Disatrous Dynasty

O. T. #785  "Disastrous Dynasty"
June 30, 2016
1 Kings 14


LET IT GLOW

The way the author wrote this book is different. He jumps back and forth between events of Israel, the 10 northern tribes, (ruled by Jeroboam) and Judah, the southern tribe (ruled by Rehoboam). So it will take some effort to keep them straight as we read through.

Jeroboam had a chance to be as great a king as David and as wealthy as Solomon, but he turned from God and led Israel into idolatry by making two golden calves to worship, in spite of being promised a lasting dynasty if he remained faithful to God. His dynasty became a disastrous dynasty. This man-made religion was designed for convenience of the people, so they wouldn't have to travel to Jerusalem to offer their sacrifices and participate in Jewish festivals.

Let's take a look at this family now. We see Abijah, who is Jeroboam's son, become fatally ill. I found this interesting.

Abijah means my father is the Lord, in Hebrew. His name indicates that Jeroboam desired to be regarded as a worshiper of the Lord at the time of Abijah's birth. (MacArthur)

 His father was concerned that he would have no successor to his throne if his son died. Do you reckon that the king knew his false gods did not have the power to make his son get well, nor could they predict his future, so the king turned to Prophet Ahijah. (He had earlier given the prediction to Jeroboam that he would become king over Israel, and was an old man with poor eyesight by this time, since Jeroboam had reigned 22 years.)

So Jeroboam devised a scheme:

• He sent his wife to Prophet Ahijah, disguised as a poor woman bearing meager gifts for the prophet. The purpose for this was so the mother could ask the prophet what would happen to  the king's son.
• The mother obeyed.
• However, before the mother arrived, the Lord had revealed the king's scheme and His answer.
• Ahijah asked the mother why she was pretending to be someone else. Then he told her the bad news, a message from God, to give her husband, King Jeroboam.
• God had promoted Jeroboam from the ranks of the common people to rule over His people Israel.
• Jeroboam had not been faithful like His servant David.
• Jeroboam did not obey God's commands, follow God with all his heart, doing whatever He wanted.
• Jeroboam's wickedness surpassed that of Saul and Solomon.
• He made other gods for himself and provoked God to anger with the golden calves.

Do we pretend to be something we are not? Are we pretending to be a devout Christian when we are not?

LET IT GROW

What was the verdict that the prophet delivered from God to Jeroboam?

• Since Jeroboam turned his back on God, He would bring disaster on his dynasty and destroy his male descendants, both slave and free, and burn up his royal dynasty as one burns up trash until it is gone.
• The members of Jeroboam's family who die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and those who die in the fields will be eaten by vultures.

The prophet told the mother to go home, as before she entered the city, her child would die. He would be mourned by Israel and be the only member of her family to be buried properly. God was going to raise up a king over Israel who destroy the family of Jeroboam that day. The people would be uprooted from their land because Jeroboam sinned and made Israel in along with him.
It happened as the prophet had told the mother.

LET IT GO

Beware of my sins affecting my family.

Keep the Lord as the God of my heart.

He Lost it All

O.T. #784  "He Lost it All"
June 29, 2016
1 Kings 13-Part 2


LET IT GLOW

King Jeroboam of Israel encountered a man of God who prophesied that priests would be killed on the altar he set up in pagan worship. It actually happened 300 years later by Josiah. When Jeroboam ordered the prophet to be seized, pointing to him, his hand became paralyzed in that position and he couldn't move it. At the same time, he saw the altar crack and ashes pour out from it as the prophet predicted. This was a startling awakening for the king. He asked the man of God to ask God to restore his hand. So the man of God prayed to God and the king's hand was restored.
Jeroboam tried to trap the man by offering food, drink, and a gift to the prophet, but God had already told him to not do so. And he left Bethel a different way home. It is best to not have fellowship with unbelievers. They may persuade our heart to turn from God.
But even after this, Jeroboam did not turn from his evil ways. He continued to choose priests from the common people. The tribe of Levite was chosen by God to be Israel's only priesthood. Anyone else serving would be under the penalty of death.

We know that Jeroboam's dynasty ended later on, (doomed for destruction) due to his double-mindedness and disobedience to God. He tried to seek favors from God through this. (Holman)

Don't let other people determine the will of God for your life. Obey what God's Word says to you, regardless of the cost.  (Wiersbe)

LET IT GROW

So I got curious as to how Rehoboam's dynasty ended and had to research it. Here is what I found, for a little history review of things to come for Israel.

