#rebellion against Rehoboam

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Revolt against Rehoboam

1 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt. 3 They sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came and said to Rehoboam, 4 ‘Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke that he placed on us, and we will serve you.’ 5 He said to them, ‘Come to me again in three days.’ So the people went away.

6 Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the older men who had attended his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, ‘How do you advise me to answer this people?’ 7 They answered him, ‘If you will be kind to this people and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants for ever.’ 8 But he rejected the advice that the older men gave him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and now attended him. 9 He said to them, ‘What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, “Lighten the yoke that your father put on us”?’ 10 The young men who had grown up with him said to him, ‘Thus should you speak to the people who said to you, “Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must lighten it for us”; tell them, “My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins. 11 Now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”’

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had said, ‘Come to me again the third day.’ 13 The king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men; 14 he spoke to them in accordance with the advice of the young men, ‘My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’ 15 So the king did not listen to the people, because it was a turn of affairs brought about by God so that the Lord might fulfil his word, which he had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.

16 When all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, the people answered the king,

‘What share do we have in David?    We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Each of you to your tents, O Israel!    Look now to your own house, O David.’

So all Israel departed to their tents. 17 But Rehoboam reigned over the people of Israel who were living in the cities of Judah. 18 When King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was taskmaster over the forced labour, the people of Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam hurriedly mounted his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. — 2 Chronicles 10 | New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA) New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved. Cross References: 2 Samuel 17:14; 2 Samuel 20:1; 1 Kings 4:6; 1 Kings 5:13-14; 1 Kings 11:29; 1 Kings 11:40; 1 Kings 12:1; 1 Kings 12:7; 1 Kings 12:15; 1 Kings 12:19; Job 8:8-9; Proverbs 15:1; Proverbs 13:20; Proverbs 18:23; Ezekiel 37:16; Revelation 9:3; Revelation 9:5; Revelation 9:10

[allscripture]

Israel Rebels Against Rehoboam

12 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king.

2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt.

3 So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him:

4 “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

5 Rehoboam answered, “Go away for three days and then come back to me.” So the people went away.

6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked.

7 They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”

8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.

9 He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, “These people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist.

11 My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

12 Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.”

13 The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders,

14 he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.”

15 So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.

16 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king:

“What share do we have in David,  what part in Jesse’s son? To your tents, Israel!

Look after your own house, David!” So the Israelites went home.

17 But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.

18 King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. 

19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

20 When all the Israelites heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the house of David.

21 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mustered all Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—a hundred and eighty thousand able young men—to go to war against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam son of Solomon.

22 But this word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God:

23 “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, to all Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people,

24 ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’” So they obeyed the word of the Lord and went home again, as the Lord had ordered.

1 Kings 12:1-24 (NIV)

[lordgodjehovahsway]

1 Kings 12: Jeroboam Returns To Israel From Egypt

1 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. 

2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. 

3 So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: 

4 “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

5 Rehoboam answered, “Go away for three days and then come back to me.” So the people went away.

6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked.

7 They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”

8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. 

9 He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, “These people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 

11 My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

12 Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” 

13 The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, 

14 he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” 

15 So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.

16 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king:

“What share do we have in David,     what part in Jesse’s son? To your tents, Israel!     Look after your own house, David!”

So the Israelites went home. 

17 But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.

18 King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. 

19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

20 When all the Israelites heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the house of David.

21 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mustered all Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—a hundred and eighty thousand able young men—to go to war against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam son of Solomon.

22 But this word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God: 

23 “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, to all Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, 

24 ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’” So they obeyed the word of the Lord and went home again, as the Lord had ordered.

Golden Calves at Bethel and Dan

25 Then Jeroboam fortified Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went out and built up Peniel.

26 Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. 

27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam.”

28 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” 

29 One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. 

30 And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.

31 Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites. 

32 He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. This he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. And at Bethel he also installed priests at the high places he had made. 

33 On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel. So he instituted the festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to make offerings.

[600shekels]

2 Chronicles 10. "Whips and Scorpions."

Israel Rebels Against Rehoboam

10 Rehoboam "Expansion" went to Shechem "the shoulder", for all Israel had gone there to make him king. 

2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. 

="May the people contend with and respect the peace."

3 So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: 4 “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

5 Rehoboam answered, “Come back to me in three days.” So the people went away.

6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked.

