and made an agreement with Abner. But as Abner left that conference, Joab came in for a foray and learned what had happened. He took David to task for doing such a thing. Secretly he sent messengers after Abner and when he returned Joab treacherously killed him. The cruel deed did not please David and from that day he turned against Joab. (II Sam. 3.)

Two of Abner's captain seem to have thought they would gain the favor of David and killed the defenseless Ishbosheth in his bed as he took a noonday nap. They carried the kings' head to David and made a pretty speech about the Lord having avenged David upon Saul and his seed. But the plan was not to David's liking and he had the assassins killed. (II Sam. 4.)

Into that account there is written part of the story of one of Jonathan's sons, Mephibosheth. (II Sam. 4:4.)

Then all the tribes came to David at Hebron and made him king over all Israel. He had reigned in Hebron for seven years and six months over Judah. Then he moved his capitol to Jerusalem where he was king over all Israel for thirty three years.

But before he could establish his capitol in Jerusalem he had to capture the place. There was a fortress there, held by Jebusites. Through all the period of the Judges and through Saul's reign they had held their place. They taunted David by saying that he would have to take away the blind and lame before he could come in, thinking that he could not capture the place. But he did take the place and was established in Jerusalem and it was called the city of David. (II Sam. 5:1-10.)

(I Chron. 11-12). There is a listing of the most famous men in David's army. Joab is chief of them all. Some of the exploits of the first three among the mightiest thirty are recorded. Notice that of Abishai (I Chron. 11:20); of Benaiah (I Chron. 11:22-25) and the list of the thirty (I Chron. 11:26-47). The description of the slingers and the archers is thrilling (I Chron. 12:1-7), as well as that of the spearmen (I Chron. 12:8-15); the men of Benjamin and Judah (I Chron. 12:16-18), and of the others in I Chron. 12:19-40. (II Sam. 22:8-39 contains something of the same information given in I Chron. 11:30-47).

Back in II Sam. 5:11-12 we learn of the treaty made with Hiram, king of Tyre, supplemented by I Chron. 14:1-2.

The old enemy, the Philistines, gave David trouble. (II Sam. 5:17-25.) In that battle David received the strange instructions to make a circuit behind them and attack when he heard "the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees." This is also in I Chron. 14:8-17. There seems to have been two battles and in the second one he was to wait for the sound in the mulberry trees.

There came a breathing spell in the fighting with his enemies and David determined to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem. (II Sam. 6.) Thirty thousand men were assembled for the great event. They brought the ark out of the house of Abinadab and David and the people played before Jehovah with all manner of instruments made of fir-wood, and with harps and with psalteries, and with timbrels, castanets and cymbals. I Chron. 15-16 gives the account in much greater detail. The Psalm of thanksgiving written for the occasion is in I Chron. 16:8-36. Asaph and his brethren were appointed to minister before the ark continually. Obed-edom with sixty eight men were to be doorkeepers.

Zadok and his brethren were in charge of the tabernacle to offer burn-offerings. Heman and Jeduthun seem to have been in charge of the "orchestra" to "give thanks to Jehovah because his loving kindness endureth forever."

But there was one event that marred the occasion. Uzzah was struck dead because he touched the ark to steady it when he thought it was about to fall off the cart on which it was being transported (II Sam. 6:6-11.) I Chron. 13 and I Chron. 15:11-15 give greater details of that incident, making it clear that the punishment was visited upon Uzzah because he had no right to touch the ark for only the priests were to handle it.

There is another interesting sidelight upon this incident. (II Sam. 6:16-23.) Michal, daughter of Saul whom David had married, watched from her window and saw David dancing and carrying on "as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself." There is fine irony in the way she began to rebuke him, "How glorious was the king of Israel today." David did not appreciate the criticism and declared that he would be "yet more vile than this, and be base in mine own sight," while the hand maids would have more honor than Michal.
Discussion questions:
How does II Sam. begin? Scan the beginnings of the first seventeen books of the Old Testament and see if you can see that each seems to be connected with the one before it. Name all the books up to this point. What are the first five books called; the next twelve?

Have you read all the passages from I Chron. as they are cited in the comments? Do you see how that record supplements what is given in II Sam.?

Give a running story of David's becoming king. Where was his first capitol and how many tribes did he rule? What was happening in the other tribes? How were the other tribes finally brought under David's rule?

Repeat the highlight passage and give its setting. Would it be well if it were considered today by rulers and would-be rulers of nations? Identify each of the following by telling something about each one: The Amalekite with the crown and bracelet: Hebron: Asahel: Abner: Joab: Michal (see II Sam. 3:12-16): Ishbosheth: Mephibosheth: the Jebusites: the sound in the Mulberry trees: Uzzah: Abishai: Benaiah: Asaph: Zadok.

DAVID CONQUERS HIS NEIGHBORING NATIONS
(II Sam. 7-12 and I Chron.)
We have seen how David conquered several of the neighboring nations after he became king of all the twelve tribes of Israel. During a period of peace that ensued he decided that he would build a magnificent house of worship. He talked with the prophet Nathan about his plan. Nathan is one of the earliest men who is known exclusively for his work as a prophet. He advised David to go ahead with his plan "for Jehovah is with thee."

But Nathan's judgment was not good in the sight of God. That same night God came to him and told him to tell David that he must not build the house of worship. He reminded David of how he had been taken from the humble place as a shepherd and made to be great. The implication is very strong that David was making a greater show of the worship than was proper. Before that time God was satisfied with the people's worshipping him in the tabernacle which had gone with them through the wanderings and it had been used during the long period of the judges. Then David wanted to carry further his elaborate plans which were begun with the organization of choirs, and the use of instruments of music. Another reason why David was not to do the work is given in I Chron. 22:8 and I Chron. 28:2-3, namely, because David had shed much blood.

David received the news with resignation and prayed about it. (II Sam. 7:18-29). He became very humble and gave God thanks for all the great blessings he had received. It is a great prayer. (I Chron. 17).

The Philistines started trouble again but David subdued them (II Sam. 8:1). Then he smote Moab (II Sam. 8:2). Hadadezer was next. He was king of Zobah and went on an expedition to recover some lost territory beyond the Euphrates. David captured seventeen hundred of his horsemen and twenty thousand of his footmen. He hocked all the chariot horses as Joshua had done at the battle of Merom. That is he disabled all but one hundred which he kept, perhaps as a sort of trophy. But that was the beginning of another departure from the simplicity of God's way and was to bear terrible fruit during the reign of Solomon. The Syrians were confederate with Hadadezer but were conquered. (II Sam. 8:3-8.)

Toi, king of Hamath made peace before David had a chance to fight him. (II Sam. 9-12.) Edom was subdued and fortified with Israelite garrisons. (II Sam. 13-14.) Thus God gave victory to David wherever he went.