Rose Book of Bible & Christian History Time Lines revealed:

• There are 19 kings of Israel (excluding Judah) listed, having lived from 910 B.C. to 722 B.C. after Jeroboam I.
• Jeroboam set up his northern kingdom in 931 B.C.
• During that time, King Ahab married Jezebel, who worshiped the Canaanite god Baal.
• Elijah prophesied, and chose Elisha as his successor.
• King Ahaziah  became king, then Jehoram.
• Syria dominates Israel (841-807)
• The temple of Baal is destroyed in Jerusalem.
• Joash, at age 7, became king and repairs the temple.
• Uzziah reigns while God raises up prophets Hosea, Micah, Jonah, Amos, Isaiah.
• Then Israel ceases to exist in 722 as it ell to the Assyrians. Other people settle in the land of Israel who are deported from other regions, called Samaritans.

That is a lot of history, but we can see that the downfall and eventual conquering of Israel as due to their worshiping pagan gods and establishing idols, forsaking God, the One and only.

Does your family have the history of Christian believers and servants of God? Will your dynasty include children of God? Something to think about, especially with the Islamic movement to conquer to world.

LET IT GO

Encourage others to remain faithful to Jesus, especially my family.

Be true to the True God.

Which Road Will We Take?

O. T. #783  "Which Road Will We Take?"
June 28, 2016
1 Kings 13
The old prophet asked them, Which way did he go? They showed their father which road the man of God had taken.  1 Kings 13:12

LET IT GLOW

Which road will we take? Will we take the road of wholehearted obedience or half-hearted obedience? We may start out on the road of obedience and not finish our journey on it. If we disobey  part of God's instructions, then it is not wholehearted obedience we are living. Today we read of a man of God who had chosen his road.

We have become familiar with the two kings of Israel and Judah-Rehoboam and Jeroboam. When King Jeroboam established pagan idol worship in the northern tribes, those who sincerely wanted to worship the LORD, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem, where they could offer sacrifices to the LORD, the God of their ancestors.(2 Chronicles 11:16)

When Jeroboam went to personally offer his sacrifices on an altar in Bethel to the golden calves he made, something spectacular:

• The Lord had sent a man of God ahead of time from Jerusalem to Bethel with a message for him from God.
• This man spoke to that particular altar, saying that a child named Josiah would be born into the dynasty of David.
• On this altar Josiah would sacrifice the priests from the pagan shrines who come to burn incense and human bones would be burned upon it.
• That man of God spoke of a  sign from God to prove his message was true-this altar will split apart, and its ashes will be poured out on the ground. (verse 3)
• When Jeroboam heard this message, he pointed at the man and shouted, "Seize that man!"
• Instantly the king's became paralyzed in that position and he couldn't pull it back.
• At the same time, a wide crack appeared in the altar, and ashes poured out, just as the man had predicted in is message from the LORD.

It would have been a hard thing to go to the king and deliver such a message. He was taking his life into his own hands by doing so. The king had the power to kill whomever he wished. He was taking a chance on loosing his life, but went as an act of obedience to God.

This prophecy came true as recorded in 2 Kings 23. He destroyed the shrines and altars to the false gods which Jeroboam had established in Israel, some 300 years earlier.
Are we teaching our children that God is the only deity to be worshiped, warning them against worshiping false gods?


LET IT GROW

This story continues with that same man of God who gave the prediction left Bethel without eating or drinking anything as God had instructed him. However, there was an old prophet who had compromised his ministry, living among the Israeli idolaters and false system of worship without speaking out against it as disobedience to God's Commandments.

Look what happened next:

• This old prophet's sons came home and told their father what had occurred. He asked, Which way did he go? His sons showed their father which road the man of God had taken.
• The old prophet caught up with the man of God and lied to him, saying the Lord had gave him the message to bring him home with him and give food and drink to the man of God.
• While they were eating, the Lord told the old prophet to tell the man of God: You have defied the word of the LORD and have disobeyed the command the LORD your God gave you. You came back to this place and ate and drank where He told you not to eat and drink. Because of this your body will not be buried in the grave of your ancestors. (verses 21-22)
• So the man of God finished eating and drinking, rode on the old prophet's donkey out of  town.
• As he was traveling, a lion came out and killed him. His body lay on the rode, with the donkey and lion standing beside it, for passerbys to see.
• When the report of this incident reached the old prophet, he took the body of the man of God back to the town to mourn over and bury him there. So the message came to pass.
• The old prophet told his sons to buy him next to the man of God whenever he died.