7 They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”

8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. 9 He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, “The people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11 My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

12 Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” 13 The king answered them harshly. Rejecting the advice of the elders, 14 he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” 15 So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from God, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.

16 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king:

“What share do we have in David,     what part in Jesse’s son? To your tents, Israel!     Look after your own house, David!”

So all the Israelites went home. 17 But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.

18 King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram,[a] who was in charge of forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

Rehoboam gets a bad rap from history but he was given a difficult job- rehabituating a new generation of apeman to the ways of his father, Solomon, who chased Jeroboam "contend and respect" out of town because he would not contend or respect.

To teach respect for the law and its beneficiaries is to use the whip. A whip, a snake is said to have "hot venom" which is said to build enthusiasm for the Law which Solomon certainly accomplished.

To use the scorpion, cold venom is to force a Torah scholar to be critical and assertive for educational purposes, his “sting” does not stem from a flare of temper, which would cause him to lose his equilibrium. Instead, he acts out of a sense of balance and clear thinking. It is specifically the coldness that allows him to act in a correct manner.

Three Days later, the amount of time the Torah says it takes for the world to become dry of the need for bloodshed to solve its problems, the people refused to relent and continued to ask Rehoboam to relax the rules.

He said not. Things became tense and the beginning of the end of the Kingdom of Israel went underway.

Why does the Tanakh interrupt Solomon's love story with history to show a bleak confrontation between the People and the King of Israel?

As good as it gets, it can always get worse. It is the King and the Court's job to tell the world this is not acceptable and it is their duty to maintain the highest standards of Torah.

The fathers in the Court of Solomon did not do what they were supposed to do, leaving the king to fend for himself and the Israel's world devolved.

[hatrackley]

Who is Newman?

King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. 2 Chronicles 10:18-19 The king sent this reply:To Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the secretary and the rest of their associates…

[walkthroughtheword]

Reading for February 12th                  2 Chronicles 13-15 Landon Gaxiola Chapter 13 begins by introducing us to a new character in this round table of kings, as we meet King Abijah. King Abijah has a very short lived reign, but significant enough to mention. So what conclusions can we draw from the reign of Abijah? Before we dig into the text, we can see on the surface level that God did not bless his reign. The other kings we’ve discussed this week (Solomon; Rehoboam) have had decently long rulings before they rested with their fathers. This was due to having somewhat of a relationship with God. Now, we read about Abijah appealing to King Jeroboam. King Jeroboam led the rebellion against King Rehoboam, and Abijah wants all the tribes back under his rule. Abijah uses the Lord’s name as a figurative smoke screen to his selfish intent. He wants it all! Despite his selfishness, the Lord delivered them in their time of need. King Jeroboam took advantage of the negotiation period before a battle and ambushed Judah without warning. Judah was surrounded and could not do anything but cry out to God. So often I am reminded of God’s goodness and protection. When I hit a roadblock in life all I must do is cry out to God and he will deliver me, time and time again. This event was about the only thing worth noting about Abijah’s reign. He lived in sin and rejected God. This shows us that one repentant act or one instance of belief will not save us or deliver us. He did not have active faith and trust in God that would carry him to a long and blessed life. God delivered his people from the physical attacks of Jeroboam, and he delivered his people from the spiritual attacks – or maybe it is better put as a lack of spiritual defense – of Abijah. He actively rejected God and his providence. A breath of fresh air. Asa was the son of Abijah and ruled righteously, honoring God and his people throughout. After a poor run of kings, any decent king would have been a blessing, but Asa was a truly good king. Asa did not live in sin, in fact, he didn’t even tolerate his people sinning! He actively worked to eradicate sin completely. The thing about sin is, if we destroy it we must replace it with something of God, or our human nature will result in us going right back to sin. Asa deleted the opportunity for sin and commanded his people to seek the Lord. He could not force them to, but he could provide a moral direction and Godly example for his people. The Lord blessed Asa’s reign with peace and deliverance from their enemies. He gave his people rest that they sorely needed. Rehoboam, Abijah, even Solomon caused unrest in their nation by their rejection of God. They were put into possibly the best position to succeed and caved to their sin nature. Where Solomon let sin in under the false idea of being able to keep his lives separate, Asa worked to completely remove it from the land and restored the altar of the Lord. Where Rehoboam’s fault was not purely seeking God, Asa sought God and commanded his people to do the same. Where Abijah lived in sin and called out to God in the one moment where he was desperate, Asa pursued God in the lows and highs, and God blessed him for it. There was no war until the 35th year of Asa’s reign. God kept the peace for his people when they had their hearts sold out for him. That is the lesson we may learn, our hearts in all out pursuit of God result in a life blessed and watched over by our Savior.