David then organized his affairs of government into departments appointing a man over each. It was very much like our own cabinet which had in it a man over each main department of governmental affairs. (II Sam. 15-18.) Joab was the commander-in-chief, (secretary of defense); Jehoshaphat was recorder; Zadok and Ahimelech were priests; Seraiah was scribe; Benaiah was over a certain special force, the Cherethites and the Pelethites, while David's sons were chief ministers. (I Chron. 18).

Something of David's character is shown in the record of II Sam. 9. He did not forget his promise made to Jonathan so many years before. With time to attend to other things than war, he inquired whether any of the house of Saul were left. He wanted to show him kindness for the sake of Jonathan. A servant of Saul, named Ziba, was located and he told the king of Jonathan's son named Mephibosheth. (II Sam. 4:4). When Mephibosheth came before the king he prostrated himself and called himself "a dead dog." But Saul's prosperity was given to the crippled man and he lived in Jerusalem and ate at the king's table.

The generosity of the king was to be extended to the son of Nahash who had shown kindness to David. Nahash died and his son Hanun was on the throne. But poor Hanun had some counsellors with little judgment who gave him some bad advice. They told him that David's ambassadors of good will were really spies. They were treated shamefully and sent back to their own country. (II Sam. 10:1-5.)

That precipitated war between the Ammonites and Israel. When the Ammonites saw their smart plan gone awry, they hired the Syrians to help them. The people of Zobah seem not to have had enough in their previous encounter with the Israelites, (II Sam. 8:5) so threw another twenty thousand footmen into the forces which were organized to resist David (II Sam. 10:6-8). The Ammonites drew up their battle line just outside their own city, while their confederates had their forces in the open field.

Joab found himself with the enemy on two sides and led a force against the Syrians, while he sent another force under his brother, Abishai, against the Ammonites. He gave instructions that whichever one might be put to the worse was to have the other come to his assistance. Then he gave a strong encouragement to his people...(II Sam. 10:12).

That was a remarkable prayer; such a man as Joab not praying for victory for "our side," but that God would do what seemed in His eyes as good!

The Syrians were put to the worse and they called for reinforcements from beyond the River. But David put them to flight, too, and slew seven hundred who drove chariots and forty thousand horsemen. When the kings subject to Hadarezer, the king of Syria, saw that there was no chance for their victory, they made peace with Israel. "So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more." (I Chron. 19).
II Sam. 11:1 begins.... The chief business of kings in those times was to go out to battle!

While his commander Joab was laying siege to Rabbah, David remained at home in Jerusalem. Then occurred the thing that has made the most terrible blot upon the record of the great king David, the affair with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite. When they knew that Bathsheba was with child, the king sent for Uriah to come home from the battlefield. When Uriah came before the king he inquired of how Joab did; how the people were and how the war was going. After he reported, Uriah was sent to his house and the king sent him a present of food. The king must have been keenly disappointed when he learned the next day that Uriah had not gone home at all. When he asked about it, Urah said that he could not enjoy the comforts of home while his comrades were risking their lives in battle.

Something more drastic must be done in an attempt to cover up his sin and David did it. He sent Uriah back to his post with a letter for Joab. How must Uriah have felt if he had known that he was carrying his own death warrant. Joab followed David's instructions and placed Uriah in a small force who were sent under the very walls of the city they were attacking. He was killed, as David had planned. Joab sent a messenger to report to David of the progress of the battle and particularly about the small attacking force which was so badly beaten. He seems to have made that stand out so that David would get the full benefit of the terrible thing he had done. If David should ask why Joab did such a foolish thing; did he not remember how Abimelech had been killed in such a position by a woman who threw a stone from off the wall, the messenger should say quietly, "Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also."

Thus the thing was accomplished and Bathsheba mourned for her husband when she heard that he was killed.

Soon thereafter the prophet Nathan came before David again. He used the well-known story of the rich man taking the only ewe lamb of a poor man to prepare a feast for a friend. (II Sam. 12) When David heard the story he was angry and said that the man should die who had done such a cruel thing. Nathan came back with, "Thou art the man!"

The child who was born to David and Bathsheba died. While it was sick David fasted and prayed. But when it died he arose and washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes and went into the house of God and worshipped. Then he ordered food set before him and ate. This surprised his servants so much that they asked how it was that he fasted and prayed while the child was alive, but has put away his mourning when the child died. David replied...(II Sam. 12:22-23).

Notice that Nathan prophesied that David would suffer for his sin because of the terrible deed he had done. (II Sam. 12:10-11). We shall see how punishment did arise for David from within his own family. He paid dearly for the crime he had committed. Just here read Psa. 51 to see how deeply penitent David was when he realized the awfulness of his deeds. This Psalm gives us an insight into his very soul.
The birth of Solomon is told of in II Sam. 12:24-25.
Then the story begun in II Sam. 11:1 is continued in II Sam. 12:26-31. Joab was still generous enough to his king that he asked him to come out to Rabah so that he might be present at its fall. If he did not do so, the credit for its capture would go to Joab, but he would have his king there so that it might be counted as David's victory. (I Chron. 20:1-3).
Beyond what is given in this section of Samuel, there is a bit additional in I Chron. 20:4-8.
Thus ends the epoch in the life of David. As we have already noticed, trouble lay ahead...the trouble and danger which arose to plague David from within his own household.
Discussion questions:
In this study we are introduced to the prophet, Nathan. Name as many prophets as you can who are told of before this. Was a prophet's private judgment always correct. Why did Nathan reverse his first advice to David? Why was David not permitted to build a house of worship?

Tell of something of his battles recorded in II Sam. 8-9. Do you think that David's organization of his government was comparable to our president and his cabinet? Were the Cherethites and Pelethites somewhat like our Marines?

Tell the story of Mephibosheth. What trait in David's character does this illustrate? Discuss the bad advice given Hanun by his counsellors. Can you think of any present-day rulers who may have unwise advisors? How could it be prevented that great masses of people be thrown into conflict because a few are insulted, or "lose face"? Discuss Joab's encouragement to his people.

Give the setting for "Thou art the man." Do you think David behaved properly after the death of the child of Bathsheba? What punishment did Nathan prophesy would come upon David for his sins?

DAVID'S LAST DAYS
(II Sam. 21-24; I Chron.)
"There was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year." The Lord revealed to David that it was punishment for the sin Saul had done in slaying the Gibeonites. Saul had done that in his zeal at some time to clean up Israel and Judah of foreign elements. That violated the solemn promise the Israelites had made to the Gibeonites that they would not be destroyed.

To make amends to the Gibeonites, David delivered seven sons of Saul into their hands and they were hanged. Five of those men were sons of Merab, the daughter of Saul; (I Sam. 18:19) and the other two were sons of Rizpah. What a pathetic picture of her is given in II Sam. 21:10-11. David was told of it and he had the bones of Saul and Jonathan brought from Jabesh-Gilead and given burial at his home together with those of the men who had been hanged. Thus atonement was made for one of Saul's sins.

The Philistines gave trouble again. David was nearly killed by a giant but was rescued by Abishai. His men forbad David's going into battle again for his fighting days were over. The giants rather crowd into the bit of narrative in the last paragraph of II Sam. 21.