Even after this happened, Jeroboam did not turn from his evil ways. (verse 33)
He kept on appointing common people for priests at his pagan shrines.
This became a great sin and resulted in the utter destruction of Jeroboam's dynasty from the face of the earth. (verse 34)

This man of God half-heartedly obeyed God's instructions and we see the result of it. We should beware lest we stumble into the same sins we are proclaiming against.
The great sin of one affected his whole family for generations to come and for the Israelites, too.

LET IT GO

Refuse to be tempted away from serving God with worldly things and ways.

Stay on the road of  wholehearted obedience.

Beware of temptations to which could lead me down the road of half-hearted obedience.

Faithfully finish my race with Jesus.
 

When Opportunities Come Knocking

O T. #782  "When Opportunities Come Knocking"
June 27, 2017
1 Kings 12-Part 2
I will place you on the throne of Israel, and you will rule over all that your heart desires. If you listen to what I tell you and follow my ways and do whatever I consider right, and if you obey my decrees and commands, as my servant David did, then I will always be with you. I will establish an enduring dynasty for you as I did for David, and I will give Israel to you.  1 Kings 11:37-38  NLT

LET IT GLOW

King Rehoboam, son of Solomon, blew it. He had a chance to reign over all of Israel, but he chose to not give the people their requests of lessening their labor load and taxes. So as a result, this kingdom divided their allegiance. The southern nation of Judah (and part of the tribe of Benjamin) was ruled by Rehoboam. The 10 northern tribes turned to Jeroboam for their king. An opportunity came knocking on Rehoboam's door, but he did not take it nor make the right choice. Do we make the best of an opportunity when it comes our way? Do we Ask God if it is His will before we jump into it? I have learned that not all things are God sent. When opportunities come our way, what do we do?

Who was this Jeroboam?

• He had been a servant of Solomon, who was a type of special project foreman.
• He was from Ephraim.
• As a young man, Jeroboam had been appointed by Solomon as leader over the building works around Jerusalem, and he rose to public notice. (MacArthur)
• Jeroboam was told about God's plans, through Prophet Ahijah, of a future division of the kingdom of Israel and his reigning over a part. Solomon heard about this and tried to have Jeroboam killed, so he fled for his life to Egypt.
• He was summoned from Egypt by the 10 northern tribes  to be their representative  and spokesman in dealing with King Rehoboam.
• He returned from Egypt, willing to do whatever to secure his reign a king over the 10 tribes, leading a rebellion. This charismatic man became a leader with much support.
• However, he was warned that if he disobeyed God's Word, then his family would be wiped out and not remain upon the throne, which eventually happened. (1 Kings 13:33-34)

As a result of God's judgment upon Rehoboam, He ordained a north-south split of Israel. (12:24). It was a political, not a religious division. Jeroboam was given the same great opportunity of serving and obeying God and having his own dynasty, but does he make the right choice?

Are we faithful to seek God's will and His way in our life and in our church? We have the choice to obey or rebel.

LET IT GROW

Sadly, Jeroboam did not stay faithful to God:

• He led the ten tribes of Israel away from worshiping God and into worshiping idols.
• He erected idols in Israel in order to keep the people from going to Jerusalem to worship so they would not change their alliance. 
• He appointed priests outside of the Levite tribe.
• Instead of depending upon God's promises, he relied upon his own cunning ways.
• He established the city of Shechem as his royal residence and capital.
• Jeroboam's mistake was similar to Aaron's-making 2 gold calves for idol worship.
• He even instituted a  religious festival.
• He even offered sacrifices to his idols on the altar at Bethel.

You know that is one thing God does not tolerate-idol worship in place of His being worshiped. He will not share His place in the throne, for He alone is God.

We must be extremely careful to keep God at the center of our life, first place, the One we give our time and allegiance to. Ask Him for discernment when an opportunity comes knocking on our door.