[inhiswordihope]

CHRIST

Merry Christmas! It is Christmas day. If there is anything worth pondering on, today, it is not merely just another holiday. I’ve enjoyed this quiet day with my family. And extremely grateful for another Christmas season to reflect on the best gift of all- Jesus Christ.

“The chief and leading theme of all the prophets is their aim to keep the people in eager anticipation of the coming Christ.”  Martin Luther

There are many Christological texts in Isaiah which affirm and give us a comprehensive prophetic view of Jesus Christ in the entire Old Testament. He will judge the nations (2:4), Immanuel (Isaiah 11:1), foretelling of His coming (Isaiah 40:3-5), virgin birth (7:14), His sacrificial death (52:13-53:12), and His return (60:2-3). Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd (40:11), suffering servant (50:6), and light to the Gentiles (49:6).

Isaiah, the Messianic Prophet, whose name means “YHWH (the LORD) is salvation.” He was a prophet and messenger of God. Salvation found 26 times in the Book of Isaiah. More than any Old Testament Prophet, he served and prophesied to all classes of people (kings to common folk) in Judah. He served 50 years during the reigns of last 4 kings of Judah in the capital city of Jerusalem.

God’s people, the Israelites once was united. Saul, the first King from the tribe of Benjamin. The second king was David, son of Jesse, from the tribe of Judah. David was followed by his son Solomon. King Solomon was the last of the kings of the United Kingdom. His sins were the reason for the division of the United Kingdom.

In came one of the great “turning points” in the history of Israel. One that is crucial to our understanding our history as Christ followers. The division of the United Kingdom is a very significant turning point in the history of the nation Israel. The two kingdoms at war with each other and unwilling to make alliances. The kingdom divided into two nations with two kings. When Solomon’s son Rehoboam took the throne, ten tribes rejected him and instead made Solomon’s servant, Jeroboam their king. They became the northern kingdom with Samaria as its capital. The southern kingdom (comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin) became Judah with Jerusalem as its capital. David’s descendants, Rehoboam, became their king and Judah remained faithful to the throne in Jerusalem.

The two nations were in conflict with one another and greatly weakened by division. This great division made both kingdoms vulnerable to foreign powers and enemies. Both would look to other nations even other Gentile gods to align with. Both turned away from the God to other pagan gods. After a long succession of wicked kings in both kingdoms, Assyria attacked Israel (northern kingdom) and eventually carried off its people into exile.

Isaiah's ministry occurred at a critical time in Judah's history. Judah in rebellion and idolatry and led away from the true God by the corrupt kings in power. Assyria now had their eyes on Judah. Judah had to decide whether it would submit to Assyria or resist the empire. Isaiah called Judah to the latter option and rebuked the people for their sin and called them to repentance (1:18–20; 7–8). He prohibited human alliances and pleaded with the nation to trust in the Lord. He rebuked them for their sins and spoke boldly about God’s judgement. The prophet’s message though during this troubled time was not about preserving an earthly kingdom or nation, but pointed the people to a different kind of salvation - a spiritual deliverance. Though the God saved Judah from the Assyrians, they would later fall to the Babylonians and be carried off as exiles. Yes, it was God whom brought the Assyrians against the North. He will bring the Babylonians against the Assyrians. He will send the Southern Kingdom into exile in Babylon (2 Kings 23-24; 2 Chron. 36).  He will bring the Persians against the Babylonians.

Comfort

If we didn’t know the story, we would probably conclude it was all over for the nation of Israel. The covenant blessings God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob now void. The promised Messiah was supposed to sit on the throne of David. What now? What hope was there?

The Messiah, directly spoken of in more than half of the chapters between Isaiah 40 and Isaiah 61. Undoubtedly, the most important chapter pertaining to mankind’s salvation is found in Isaiah 53.

This prophecy explains how much He would suffer during His sacrifice for man’s sins. Despised and rejected, but by His stripes, we are healed. This pivotal chapter tells us that He would come to give His life as a sacrifice for our sins. Politically, Israel and Judah were wiped out, but the spiritual Israel and Judah - those who believe in the Messiah would endure and gain the victory over all the world.