A majestic poem which David wrote is given in II Sam. 22. In it he praises God for His goodness and for His delivering David out of all his troubles. Read it thoughtfully and try to visualize some of his experiences of which this song tells. His figures of speech are beautiful and exceedingly forceful. For example, notice the different things in II Sam. 22:2-3 to which he compares God.

"The last words of David" is the beginning of II Sam. 23, although we can see that other things are told of David after this chapter. The historian can notice here his last words and then go on to tell of other incidents in his life. Perhaps, too, it is meant that this is his last writing of poetry. II Sam. 23:4 is one of the most beautiful passages in the Old Testament: set right into the midst of the record of so many terrible things.

Now let us run II Sam. 24 along with I Chron. 21. David decided that he wanted to know how many people were in his kingdom and ordered a census taken. Again Joab withstood his king and asked him not to do the thing, even if they should grow to be a hundred times as many as they were. But David prevailed against Joab and against the captains of the host and the census got under way. They made a circuit through the country and returned to Jerusalem at the end of nine months with the figures of "eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword," in Israel and five hundred thousand in Judah. The figures in the Chronicles record is one million one hundred thousand and four hundred seventy thousand, respectively.

While we find such discrepancies occasionally in figures given and in the spelling of names, we must remember that such differences never affect the principles taught in the Bible. This is a good place as any to take notice of this fact which gives critics such a gleeful opportunity to talk about the contradictions in the Bible. This census total illustrates that the figures given in some places are not the same as those given in others. Michal is mentioned in II Sam. 21:8, but the person concerned seems obviously to have been Merab as in I Sam. 18:19.

It is repeated for emphasis: none of these slight differences ever affect the principles taught or the commands given by the Lord!

The Lord sent the prophet Gad to tell David that he might choose between three things as punishment for his sin. Apparently his sin was that of pride; he wanted to boast of his mighty nation; and that would lead to a reliance upon their own strength, as compared with the strength of their neighbors, rather than upon the power of God to keep them safe. Whatever God told them to do should be done without regard to how strong they were in numbers.

David did a fine thing in refusing to make a choice but in deciding: "let us fall now into the hand of Jehovah; for his mercies are great." A three-day pestilence was sent on the land and seventy thousand men died. As in previous cases David was penitent and prayed earnestly...II Sam. 24:17).

Gad came back to David and instructed him to build an altar in the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. Araunah offered to give the place and the animals for an offering but David refused to make an offering that cost him nothing. He paid the price for the location, the threshing floor, and the oxen which were sacrificed. So Jehovah was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

Now, our history goes further in Chronicles. II Sam. 24 and I Chron. 21 are nearly parallel. Notice, however, that Araunah of II Samuel is called Ornan in Chronicles. From I Chron. 22 to the end of the book we have additional material.

I Chron. 22-29 is taken up with a description of the organization of David's government; with his preparations for the building of the temple by Solomon, and his last charge to his son and the people.

I Chron. 22:2-5 contains the account of how David set men to work preparing material for the building: stones, iron for nails, brass, and cedar-trees. Then he called for Solomon and charged him to build the house (I Chron. 22:6-16) and commanded the princes to help Solomon.

I Chron. 22-23 tell of the division of the work among the Levites and names various ones who were assigned to the various tasks. The Levites served in the tabernacle and were to serve in the temple in courses, that is, certain ones for a time, then others for the next period and so on throughout the year. I Chron. 24 gives these courses of serving.

I Chron. 25 tells of certain sons of Asaph who were assigned the work of prophesying to the accompaniment of instruments of music. Apparently that prophesying was somewhat comparable to the work of teaching, as shown in I Chron. 25:8. Others were to take care of the singing (I Chron. 25:5-6).

Again we are reminded that much of this was the invention of David. Such elaborate ceremonial led to pride and vanity, as it drew the minds of the people from the simplicity which God had ordained from the first. It led to such a condition that in a later time Amos called down a woe, upon those "that invent for themselves instruments of music, like David." (Amos 6:5). [Editor's note: for an opposing point of view, see II Chron. 29:25. To have musical instruments was commanded by God.]

In I Chron. 26:1-11, the courses of the doorkeepers are given. Possibly they were more like what we would call guards, or watchmen. The places where they were stationed are given in I Chron. 26:12-19.
There were the keepers of the treasures (I Chron. 26:20-28).
The civil officers are told of in I Chron. 26:29-32.
The army served in courses; certain units each month of the year. Their commanders are listed in I Chron. 27 and their courses given.

In addition to all the other organization, each tribe had over it an officer that might be likened to a governor of that people or territory (I Chron. 27:16-24).

I Chron. 27:25-29 tell of the king's treasures being assigned to certain ones. It has a modern sound in that the "resources" of the kingdom were divided into those of the fields, the vineyards, the orchards, the wine, the herds and the camels. It sounds like a description of a department of agriculture with its various divisions. Possibly their duties were more nearly comparable to that of our tax-collectors, however, rather then planners for assigning quotas and helping them increase their yields in the various areas. The king's private counsellors are listed in I Chron. 27:32-34.

I Chron. 28-29 contain David's farewell to his people. It was an impressive assembly that is described in I Chron. 28:1. Then David told them of his plans to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant but that God had forbidden it. However, his son Solomon would do the work. Notice that in I Chron. 28:6, 10, 26 and I Chron. 29:1 it is stated specifically that God had decreed that Solomon should be king after David and build the temple. David then gave a solemn charge to Solomon (I Chron. 29:9-10, 20-21) containing the impressive truth: "Jehovah searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts."

A complete plan for the temple and much of its furnishing is given in I Chron. 29:3-5. The princes followed his example and gave willingly to the work (I Chron. 29:6-9). Then we have recorded another impressive prayer of David (I Chron. 29:10-19). A large number of animals were sacrificed as part of that ceremony and Solomon was made king (I Chron. 29:20-25).

I Chron. 29:26-30 gives a brief summary of David's reign and his death with Solomon his son reigning in his stead. "Now, if you want to know more about David," the historian says in effect, "you may read of all that he did, first and last, in the history of Samuel the seer, and in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the history of Gad the seer." We have the history written by Samuel. How we wish that we had the histories of Nathan and Gad! They are among those "Bibles before the Bible," which may be added to the one mentioned in II Sam. 1:18.
Discussion questions:
Tell the story of the Gibeonites when they first came into conflict with the Israelites. Tell of Saul's mistreating them.
How many figures of speech for describing God are in II Sam. 22:2-3? Do you like II Sam. 23:4? Why, or why not?
Turn through the book of Psalms and see how many of them mention Asaph in the titles. What was his work?
Tell as much as you can of the various departments, or divisions of David's government. Which ones may be compared to ours?
Read and discuss David's prayer in I Chron. 29:10-19. What does the word "Chronicles" mean? Who else wrote histories of David's reign?
What other famous men, of the Bible, made farewell speeches to their people shortly before their death?