The Life Application Study Bible gives us some life lessons from this chapter:

Great opportunities are often destroyed by small decisions. Careless efforts to correct another's errors often lead to the same errors. Mistakes always occur when we attempt to take over God's role in the situation.

LET IT GO

Seek discernment as to whether an opportunity is from God.

Be careful in aiding others in their errors.

Do not take over God's role in a situation.

Stay surrendered to God.

Request Denied

O. T. #781  "Request Denied"
June 25, 2016
1 Kings 12
So the king paid no attention to the people.  1 Kings 12:15a  NLT

LET IT GLOW

Decisions, decisions. We make hundreds of them in a day's time-foolish and wise. Do we seek counsel for the important, tough ones? Do we sometimes have a hard time taking wise counsel, when it goes against the way we want to do things, against our will? Do we heed wise advise? When an event is God's doing, and not what we prefer, how do we react?  King Rehoboam had a decision to make and he made it foolishly, denying the request of his people.

And so the saga begins-the split, the division of the mighty kingdom of David and Solomon, of  Israel into two kingdoms.

• King Solomon's son, and inherited the throne, David's dynasty;
• summoned by the leaders of Israel, along with Jeroboam (who fled to Egypt so Solomon would not kill him), and the whole assembly of Israel;
• asked by the people of Israel to lighten their harsh labor load and heavy taxes imposed by Solomon, and then they would be loyal subjects of Rehoboam;
• wise to seek advise from his father's  counselors;
• unwise to reject their counsel of giving the people for what they asked;
• sought counsel from his younger advisors, with whom he had grown up-no lightened burdens of the complainers;
• taking too long to make this important decision-3 days;
• unwise in his decision-heavier burdens;
• unwise to pay no attention to the people-rejected their request.

 Do we realize how important decisions can be, resulting in a turn of events in our life, changing our direction? They can even cause us to stray from God's will or remain faithful in doing it.

Rehoboam did not want to be a servant. He did not do as the wise elders recommended, but what young, inexperienced and unwise men suggested. He had no idea as to how close he came to loosing it all. But for God's grace and the David Covenant, he would have. Yep, he made a foolish decision.


LET IT GROW

After the three days, Rehoboam revealed his decision to the people's pleas and complaints. Their king had paid no attention to his people, which was a foolish decision. This turn of events as actually the will of the LORD, thus fulfilling His message through Prophet Ahijah from Shiloh back in 11:29-33. (verse 15) As punishment for Solomon's sins of idolatry and disobedience, God was going to divide Solomon's kingdom, the beloved Israel.

Later, in verses 21-24, we read of Rehoboam's effort to form an 18,000 men of Judah and Benjamin tribes army, with the purpose of fighting against Jeroboam, to restore all of Israel to his reign, to fight those rebels.

But God spoke to Shemaiah, a man of God, who relayed His message to Rehoboam and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin:

• Do not fight against your relatives, the Israelites.
• Go back home.
• What is happening is God's doing!

What is God doing in your life, friend? Can you see His amazing work? Is He doing a working in your church, in your family, in your community, in your nation?

Rehoboam reigned as king over Judah and little Benjamin tribes, who formed the Southern kingdom. Remember this so you can keep straight the two kingdoms.
First Kings covers 125 years of history. Looking beyond this time, Judah (southern kingdom) went on to have 5 kings and Israel (northern kingdom) went on to have 8 kings rule them before Assyria conquered the northern and Babylon conquered the southern kingdoms.

Beware, lest we fall, since the wisest man (Solomon) and his son (Rehoboam), could fall into temptations way of sin, so can we.
Do we ask if advise we get is realistic, workable, and consistent with biblical principles?

LET IT GO

Seek godly counsel and God's counsel in His Word when making a decision.

discern the wisest way to go.

If my prayer, request, is denied by God, accept it as the best way for me.

If Only

O. T. #780  "If Only"
June 23, 2016
1 Kings 11-Part 3


LET IT GLOW

If only Solomon had not taken those foreign wives and concubines, then he would not have worshiped idols. He would not have had a divided his heart from God. If only he had stayed true to the One True God, then his son would not have lost most of the kingdom. If only Solomon had lifted the heavy tax burden, then he would have won back the love of the people. If only he had not disobeyed God, then his kingdom, after Solomon's death, would not have been divided into two kingdoms. If only...