CHRIST

As Isaiah points to the destruction of the surrounding nations, we are reminded that salvation can only come from the Lord and will not come about due to the efforts of any political leader, regardless of how great or how strong that leader is. Isaiah points us to something more important than political or social deliverance. He points all of us to the deliverance that lasts forever - the salvation of our souls.

With this in mind, it makes sense that the New Testament writers quote from the Book of Isaiah so often. Though even the people in the New Testament living during the time of Jesus were still looking for physical deliverance and political victories over their enemies. They had such a hard time believing that Jesus could be the Messiah because He didn’t have the characteristics of a political deliverer. He came as a son of a carpenter whose own siblings didn’t believe who he said is was. They failed to see Jesus as the Messiah who was born this day over two millennia ago to fulfill the prophecy to deliver His elect from sin, death, and Satan.

Colossians 1:16-17 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

I can honestly say my mind has been overwhelmed with much this year. A lot has happened in 2020. I don’t know if you all see it as well. Our Nation and even our churches are divided just as the United Kingdom was divided in the Old Testament. We disagree and are at war with many things the world throws our way. In turn, we also seek to idols, leaders, and try to find common alliances with others in hopes that they would save us. We forget our common foe- satan and the power and principalities in the heavenly realm. The father of lies who seeks to destroy all humankind. Oh, how we desperately in need of the Holy Spirit and discernment. I pray God would grant us all repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth and may come to our senses and escape from the snare of the devil after being captured by him to do his will (2 Tim. 2:26). There is one body and one Spirit. My heart has been heavy this year, but it ends today with the Gospel of hope and comfort in Christ.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Praise God! He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He would be called the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

[timhatchlive]

The Problem with Marrying Outside the Faith

Many people think the Bible's prohibition in the Old Testament of Israel intermarrying with other nations is a proof text prohibiting interracial marriage in our day. Nothing could be further from the truth. The prohibition in the Old Testament against intermarriage with the pagan nations around Israel was a prohibition against inter-FAITH marriage. For when two people from different religions wed, they inevitably sway to one faith or another. And the Lord God knew the pull of seeking to please those surrounding nations who had been long established in the land was very strong for his people. He knew their hearts would be drawn away to serve their gods. Such is the case under the reign of Solomon's son. It doesn't take long for the southern kingdom to quickly degeneration into a people very much like the pagans they were supposed to drive out. Rehoboam leads Israel into blatant rebellion: 1 Kings 14:22–24 (ESV) And Judah did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins that they committed, more than all that their fathers had done. 23 For they also built for themselves high places and pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, 24 and there were also male cult prostitutes in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations that the LORD drove out before the people of Israel.

These things listed are the age old sins of humanity's lust. For those who believe in Evolution, they must explain why we never learn (evolve) from the destructive nature of our flesh and revert back to the same old sins of the ancients whenever we turn from scripture. The Asherim were wooden representations of the female deity and male cult prostitutes were exactly what you think they were. Today we see modern Feminism destroying the beauty of the sexual differences and homosexuality not only being tolerated but celebrated in every media and educational outlet possible. What we see from this moment in Israel's history is that those things our age calls "progress" is really REGRESS into the ancient practices God forbid then and does so today because they are destructive to us. The results of their sin is not swift judgment from the heavens. God is patient with us and was patient with His people. He let them see what their sins would do. In this case, as with many nations and peoples since, these practices led to national weakness and poverty. Notice the description: 1 Kings 14:25–28 (ESV) In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. 26 He took away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s house. He took away everything. He also took away all the shields of gold that Solomon had made, 27 and King Rehoboam made in their place shields of bronze, and committed them to the hands of the officers of the guard, who kept the door of the king’s house. 28 And as often as the king went into the house of the LORD, the guard carried them and brought them back to the guardroom.

Almost poetically, gold shields are replaced with bronze shields and the great king of Israel has to be guarded as he goes from house to temple. The proof is in the text: when we walk away from the Lord we walk away from the strength, power and defense He proves to be for us our our nation. 

But all this began with Solomon. The text repeats a phrase on purpose that describes Rehoboam:

1 Kings 14:21 (ESV) Now Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite.

1 Kings 14:31 (ESV) And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite. And Abijam his son reigned in his place.