SOLOMON, THE WISE KING
(I Kings 1-4; II Chron. 1)
We saw Solomon made king in the place of David his father. (I Chron. 29). Now we go to I Kings 1 to get some details of those last days of David which are not given in Chronicles.

In I Kings 1 we see the once mighty warrior as an old king so feeble that he could not take care of himself. A beautiful maiden, Abishag the Shunammite, was brought in to nurse the old king.

When he was too old to know much of what was going on, and too weak to care perhaps, another son of David decided to take matters in his own hands and make himself king, as Absalom had done earlier. Adonijah exalted himself, using a device which he doubtless learned from Absalom: prepared for himself chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run before him. His father had never corrected him by so much as asking "why hast thou done so?" Adonijah got some of the most powerful men in the kingdom to go along with him: Joab, commander-in-chief, who had not joined Absalom's rebellion, and Abiathar the priest.

The priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan and other remained loyal to the son whom they knew to be David's choice for his successor. Nathan called on Bathsheba and told her what was happening. Then he instructed her what to do to save the day for her son Solomon.

Bathsheba went into the king's apartment where Abishag was ministering to him. Bathsheba asked David if he had not promised that Solomon was to be the next king. (I Kings 1:18). She reported what the would-be king was doing and that all Israel were waiting to see what David would do. If he did not assure the throne to Solomon, then after he was dead, they would be in the position of rebels in trying to regain the throne from Adonijah.

While she was talking Nathan came in, according to their plan, and reported on the same thing Bathsheba had told the king. Absent-mindedly, it seems, David said call Bathsheba. She was there all the time but she answered David and he assured her that Solomon was to reign after him. Then he called Zadok and Nathan, who were there, and Benaiah. He gave them instructions to set Solomon upon the king's mule and take him to Gihon, anoint him king and blow the trumpet and say, "Long live king Solomon." Then he was to come up and sit on the throne.

Those faithful servants carried out the orders of their king; Solomon rode on the king's mule, accompanied by all of them and with the Cherethites and the Pelethites as a guard. The people came with them and rejoiced with such shouts of joy that "the earth rent with the sound of them."

The noise was heard by Adonijah's crowd who wondered what was the cause of the uproar. Abiathar's son Jonathan came in just then and told them all that had happened and that "Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom." Adonijah's following melted away in a hurry and he went and caught hold of the horns of the altar hoping to find a refuge there. Solomon was very generous toward him and promised that he would not be punished if he would show himself a worthy man. He came before Solomon and did obeisance and was dismissed to go to his own house.

David knew that his death was near and renewed the charge to Solomon. (It may be that his is the same incident already related in Chronicles.) The charge was very emphatic that Solomon must keep the statutes of Jehovah and walk in the ways according to that which is written in the law of Moses. If he would do that he would prosper. If his children would follow in that way there would always be a descendant of his to sit on the throne of Israel.

Instructions were given for taking care of some of the men who had caused David so much trouble during his reign. Joab was not to be allowed to die in peace because of the crimes he had committed on Abner and Amasa. Barzillai was to be shown kindness; Shimei was also to be punished. Then David died, having reigned forty years; seven years in Hebron and thirty three in Jerusalem. And Solomon sat upon the throne of David his father "and his kingdom was established greatly."

It was not long before Solomon was cleaning out the men who had given trouble. Adonijah did a very foolish thing, although he may not have realized it, when he asked Bathsheba to request Solomon to give him Abishag. Although Solomon had received his mother with great respect and honor, and had promised to give her whatever she asked, he said that Adonijah had done the thing against his own life. He ordered Adonijah slain and the order was promptly obeyed. Could it be that Solomon himself loved Abishag, that he took such a drastic step and refused to grant his mother's request, after he had said he would not deny her?

The priest Abiathar was sent away from the city, but Solomon would not have him killed because he had borne the ark of God before David and had endured hardships with him. This was a fulfillment of a prophesy concerning the house of Eli.

Joab's turn came next. He heard of the punishment ordered for him and fled into the Tent and took hold of the horns of the altar. When that was reported to Solomon he ordered Benaiah to go, slay him. Benaiah ordered Joab to come out of the tabernacle but he refused to do so. Benaiah went and told Solomon that Joab refused to come out saying that he would die there. Solomon told Benaiah to slay him in the tabernacle if he would not come out. So Benaiah slew him by the altar because of the sins he had done in killing men, "who were more righteous and better than he." Benaiah was placed over the host in the place of Joab.

Shimei was told to build himself a house in Jerusalem and not to leave it. On the day he crossed the brook Kidron, to leave the city, he would surely die. Shimei accepted the sentence. But three years later he had some servants run away. When he heard where they were, in Gath, he went after them. He got back to the city all right, but Solomon had been told about it. He called Shimei before him and reminded him of the instructions he had received and that he had accepted the king's arrangement. Benaiah was ordered to slay Shimei. Thus the old trouble-makers were all cleared out and the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

With the beginning of I Kings 3, we turn to things much pleasanter. What a change had taken place: once the Israelites were slaves of the Egyptians, their king trying to have all the male children killed: now the king of the Israelites makes a treaty with Pharaoh and marries one of his daughters.

The king build himself a palace, and the house of Jehovah and the wall of Jerusalem round about. The people sacrificed in the high places because there was no house built for the name of Jehovah until those days. Solomon loved God and walked in the statutes which David had given him: "only he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places." That last statement has an ominous sound. His divided loyalty was to bring terrible results to Israel.

The young king went to Gibeon and made a great ceremony of worship and offered many sacrifices. God appeared to him that night in a dream and said "Ask what I shall give thee." Solomon's reply was truly a great one; he wanted wisdom to know how to rule such a great people, acknowledging with humility that he was "only a little child before them." The answer pleased the Lord. He told Solomon that because he had not asked for long life for himself; had not asked riches for himself; nor for the life of his enemies he would be given the wisdom he had requested and all those other things too. He would be greater than all the kings before him and no king during all his days would be like him. And if he would walk in God's ways his days would be lengthened.

Solomon woke from his dream and afterward went back to Jerusalem where he had another great celebration.

II Chron. 1:1-13 contains almost exactly the same account as that in I Kings 3:1-15. Here two records become parallel again. Then an incident is in I Kings 3:16-28 which is not given in Chronicles: that of the two women quarrelling over a baby. It is given as an example of the wisdom of Solomon.

The government of Solomon was organized very much as David's was. (I Kings 4:1-19.) There were the chief administrators, comparing somewhat to our cabinet, with its members over various departments of the work. Then there were twelve officers, one furnishing "victuals" each month for the king and his household. They are named in I Kings 4:7-19.

A picture of a prosperous, happy people is drawn in I Kings 4:20-28. Judah and Israel had grown mightily in numbers until they were a great people. They were happy under a benevolent king. Under Solomon the kingdom reached its greatest geographical extent. He ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the border of Egypt. At last they had reached nearly the full extent of what had been promised them at the beginning of the conquest!