In verse 29, Prophet Ahijah from Shiloh met Jeroboam as he was leaving Jerusalem. The prophet tore a new cloak, which he was wearing, into ten pieces, symbolizing God tearing the Solomon's kingdom from him and giving ten tribes to Jeroboam.
Because Solomon abandoned God, and worshiped the gods of the Amorites, God rejected Solomon's dynasty, though not completely. He did not please God, follow His ways, obey His decrees, nor regulations as David did. All of this was what the prophet told Jeroboam.

If only Solomon had...  (He reigned 40 years over Israel.)

Well, the good news is that not all of Israel would be taken from Solomon's family, due to David's faithfulness. Solomon's son Rehoboam would reign over the southern part of Israel, the tribes of Judah and little Benjamin.

LET IT GROW

God made some promises to Jeroboam:

• He would be placed on the throne of Israel.
• He would rule over all that his heart desired.
• If he listened to what God told him, and followed His ways, do whatever God considered right, obeyed God's decrees and commands, then God would always be with him.
• God would establish an enduring dynasty as He did for David, giving Israel to Jeroboam.

Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but he fled to Egypt until Solomon died.

He wrote to book of Ecclesiastes, with concluding thoughts:
Fear God and obey His commands, for this is everyone's duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

I do not want to come to the end of my life and think: If only I had served the Lord wholeheartedly, lived my Christian life extravagantly for Jesus, loved others extraordinarily, been obedient to His Word. so today is the day for me to do those. Shall you join me?

LET IT GO

                             ... of my selfishness and love others as Jesus did.
                             ... of control of my life and serve the Lord wholeheartedly.
                             ... and obey His Word.
                            

From Wise to Stupid

O. T. #779  "From Wise to Stupid"
June 22, 2016
1 Kings 11-Part 2
...the God of Israel says: I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and I will give ten to the tribes to you! 1 Kings 11:31

LET IT GLOW

I'm sure we can all recall some stupid things we did when we were young or teens. Things that may have had bad repercussions for years to come. Regretful now years later, but we didn't heed the warnings then, did we? Solomon, though the wisest man on earth, made some mistakes, too. Stupid one, I call them. Yep, he went from wise to stupid, in my books.

Solomon went astray, led away from God by his 700 wives and 300 concubines. These foreign women worshiped foreign gods  in the form of idols. As Solomon built idols for them to worship, he joined them. Now if there is one sin that God will not tolerate, it is idolatry. He demands to be first place, the One and Only God, and  rightfully so. His women and worship were as sign of this king's double disobedience.

Now he is going to reap what he has sown. We see the wisest man on earth turning into the most stupid of all. Solomon's divided heart loved the world and tried to serve God. We can't serve two masters, for we love one and hate the other.
A divided heart leads to a divided kingdom. Today, believers bring division into their marriage, their families, and their churches when they fail to guard their hears and set them on eternal concerns.
(D. Jeremiah)

Being a believer, follower, and servant of Jesus Christ is not a part-time thing. It requires our all.
God kept His word to Solomon after his death, with Solomon's kingdom being divided into two kingdoms-northern and southern, with Rehoboam, Solomon's son, reigning as king of Judah and Benjamin, the southern tribes. (We  will read about this in the next  chapters.)

God keeps His promises. There may be times we wish it not so, but He is faithful. It is up to us to be thankful for them, to be in the position to receive them with praise to Him.


LET IT GROW

Warren Wiersbe tells us that God sent several disciplines to bring the erring king back to the faith:

1. A warning message, found in verses 1-13, where God threatened to give Solomon's kingdom away to another.
2. An invasion by Edom, verses 14-22, as King Hadad took revenge on Israel for David's slaughter of Edom (2 Samuel 8). Egypt turned out to be an ally with Edom.
3. Trouble with Rezon, verses 23-25, occurred when this band of warriors took Damascus, harassing the borders for many years, and established a strong dynasty with kings of Syria that troubled Israel in the ninth century.
4. Competition from Jeroboam, in verses 26-43, whom God chose to be the king over Israel's ten northern tribes, and Prophet Ahijah shared with him.

When things are going good for us, that is when we need to be closest to God. Although our situation is well, we are to give God the glory, for He is amazing God.

LET IT GO

Heed the warnings which God sends my way.

Search my heart to see if there be anything dividing it from God.