Solomon's interfaith marriage with Naamah the Ammonite shaped Rehoboam far more than all the warnings Solomon wrote in Proverbs regarding the dangers of the immoral woman and sexual infidelity. This is what we MUST consider when looking at our own lives. If we reject God's Word and join ourselves to pagan worshippers, they will turn us away from him and we lose in the end. 

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[yhwhrulz]

Wayside Chapel Daily Devotional 4th August 2022

Morning August 4

2 Chronicles 12:1,5 1After Rehoboam's position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD…

5Then the prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and to the leaders of Judah who had assembled in Jerusalem for fear of Shishak, and he said to them, "This is what the LORD says, 'You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandon you to Shishak.'"

Rehoboam began with greed and immediately lost two-thirds of the nation. That did not humble him. He continued in his pride. After strengthening his army and defenses, he abandoned the law of the LORD. As the leader went, so went the nation. They followed his bad example in forsaking God.

An innumerable army, led by the king of Egypt, came against him and captured all the cities he had fortified and armed. One by one they fell. Then the prophet Shemaiah came and told Rehoboam that since they had abandoned God, God had abandoned them. Since they wanted to proceed without God, God allowed them to. What would our life be like without the protection of the hand of God? When a man or family or nation is walking in the fear of the LORD, they are surrounded by a protecting influence. You will never know all the things the LORD spared you from that the enemy planned against your life. That is why the end of the LORD's prayer says, "Deliver us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13).

When we step outside of a trusting dependent relationship with God, that invisible hand of protection is lifted and the enemy is allowed in to bring us to our senses. It worked for Rehoboam. He along with his leaders humbled themselves and said, "The LORD is just." Then God could have mercy on them and allowed Jerusalem to remain, though subjugated. All the treasure amassed in the temple was carried away by the enemy. Sin has consequences, and though we are allowed to continue and are restored relationally, there is a great loss because of our rebellion.

Consider: Draw near to God now so that He does not have to use tragedy to draw you back.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Rebellion Against Rehoboam

1 Rehoboam went to Shechem, because all Israel had gone there to make him king.

2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat was still in Egypt where he had fled from King Solomon, he heard about this, and he returned from Egypt. 3 So the people sent for him.

Then Jeroboam and the entire assembly of Israel came and said to Rehoboam, 4 “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now lighten your father’s harsh service and the heavy yoke he laid on us, and we will serve you.”

5 Rehoboam said to them, “Leave me for three days and then return to me.” So the people left.

6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was alive. He asked, “What answer do you advise me to give to these people?”

7 They said to him, “If today you become a servant to this people—if you serve them and answer them with kind words—then they will be your servants for all time.”

8 But he rejected the advice which the old men offered him. Instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. 9 He said to them, “What answer do you advise that we should give to these people who said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke that your father laid on us’?”

10 The young men who had grown up with him said, “This is what you should say to this people who said to you, ‘Your father laid a heavy yoke on us. Now lighten our yoke.’ Tell them this: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11 My father imposed a heavy yoke on you. I will make your yoke heavier. My father punished you with whips, but I will punish you with scorpions.’”

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, because the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.”

13 The king answered the people harshly, because he had rejected the advice which the old men had offered. 14 He spoke to them as the young men advised him: “My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke. My father punished you with whips, but I will punish you with scorpions.”

15 The king did not listen to the people, because this turn of events was from the Lord, in order to fulfill his word, which the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah from Shiloh.

16 All Israel saw that the king had not listened to them. So the people answered the king:

What share do we have in David?

No portion in the son of Jesse!

To your tents, Israel!

Now look after your own house, David!

So Israel went to their tents.

17 Rehoboam continued to rule over the people of Israel who were living in the cities of Judah.

18 King Rehoboam sent out Adoram, who was in charge of forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, was able to get in his chariot to flee to Jerusalem.

19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David until this day.

Jeroboam Becomes King of Israel

20 When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. No tribe was left which followed the house of David, except the tribe of Judah alone.

(2 Chronicles 11:1-4)

21 When Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem, he assembled the whole house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand specially chosen soldiers, to fight against the house of Israel and to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon.

22 But the word of God came to Shemaiah, the man of God: 23 “Say the following to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin and to the rest of the people. 24 This is what the Lord says. Do not attack and do not fight against your brothers, the people of Israel. Go home, every one of you, for this turn of events is from me.”