He had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots; and twelve thousand horsemen, with all the provisions they needed. See II Chron. 1:14-17 and I Kings 10:26-28 for an account of his gathering all the horses and chariots. Even the prices he paid are given. Before that time the Hebrews had not used horses. God had forbidden their putting their trust in horses. (Deut. 17:16). This is but one of the departures from God's laws that Solomon made, all of which were to bring grief to the kingdom.

More of the wisdom and understanding of Solomon is described in I Kings 4:29-34. His wisdom was greater than of all the children of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than four specially wise men: Ethan the Ezrahite, and the three sons of Mahol, namely, Heman, Calcol and Darda.

Solomon spoke three thousand proverbs. His songs were a thousand and five. He spoke of trees from the cedars of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows in the cracks of the wall; also of beasts, birds and creeping things. From all the peoples they came to hear the wisdom of Solomon: from among the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom!
Discussion questions:
Name the two sons of David who led rebellions against him. What device did both use to advertise themselves?
Who were: Abishag; Joab; Zadok; Abner; Amasa; Shimei?
Did David choose Solomon as his successor merely from his own personal desire? (See I Chron. 28:6, 10 and I Chron. 29:1).
Who formed the king's guard at Solomon's coronation? What became of Adonijah's followers? What was David's charge to Solomon? Was there a condition to his descendants remaining on the throne?
Where were David's two capitals and how long did he rule in each?
Who was Eli? What prophecy concerning him did Solomon fulfil?
Tell of Solomon's dream. What three things did he not request which he might have been expected to ask for?
How was Solomon's government organized? What was the geographical extent of his kingdom?
Where were the two centers of learning in his time? Tell something of his wisdom as shown by his writings. Do we have any of his writings today?

AHAB AND JEHOSHAPHAT
(I Kings 20-22; II Chron. 18-20)
God is indeed merciful and long-suffering toward mankind. A striking example of this is the case of Ahab. After all the wickedness he had done, God gave him good success and another chance to do right. Benhadad the king of Syria, got his forces together, including thirty two kings and besieged Samaria. He demanded all the silver and gold and the wives and children of Ahab. Ahab told the Syrian messengers to reply to Benhadad, "I am thine and all that I have." But Ahab rebelled when the messengers came a second time saying they would search all the houses in Samaria and take all that they liked. He called the elders together and they told Ahab not to consent to that demand. So he sent his refusal by the messengers. When Benhadad made a boast that there were not as many handfuls of dust in Samaria as the people he had with him, Ahab said a very wise thing...(II Kings 20:11).

Since Ahab had begun to show some strength of character, God sent a prophet to him to tell him that all that great host would be delivered into his hand. He mustered two hundred thirty two young officers and seven thousand men. When they started toward the Syrian camp, Benhadad was drinking himself drunk, with the thirty two kings in their tents. When the scouts reported men coming from Samaria, he said take them alive, whether they come for peace or war. But Ahab's young men began the fight and scattered the Syrians with a great slaughter.

The prophet came to Ahab again and told him to get ready for the Syrians' return at the same time next year. Sure enough, Benhadad planned a return. His men said that the gods of the Israelites were gods of the hills; that was why they were victorious. If they could entice them into the plains the Syrians could whip them. They also advised the king to place captains in command instead of the thirty two kings. The next year they were back in Israel and the children of Israel went out against them "like two little flocks of kids." But the prophet came to Ahab and encouraged him; they would fight them in the plain and show them that God can give victory to His people wherever they are. Again the Syrians were routed with a complete victory for the Israelites.

Benhadad went into hiding. His men said that the kings of Israel were reported to be merciful; perhaps he would save the life of the king. It was worth a try and worked out as they planned. Ahab was flattered by the plea for mercy and called Benhadad his brother. He was sent for and proposed to restore the cities of Israel to Ahab and to name streets in Damascus in his honor. So he made a covenant with him and let him go.

On his way home Ahab was met by a man standing by the side of the road, wounded and bandaged. The wounded man told of allowing a prisoner to escape whom he had been told to guard with his life. Ahab told the man he should die; he had pronounced his own sentence. Then the man, who was a prophet, whipped the bandage off his head and told Ahab that he had sealed his doom because he had allowed the king of Syria to escape, whom God had devoted to destruction.

The doom did not come upon Ahab immediately. Near his palace was a vineyard owned by Naboth. He tried to buy the place but Naboth would not sell it. He would not trade it; he wanted to keep his inheritance. Ahab pouted over his failure to get the land, but his evil wife Jezebel was equal to the occasion. She ordered the men of the city, in Ahab's name, to arrange a false trial and have Naboth killed on the charge that he had cursed God and the king. It was done as ordered, and Ahab went down to look over his vineyard.

Elijah appeared on the scene again as God had sent him to do. When Ahab saw him in the vineyard he said, "Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?" "Yes, I have found thee," Elijah replied, "Because thou hast sold thyself to do that which is evil in the sight of Jehovah." Then he told Ahab of his violent destruction which was coming; his house would be made like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat and as the dogs had licked the blood of Naboth, they would lick up Ahab's blood. And the dogs would eat Jezebel by the rampart of Jezreel. Ahab rent his clothes and put on sackcloth and fasted. Because he humbled himself God promised that the destruction of his house would not come during the life of Ahab.

For three years there was no war between Syria and Israel. Then came a strange alliance between Judah and Israel. For a long time they had been at each others throats. But Jehoshaphat, who was then king of Judah, paid a visit to Ahab. It seems as if it were in an attempt to amuse themselves, that Ahab proposed one day that they go and capture Ramoth-gilead from the Syrians. Would the king of Judah go with them? Jehoshaphat answered foolishly, "I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses." But he wanted first to inquire for the word of Jehovah. Ahab arranged a gala affair, the kings sat on thrones at the gate of the city arrayed in their robes. Ahab had about four hundred of his "yes men" brought before them and they all told the kings to go; God would deliver the city into their hands.

But Jehoshaphat was skeptical. Perhaps their consent came too easily. He wanted to know if there were not some one else of whom they might inquire. "Oh yes," Ahab said, "Micaiah is here, but I hate him. He never tells me anything good." Micaiah was sent for as the false prophets entertained the kings. One of them, Zedekiah, had made horns of iron and he sported around, pushing this way and that, with his horns. "With these thou shalt push the Syrians until they be consumed," he told the kings. The officer who brought Micaiah told him to answer as the other prophets had, but he said he could speak only what God gave him to say.

When Micaiah came before the kings and was asked whether they should go to Ramoth-gilead he replied, "Certainly, go right on and prosper." But there was something in the way he said it that caused Ahab to adjure him to "speak the truth in the name of Jehovah." Then he told of seeing the vision of Israel scattered as sheep that have no shepherd. "Didn't I tell you," Ahab said to Jehoshaphat. Micaiah went on to say that he had seen God on His throne with the host of heaven before Him. God asked who would entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead. One said that he would be a lying spirit in the mouth of his prophets and that would get him. Zedekiah ran up to Micaiah and slapped him in the face asking which way went the spirit of God from him to speak to Micaiah? Ahab ordered Micaiah placed in prison until he returned in peace. "If you come back at all in peace, then God has not spoken through me," Micaiah said.

