June 23: 1 Kings 12-14

June 23, 1 Kings 12-14

1 Kings 12 We are about to see the prophecies fulfilled. Rehoboam, one of Solomon’s sons, was to be made king. Meanwhile, Jeroboam, who had fled from King Solomon, had returned from Egypt. Jeroboam and the leaders came to the new king, Rehoboam, and told him that Solomon had made their lives hard and they wanted it to be lighter (towards the end of Solomon’s reign, he apparently had been harsh to them…). Rehoboam requested 3 days to figure out what he was to do, and then he would give them an answer. Rehoboam took counsel form the older men who were with Solomon, and they advised him to serve the people and speak good to them. If he did that, the people would serve him forever. Then Rehoboam went to the kids he grew up with and asked what they thought he should do - their response was incredibly foolish, ordained by God, but foolish. They told him to make their punishment harder. He listened to the young peoples advice, to the demise of Israel, and fulfilled God’s Word. This is a turning point in Israel’s history - the kingdom is about to divide. 

When all Israel heard what Rehoboam said, they left for their homes and would not be forced to submit to this new king. Rehoboam stayed as king over Judah, but not the rest of Israel. He pulled together about 180,000 troops and got ready for battle. The Word of the Lord came to him and he was told not to go fight his own people, and he obeyed. God is in charge!

Jeroboam lived in the hills and did not want Israel to turn back to Jerusalem (David), because the people would kill him and love Rehoboam. So, he took counsel and made not one, but two calves of gold (remember Aaron?). He delivered the fake gods to the people. This was a great sin for the people, and they also made temples on the high places and pointed priests to minister. The downhill slide continues…

1 Kings 13 can be very confusing when we read it. We have a man of God, a prophet, that came to Jeroboam while he was making offerings to the false gods. The prophet cried out that from the house of David, Josiah would come, and would sacrifice Jeroboam on the altar and told him a sign was coming that day: The altar would be torn down and the ashes poured out. Then Jeroboam cried out against him and stretched out his his hand and called for this man to be seized. As he did, his hand ‘dried’ up, so much so that he couldn't even draw his arm back. Just then, the altar was torn down and the ashes poured out (just like the prophet just said). He was astonished (obviously) and asked the man to come to heal him, and God did. Then he wanted him to come to his house and have dinner together and get his reward. The prophet declined, as God told him not to eat or drink on the route that he took - he had to go another way home (sounds absurd on the surface, but regardless of what God asks, we must obey). 

Meanwhile, there was another old prophet who heard about what happened. He saddled up on his donkey and went to find the man, sitting under an oak tree. He said to the man sitting by the tree, come home with me and eat some dinner. He refused, because God had told him not to. But the prophet told him that God had told him otherwise. So, without consenting God, he decided to go with him. Disobedience leads to an unfortunate end for him. While they are sitting there eating together, the Word of the Lord comes and reveals that he just disobeyed, reminding him that he wasn't supposed to eat or drink on the route he came. He leaves, only to be killed by a lion on the road. The old prophet heard about that, and went to go get him. The lion was sitting there next to the dead man and his donkey (the lion was of God, as it is not customary for a lion to kill and not eat). They brought the body back and buried him. Long story short - God cannot be fooled or mocked.

The people stayed in sin and did not turn from evil…

1 Kings 14 Jeroboam’s son became ill. So, he sent his wife in disguise (so nobody would know that Jeroboam was seeking God’s counsel) to find Ahijah the prophet and give him gifts and seek him. God already warned Ahijah that she was coming, even though disguised. When she came in, Ahijah the prophet knew it was her. He explained to her that when she gets home, her son will die because of the sins of Jeroboam, and that the kingdom will be torn away from them. Jeroboam did not fear God and obey like David, and like he was warned. In addition, all the males of Jeroboam, both slave and free, would die. It happened just as the Lord said it would. Jeroboam died after reigning for 22 years. His son, Nadab ruled in his place.

Rehoboam reigned in Judah for 17 years and did evil in God’s sight. He built high places and worshipped other gods. Five years into his reign, the king of Egypt attacked and took all the treasures of Solomon’s temple, including his gold shields! So, they made some shields out of bronze. Concluding: There was war between Israel & Judah (Jeroboam & Rehoboam) continually…

To sum it all up:

• If God gives instructions, obey - REGARDLESS. 
• If God speaks to you about something and somebody contradicts it, go to God and find out if what you have learned is true or not!
• Do not fear man, nor what man can or cannot do. James 4:17 says, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” Do not be in sin because of another man’s advice or even their convictions. We have to stand before the King of Kings someday - and he is the one that we have to answer to. Not the people you may be trying to please! Submit to Christ today and pursue wisdom that He gives you!