So they listened to the word of the Lord, and they returned home, just as the Lord said. 25 But Jeroboam fortified Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and he lived there. From there he also went out and fortified Penuel.

The Sin of Jeroboam Son of Nebat

26 But Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingship will go back to the house of David. 27 If this people goes up to offer sacrifices at the House of the Lord in Jerusalem, then the hearts of the people will return to their master, Rehoboam king of Judah. Then they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.”

28 After the king sought advice, he made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much trouble for you. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!” 29 He set up one in Bethel and the other one in Dan.

30 This sin took hold, and the people traveled as far as Dan to worship. 31 Jeroboam also made shrines on the high places, and he appointed priests from all kinds of people, even though they were not Levites. 32 Jeroboam instituted a festival in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the festival that is held in Judah. He offered sacrifices on the altar. He did this in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. He appointed priests in Bethel for the high places he had made. 33 He instituted sacrifices on the altar which he had made in Bethel, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month which he chose on his own. He instituted a festival for the people of Israel. He went up to the altar to send offerings up in smoke. — 1 Kings 12 | Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV) The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Cross References: Genesis 12:6; Genesis 28:19; Exodus 1:13-14; Exodus 29:34; Exodus 32:4; Leviticus 23:33-34; Numbers 15:39; Deuteronomy 2:30; Deuteronomy 12:5; Judges 9:6; 1 Samuel 8:11; 2 Samuel 20:24; 1 Kings 4:1; 1 Kings 11:13; 1 Kings 11:26; 1 Kings 11:32; 1 Kings 13:1; 1 Kings 13:32; 2 Kings 13:2; 2 Chronicles 10:7; 2 Chronicles 10:19; 2 Chronicles 11:1; Psalm 120:1; Proverbs 18:23; Isaiah 31:7; John 13:8

[dailyaudiobible]

06/13/2022 DAB Transcript

1 Kings 11:1-12:19, Acts 9:1-25, Psalms 131:1-3, Proverbs 17:4-5

Today is the 13th day of June welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I’m Brian it is great to be here with you today, great to be here with you any day, great to be here with you every day as we move forward in the Scriptures and take the next step forward together. And that next step of course will lead us back into the book of first Kings. We are enjoying a time of peace and prosperity in the nation of Israel. And as we’ve talked about on a number of occasions this really is the pinnacle of the experience that we worked from Abraham all the way through all of the trials of the children of Israel until now and Solomon brings them to their finest hour. And we've been enjoying that for a couple of days watching all of the developments in Israel. Today is where we kinda begin to make the turn. Things begin to slide in the wrong direction and we’ll see that as we go forward. Today first Kings chapter 11 verse 1 through 12 verse 19.

Commentary:

Okay. So, we have some fairly profound transitions that have taken place in the Bible today in both old and new Testaments in our reading. In the book of first Kings, we have come to the hand of King Solomon's reign, and we see that the end of his reign and his latter years were years in which he drifted and fell away from God. It was his foreign wives who worshiped other gods, grew up worshiping other gods, but he took them as wives and provided for their worship in the country of Israel to false gods and made that available and drifted away. So, like this wisest person on earth who brings Israel to their mountaintop experience doesn't finish well. The wisest man in the world didn't finish well. That's pretty monumental to even consider, especially after all we read about who Solomon was and what he knew and what he accomplished. But his wives seduced his heart away from God, and he finished poorly, and God came to Solomon and stripped the kingdom away. And He didn't do it in his lifetime, but He told him He would strip it away in the lifetime of his son. Well, we met that son, the successor to the throne. His name was Rehoboam. We also read the story of a man named Jeroboam who a prophet came and told him that he would to be the king of 10 of the tribes of Israel one day. When Solomon found out about that he tried to kill Jeroboam, who had to flee and live in exile in Egypt until Solomon died. But when Solomon died, Jeroboam returned and was a spokesperson for the people when they came to ratify Rehoboam as the King over all of the tribes of Israel, the united tribes of Israel, as it were. And this was said to take place at Shechem. And we just read the story. The people asked Rehoboam to simply lighten up on the expectations, the taxation, the workload and they would serve him as their king. He sought counsel. He got good advice that he should honor and serve the people in this way. He got bad advice from the friends that he grew up that he should act like a tough guy. And that's what he decided to do, act like a tough guy. And, so, he told Israel not only was he not going to make their burden lighter he was going to make it heavier. If they thought that his father Solomon was tough, they had no idea what was coming, basically, and 10 of the tribes revolted. We’ll have to see how this all plays out. But like yesterday we were reading the mountaintop experience of Israel and Queen Sheba coming to visit and his wisdom being renowned all over the world one day later the whole thing is falling apart. Solomon's died. He did not finish well. His son, Rehoboam succeeded him on the throne, but now out of the 12 tribes of Israel 10 have deserted and begun a rebellion against Rehoboam. That is indeed pretty dramatic, and transitional material that we read today, and we will continue with the story tomorrow.