The kings went on to the battle. Ahab disguised himself but Jehoshaphat wore his kingly robes. The king of Syria had ordered his men to get Ahab and not bother anyone else. When the Syrians saw Jehoshaphat they rushed him, but when they saw he was not Ahab they left him alone. Some man in the host of Syrians took aim and let his arrow fly at a man he saw riding in a chariot. The arrow struck between the joints of his armour. It was Ahab who had been hit! He stayed in his chariot until about sundown and then died, his blood having run out into the chariot.

They took Ahab to Samaria and buried him. The next day as the chariot was washed the dogs came up and licked his blood as Elijah had prophesied. The battle ended in defeat for the Israelites. Ahab slept with his fathers and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

Jehoshaphat went back home, a sadder but wiser king. The I Kings record, finishes his story rather quickly. It tells of his further reforms in Judah and of his ill-fated attempt to build a navy, perhaps in an attempt to match Solomon's glory in that particular. But II Chronicles gives us a great deal more of interesting information. II Chron. 18 is almost identical with I Kings 22:4-35. II Chron. 19 goes on with the story of Jehoshaphat. After the fiasco with Ahab, he went out again among his people and brought them back to the God of their fathers.

Jehoshaphat established judges in the fortified cities of Judah and commanded them to do their work justly. "Now therefore let the fear of Jehovah be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with Jehovah our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes." The Levites also were charged to do their work, "in the fear of Jehovah, faithfully, and with a perfect heart."

II Chron. 20 is exceedingly interesting. Moab and Ammon came up to fight with Judah. Jehoshaphat feared and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. The people gathered in Jerusalem and Jehoshaphat prayed one of the most beautiful prayers in all the Old Testament (II Chron. 20:5-13). He reminded the Lord how He had not allowed Israel to fight with these nations as they came out of Egypt. Would He let those people now take Judah? He acknowledged that they had no might and that they did not know what to do, but their eyes were upon God. The spirit of God came upon Jahaziel in the midst of the assembly. He told the king that God had said, "Fear not ye, neither be dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God's." Tomorrow they were to go out to the enemy but they would not need to fight them; "stand still and see the salvation of Jehovah."

As the enemy came on, Jehoshaphat told his people, "Believe in Jehovah your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." They went on with singing, praising God. Apparently, the inhabitants of Mt. Seir were the ones whom God caused to fight the oncoming hordes. They fell to fighting among themselves until they were completely destroyed. "When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked upon the multitude; and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and there were none that escaped." The Israelites took more spoil off the dead bodies than they could carry away. So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet; for his God gave him rest round about.

II Chron. 20:31-37 tell the remaining part of Jehoshaphat's record very briefly, mentioning the navy that broke up before it put to sea. It came to grief because Jehoshaphat had made another alliance with Israel, that is with Ahaziah, the son of Ahab. Eliezer prophesied to him telling him that it was because of that agreement with Ahaziah that the work had been destroyed. (II Chron. 21:1).
Discussion questions:
After the contest on Mt. Carmel, God gave Ahab another chance to prove worthy. Tell about it. Give his memorable saying about boasting. How did Ahab arrange the first battle with the Syrians? Tell of the second one.
What agreement did Ahab make with Benhadad? Give the account of the man who told of letting a prisoner escape. How did that apply to Ahab?
Tell about Ahab's getting possession of Naboth's vineyard. Did Naboth have a right to refuse to sell it to the king? In this connection read and discuss Lev. 25:23-28; Num. 36:5-9.
Tell of Elijah's meeting Ahab in the vineyard.
Should Jehoshaphat have joined forces with Ahab? Tell of what the prophets did before the two kings, particularly of Zedekiah and Micaiah. Describe the battle for Ramoth-gilead and Ahab's death.
Discuss the reforms Jehoshaphat made in Judah; about the judges and the Levites part in it.
What was his defense when Moab and Ammon marched toward his country? Analyze his prayer in II Chron. 20:5-13.
Several beautiful sayings are in this section that describes so much war and other wickedness. Find as many such passages as you can.
There are also several prophets mentioned in this study. Name all of them, and tell something about each one.

ISRAEL'S LAND AT LAST
Memory verse: (Josh. 21:45).
Purpose: To better understand how our blessings depend on God's faithfulness and our obedience.
Daily Bible Readings: (Num. 33:50-56; Num. 34:1-12; Deut. 11:26-32; Josh. 21:43-45; Josh. 23:1-13; Josh. 23:14-16; I Kings 8:54-61).
Lesson text: (Josh. 21:43-45; Josh. 22:10-34; Josh. 23:14-16; I Kings 8:54-61).
Introduction
The Promised Land was finally conquered! Within five years of crossing the Jordan, the people of Israel controlled most of the land of milk and honey.

Joshua led a brilliant military campaign despite a relative lack of military equipment and training. Despite their earlier fears, God's army conquered the walled cities of the giants (Num. 13:28). It was not Israel's strength that made this victory possible; it was the strength that comes from trusting in God. Their only defeat in the entire campaign came when one man selfishly disobeyed God (Josh. 7:10-11, 20-21).

Some people have claimed that God did not fully keep His promise because Israel did not possess all of the land at the time. God's promise did not fail, and Joshua was not mistaken. God had done all things necessary for the people to finish conquering the land and to eliminate the pagan nations. Because the Israelites did not need God's help to occupy the rest of the land, the failure was theirs, not God's (Josh. 17:14-15).

After the conquest, Joshua divided the land among the tribes according to the casting of lots (Josh. 13:6). He also established cities of refuge to provide justice for the guilty and innocent (Josh. 20:3-9).

As Joshua's life neared its end, he spoke to the people and reviewed God's dealings with them and their ancestors (Josh. 24:1). Only when history is viewed from both perspectives can one fully see God's care and guidance.

God's sure and certain promises (Josh. 21:43-45).

With the conquest of the land, God fulfilled His promise to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-2). Although freely given, the Israelites were not without obligation. They accepted the gift by fighting the inhabitants and overcoming them. Obedience to accept a gift does not minimize the grace of the giver. There is a vast difference between earning a gift and accepting one by obedience. Salvation is God's gift to us (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9). We accept this by the obedience of faith (Rom. 1:5).

Joshua cited three blessings from God's promise. First was the land itself. Promised to Abraham, its fulfillment was delayed as God's people sojourned in Egypt and wandered in the wilderness. Although some of the inhabitants were still in the land, God allowed the Israelites to conquer all they could possess at that time. His intention was for them to defeat and destroy the rest of their enemies as soon as they had enough strength.

The second blessing of the promise was God giving them rest. This rest came in their having permanent homes. Since Abraham's time, except while in Egypt, Israel's descendants had lived in tents, as had their forefathers. Their lifestyle involved periodic relocation to find better grazing for their animals. This enforced lifestyle never caused them to lose sight of God's promise of a permanent dwelling place (Heb. 11:9, 37-38).

The rest Joshua gave them was a figure of the permanent rest given us by Jesus. Although now living in the land, death eventually would force all of the sons of Israel to leave Earth. Unlike Joshua's rest, Jesus' promised rest is permanent (Heb. 4:9). Our responsibility is to understand reverently that it is possible for us to miss this rest (Heb. 4:1). This reverent fear should then lead us to greater diligence to enter God's promised rest.

God's third blessing to Israel was their victorious conquest. In addition to the land, God gave them houses, cultivated fields and vineyards. No people were ever so blessed as God blessed Israel (Josh. 24:12-14). Such blessings demanded Isreal's subjection and faithfulness to God.
God's conditional promises (Josh. 23:14-16).
As his life was ending, Joshua imitated Moses by giving a last exhortation and charge to the people (Deut. 1:1; Deut. 4:22; Josh. 23:14-16). Since Moses' death, God had richly blessed Israel. Yet experience had shown that God's blessings depended on mankind's faithfulness. Joshua again recounted God's faithfulness in keeping His promises made to Abraham and his descendants. Joshua and many others present had seen the reality of God's power in the wilderness (Josh. 24:7, 17). Most had crossed the Jordan on dry land (Josh. 3:14-17). Now the Promised Land was before them as their inheritance.

Joshua reminded the people about God's faithfulness in keeping His promises and about His faithfulness in punishing the ungodly. God had given them the good land because of their obedience. Just as quickly, He could and would take it away because of disobedience. In the years following, Israel often forsook God, and this prophecy came to pass each time.

Some people focus so strongly on God's love, mercy and grace that they forget He is also a God of wrath (Rom. 11:22). Without the existence of His wrath, His goodness loses much of its meaning. Some people do not wish to leave Earth to go to heaven. But if we see God's wrath as our destiny instead of life on Earth, heaven will take on a completely new meaning.

In Joshua's day, the people clearly understood God's faithfulness and repeatedly agreed with Joshua and promised to serve the Lord and forsake idols (Josh. 24:16-24). The lesson of God's faithfulness is not soon lost. Because of Joshua's influence and leadership, his generation remained faithful to God (Josh. 24:31).
Security in God (I Kings 8:54-61).
I Kings 8 contains Solomon's prayer at the temple's dedication. After bringing the ark of the covenant into the temple and before his prayer, Solomon reminded the people about God's faithfulness in making him king (I Kings 8:20). In return, Solomon had built the temple, a house for God. Solomon's role in the dedication was unique. Although he was king, he filled a priestly function by praying for and blessing the people. His words began with praise to God for all His gifts to the people. Devotion to God, as Solomon exhibited in his prayer, draws one closer to God, which should result in praise.

Once again, God's faithfulness was emphasized. Just as Joshua had done, Solomon also reiterated that none of God's promises had failed. Although the land promise was fulfilled completely, the promise of One who would bless all nations was in the process of being fulfilled. This would be fully complete in Jesus' incarnation.

Solomon prayed for God's guidance, help and nearness. He realized that Israel's victories only came because of God's help. King Saul lost the kingdom of Israel because of his stubborn rebellion. God no longer helped him, and death and defeat resulted (I Sam. 12:13-15; I Sam. 28:6). Because of God's presence and help, David had established the United Kingdom of Israel (II Sam. 7:8-16).

Jesus promised that He is with us always, never leaving or forsaking us (Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5-6). Because of His presence, we may face life's difficulties. However, let us never forget that just as submission was God's condition of faithfulness in the Old Testament, it also is today.
Conclusion
Joshua and Solomon stressed God's exact fulfillment of His promises. Both urged the people to be faithful and obedient on the basis of God's dependability and faithfulness. In a time when our world is so uncertain, it is comforting to know that we can depend on God (Rom. 8:31).
Practical observations
(1) Many people today base their relationships with God on subjective feelings. It is important to realize that even in the days of limited revelation, God's Word was still the focus of learning His will (Josh. 23:6). God is not silent today. The words He spoke in the past are just as powerful and unchanging today (Matt. 24:35).
(2) In stressing man's role, we must never minimize God's faithfulness. By our obedience and ministry, we find His blessings. Yet if He had not faithfully kept His promises in the past, we would possess no hope at all. Let us trust our salvation in His mercy and grace and then do all in our power to glorify His name by our good works (Matt. 5:14-16).
(3) Our hope and confidence is that "the Lord is at hand" (Phili. 4:5). William Tyndale, whose translation is the basis of much of the King James Version, translated this, "The Lord be at your elbow." He is with us and will not forsake us as long as we do not forsake Him.
Questions
(1) By what power was Israel able to conquer the land of Canaan?
(2) How could God have kept His promise completely if part of the land was unconquered?
(3) How do we accept God's gift of salvation?
(4) What three blessings came to Israel from God's promise to Abraham?
(5) What did God give them in addition to the land?
(6) On what are God's blessings conditional?
(7) In addition to God's faithfulness in keeping his promises, what else did Joshua remind the Israelites about?
(8) How did God demonstrate His faithfulness to David and Solomon?
(9) In addition to the land promise, what other promise was in the process of being fulfilled?
(10) For what three things did Solomon pray?
More queries
(1) What are the roles of grace and obedience in mankind's salvation? How can salvation be both a gift and something for which we work (Phili. 2:12; James 2:20, 24)?
(2) What lesson can we learn from Israel about the danger of material blessings?
(3) How can God be a God of love and a God of wrath?
[from Gospel Advocate adult quarterly, Oct. 8, 1995, p. 31-37]

HELPING EACH OTHER
(Gal. 6)
Memory verse: (Gal. 6:9-10).
1. The Spirit of Meekness
Christians make mistakes many times. They do now and they did when Paul was living. He told the Galatians that when one did make a mistake that the others ought to forgive him and help to do right. This was to be done in a quiet way, or in a spirit of meekness. No one should act as though he were so much better than another, for he, also, is likely to make a mistake sometime.