In the book of Acts we also have some incredible drama and transition taking place in the life of a man named Saul who had been a witness at the stoning to death of Stephen. And we read of Stephen's testimony, and then he got to the very very end of his testimony and connected the story to Jesus and essentially told all of the council that they were responsible for what they had done, and they killed Stephen over it. Saul was a witness to this. He saw it happen. He was glad about it. Stephen was the first recorded martyr for the name of Jesus. Blood was spilled in the name of Jesus to stamp out the followers of Jesus, and Saul was pretty glad about that. He was zealous to stamp this name of Jesus out and got authorization to travel to other cities, including Damascus which is where he was on his way when a light shone down upon him, blinding him and forcing him to the ground. And we just read this. He met Jesus who asked him, why are you persecuting me, why are you attacking me? And Saul is basically like, who are you? And Jesus is like I'm Jesus. Go into Damascus and wait for the…for the next instructions. And, so, that's what Saul did. Blind, couldn't see, wouldn't eat, wouldn't drink, just seen a vision of Jesus. You can only imagine what is going on in Saul's heart and mind. Everything is being reframed. And a person name Ananias is sent by the Lord to lay his hands on Saul and give him his sight back which is what happens. And Saul is baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and goes to the synagogues that he was intending to go to in order to hunt down followers of Jesus and instead speaks in the name of Jesus. We already know very likely that this Saul is the one who will become Paul the apostle. A incredibly dramatic transition in Saul's life and in the life of the early church. And the reverberations of this echo until this very day. We will be spending a lot of time with the apostle Paul as we continue in the New Testament.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word and we thank You for the transitions that we see in Your word. Sometimes those transitions are a downward spiral and sometimes they are a dramatic victory, and we were able to witness one of each in today's reading. And, so, Holy Spirit we ask that You plant this in our lives as we transition through these stories and move into what comes next. Lead and guide us by the power of Your Holy Spirit we pray. In the name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

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Check out the different sections. Check out like the Community section. This is where to get connected on the different social media channels that we participate on the Daily Audio Bible. And, so, I don’t know…things like the Daily Audio Bible Facebook page. That's…if you're going through the Bible in a year that's a good thing to follow if there is an alert or release, an announcement, it's good to know that. But then there also community groups like DAB friends, like the DAB women's group. So, check that out. It's in the Community section. And you can find different places to get connected. You will also notice that there’s the Prayer Wall there in the Community section. And it lives there, and it has lived there for many many many many many years and it is an always on, never off resource available to us. We are praying for one another all of the time. And, so, you can go and share your story, share what burdens are crushing you right now and allow brothers and sisters to pray. Or maybe just go there and things are going well, and you offer prayers for those who are struggling right now. Praying for one another is something that we do around here, something that knits us together in love. And, so, definitely be familiar with the Prayer Wall in the Community section.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible thank you. If this mission to continue reading the word of God fresh every day and offering it to anyone who will listen anywhere on this planet any time of day or night, and to build community around that rhythm so that we know we’re not alone and we don't have to feel alone because we’re not alone. If that's life-giving to you than thank you for your partnership. There is a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner, or the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can hit Hotline button in the app. That's the red button up at the top or you can dial 877-942-4253.

And that's it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hi DAB this is Prairie Sky. I haven't called in a while but I'm going through a really rough time again. My depression is really taking a nosedive lately. I'm having trouble to keep going. I've really having trouble finding friends making and keeping relationships and just finding a reason to stay living. I could really use some prayer right now. Thanks.