That was the way the Galatians should have lived and it is the way that Christians ought to live today. That is the way that boys and girls should treat each other. When one acts as though he thinks he is very much better than another person, he does not have a meek spirit, and is likewise in danger of making some very bad mistakes. We ought to be strong and full of courage and able to do things, but we should not be braggarts, and we ought to be fair with other people. When someone else makes a mistake let us be kind, and remember that we are likely to make a mistake also and need someone to be kind to us.
2. Help others
Paul told the Galatians to bear each others burdens. That meant that they should help each other. There are many ways in which we can be of assistance to each other. There are many things we desire to do but need the help of someone else in the doing of them. Children can help their parents at home; parents can help their children; Christians can help each other. People who know the Bible can help others to learn what Jesus wants them to know. Jesus wants us to help each other. One of the best ways for one to do something which will make him feel good is to do something for someone else. If you do something nice for someone else, that makes him feel good and you are happy because he is happy. If you are feeling blue, do not pout, do something for somebody quick.
3. Personal burdens.
In Gal. 6:5 Paul stated that each one should bear his own burden. This is a little different from the statement in Gal. 6:2, when he indicated that each one of us should help others. Each individual must answer to God for his own sins. Someone else cannot do that for us. Christ died for each one of us and if one is to be forgiven of his own sins and mistakes, he must be forgiven by Christ. Even though we can help each other in many ways, we cannot be held responsible for the sins of others. One cannot become a Christian for another person, each one must acknowledge Christ and be baptized into Christ, for the remission of his own sins. This is a personal burden, or duty and obligation, which each one must bear himself. We can help each other to learn more about the Bible, and we can talk things over and help each other to understand what we are to do, but each one must obey the Lord for himself in order that his sins may be forgiven.
4. Sowing and reaping.
All of us know something about sowing and reaping whether we have ever lived on a farm or ranch or not. We know that when one goes out into the field and sows wheat that when the crop is gathered, and when the harvest time has come, the harvest will be wheat. If one sows, or plants corn, the harvest will be corn. If one plants cotton, the harvest will be cotton.

It is the same way with the lives which we live. If we sow to the Spirit, that is, if we live as God desires us to live we shall reap the things which God has promised to his children. If we do evil things while we live in the world, then we shall receive evil things. Each one of us ought to live godly lives in order that God may be pleased with us and will then give to us the happiness of eternal life. Paul said that one cannot fool God. He knows just what we are doing, and so each one of us shall reap as we sow.
5. Rewards are sure
Sometimes it may seem that our rewards are a long time in coming to us. It may have seemed so to the Galatians. But Paul assures each one who will read his letter and think upon what he has said, that one will surely reap if he will just keep on doing what he ought to do and not give up. Of course, if one should get tired of following Christ and turn away from Him and go back into the world and do the things which wicked people do, or fail to do what Christ has said for him to do, he will be like the one who faints, or gives up. If a farmer should plant a field and then go away and leave it he could hardly expect to have a harvest. Jesus said that if Christians are faithful as long as they live, He will give them a crown of life (Rev. 2:10).
6. Do good to all
In consideration of the fact that God will surely reward each one who is faithful to Him, each one ought to do good unto all men. The ones who are of the "household of faith" are Christians, and Paul said that they ought to be especially careful to do good to each other, but pointed out that there are many opportunities to do good to other people as well.

We can do good to other people by helping them when they are sick; visiting them, taking them gifts and saying kind words to them. We can do good to them by sending gifts of food and clothing, as so many have done for people in other lands. We can do good to them when we take the gospel to them, or help someone else to go and teach them.
7. Glory in the cross of Christ
Some people rejoice in their physical strength; others in their great wealth; and others in the wonderful things which they can do, but a Christian is to rejoice in Christ. He should be happy that he has learned of Christ and has become a Christian and should rejoice that he can live a Christian life and help others to live that way also.

I.	Memorizing.  If each person would live as Paul suggested in these verses, the world would be a very happy place. Will you memorize them and then try to live by them?
II.	Searching for true statements.  Read Gal. 6 very carefully and then check the statements which are true.
	1.	If someone should sin, who is a member of the church, all the others should refuse to have anything more to do with him.
	2.	It is impossible for a Christian to sin, so if one sins that is proof that he has never become a Christian.
	3.	All Christians are likely to sin and they ought to be kind to each other and ask forgiveness.
	4.	All Christians ought to help each other to bear the burdens which all have.
	5.	No one should think about how he lives for someone else can answer for his sins anyway.
	6.	Those who teach God's word, or preach, ought to be supported by those who are taught, that is, other members of the church.
	7.	If one is very careful, and does not brag about what he does to somebody, God will not know that he has sinned.
	8.	God knows everything and no one can fool Him.
	9.	Each one will reap in the end, just as he has been sowing in this life.
	10.	Those who follow Christ will reap everlasting life, and those who live in a worldly way will reap death.
	11.	It is all right to quit when one becomes discouraged, because we do not know whether we shall reap or not.
	12.	Because the harvest is sure, Christians ought to do good to all men.
	13.	Paul never wrote any of his letters with his own hand, but always had someone else to do the writing.
	14.	No one should glory in himself, but only in Christ.
	15.	Paul had suffered many persecutions and thus bore on his body the marks which he had received because he was faithful to Christ.
III.	Acrostic word problem. Using the verses and the clues, fill in the words.
	v. 6	(_)_ _ _ If one teaches this kind of thing, others should assist him.
	v. 9	_ _ (_) _ One will do this if he does not faint or fail in his faithfulness.
	v. 8	_ _ _ _ (_) _ _ _ _ _ _ The kind of life which one will receive if he sows to the Spirit.
	v.10	_ (_) _ _ _ Those who belong to this household deserve special attention.
	v. 8	_ _ _ _ (_) _ One is to do this to the Spirit while he lives in the world.
	v.11	_ _ (_) _ _ _ _ Some of Paul's words had been this by his own hand.
	v. 15	_ _ _ (_) _ _ _ _ The thing that counts is being a new one of these in Christ.
	v. 18	_ _ _ (_) The last word in many letters and in prayers.
	v. 17	_ _ _ _ (_) Something which Paul had on his body because he was faithful to Christ.
IV.	Thinking together
	1.	Sometimes, when Christians make mistakes, other talk and write about them to other people. Is this right? Explain what they should do.
	2.	Give several ways in which Christians can bear the burdens of others.
	3.	Explain what Paul meant when he said that each one should bear his own burden.
	4.	If young people do things which are wrong, what will they reap?
	5.	If a person gets a reputation of "keeping bad company" how will other people feel toward him?
	6.	How can one sow to the Spirit?
	7.	How can we be sure that God will do what He says He will?
	8.	Should we do good to people who are not good? Give reasons for your answer.
	9.	How can we do good to other people?

GOD'S WILL FOR US
(Rom. 12:2; Eph. 5:17; Eph. 6:6; Col. 1:9). Paul prayed the Colossians would have knowledge of His will, growing, increasing in the knowledge of God (fuller, deeper, clearer insight).
(James 1:21). Equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will while He works in you.

If I had my life to live over again, I'd try to make more mistakes next time.
I would relax, I would limber up, I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I know of very few things I would take seriously.
I would take more trips. I would be crazier.
I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets.
I would do more walking and looking.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
I would have more actual troubles, and fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I'm one of those people who lives life prophylactically and sensibly hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had to do it over again I'd have more of them.
In fact, I'd try to have nothing else, just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead each day. I've been one of those people who never go anywhere without a thermometer, a hot-water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat, aspirin, and a parachute.
If I had to do it over again I would go places, do things, and travel lighter than I have.
If I had my life to live over I would start barefooted earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.
I would play hookey more. I wouldn't make such good grades, except by accident.
I would ride on more merry-go-rounds.
I'd pick more daisies.
[anonymous but attributed to a friar in a Nebraska monastery]

To select another section of literature

To the instructions

To Home Page