Morning it's Eyes of a Dove. Yesterday on one of my job sites the construction bucket…actually it was Wednesday, today’s Friday June the 10th…somebody wrote that they were going to shoot everybody dead on our job site in Bellevue WA and that it would happen today and that he felt sorry for anyone that would show up today. So, they've closed down the job site. We’re investigating active shooting as it's prevalent since the Texas shooting incident and now it's just all these shootings and deaths everywhere right? And as I drive to work this morning is weighs heavy on my heart and I just pray for everybody at that Bellevue Plaza a job site that they'd be safe today although they are shut down the safety team is there investigating. Just pray for everybody on that job site. __ a hedge protection around them. And Father I pray for the gentleman that has threatened to kill people. Father I pray that You get into his heart right now, today as he thinks about this being that day. Pray for him that he seeks help, that he finds a way to deescalate his anger and that he finds You Jesus and so that the demonic is not a source of his activity but that You are in his life spring. And Father I pray for ember mini me Braden Ryland and all of our children that are attending school today in Lord Jesus. Put angels around the boundaries of their schools. Put a legion of agent angels Lord God. Protect and shelter every single student that is at school today. Father that You would provide in the budget, security they can watch over our dear ones and Father that You would be loud in the years of the children if there's an active shooter they’d know to run and hide and not be in crowds…

Hey everyone, this is Robert and Alabama. This prayer is for Vicki in Texas. Just wanted to let you know you're not alone. My wife and I have been taking care of my mother for multiple years now. My mother and I have always had a strained relationship but just recently had a major bearing through and it's not surprising that the devil came calling, he attacked us by supposedly missing finances, supposedly harsh treatment of my mother. And of course, these are all my family members. I pray for you today, Vicki, I really do in Jesus’ name. We have been totally vindicated on any missing money, totally vindicated that we do not treat my mother poorly. And the family members accusing us didn't even have the decency to say we’re sorry we accused you. Because we had a meeting that they chased destroyed us. Our hearts are so broken. And we just sat there and took it. It reminds me of the feelings that Jesus must have had when he was taking all the abuse verbally physically how we just turned the other cheek. And I felt like I can't turn my cheek anymore. I just feel so hurt. My heart is just destroyed. We're in a better place now slowly coming out of this. We've made adjustments to satisfy the family and keep our sanity, but I just want to let you know you're not alone girl. Just keep going. We're all gonna make it through this and the devil will not win in Jesus’ name.

Good morning family I'm calling in for a prayer request that I heard today from Richard in Ohio. His daughter is dealing with crushing anxiety, and she sees no hope in the future and he's asking that we pray that she just turn to Jesus. Father God, I come to You on behalf of this Young lady Father God. She is Your beautiful creation, Lord God. You love and care for her more than even her own Father does Lord God, her earthly father. Gpd, that's just who You are Father and we're asking for a miracle Lord God. She doesn't see any hope. And of course, there's no hope unless we have our eyes on You Jesus. You are our hope. Lord God You’re our strength You’re our comfort. You are the lifter of our heads God. You lift up our anxiety when we come to You in prayer Father. But if someone doesn't know You or look to You God what then Lord God? What then? We ask Lord God that You would intercede on her behalf Lord Jesus. We pray with all our hearts that You would turn this girl towards You Father, that we're asking for a miracle Lord God, that You lift her head Father, that You bring hope into her life or God, and You would enable her to trust You Jesus Lord God and we pray be all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hello my DAB family I am going to try to get through this call without crying too much. This is Patty used to be from Florida now in Tennessee. I need you all to please fervently pray for my 2-day old grandson Noah who apparently was born with a blood infection that was not diagnosed for 36 hours and is now in the NICU unit in Cincinnati. Please pray for Noah. He possibly had a seizure last night and we're just praying and praying and praying that God will completely heal his little body. Mommy and daddy are there with him. I'll be with big sister at home. And I love you all so much. Thank you for praying.

[loveofyhwh]

July 22: 2 Chronicles 10–12; 2 Corinthians 9; Psalm 19:7–14; Proverbs 20:1

New Post has been published on https://loveofyhwh.com/july-22-2-chronicles-10-12-2-corinthians-9-psalm-197-14-proverbs-201/

July 22: 2 Chronicles 10–12; 2 Corinthians 9; Psalm 19:7–14; Proverbs 20:1

2 Chronicles 10–12 (Listen)

The Revolt Against Rehoboam

10 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2 And as soon as Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt. 3 And they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all Israel came and said to Rehoboam, 4 “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.” 5 He said to them, “Come to me again in three days.” So the people went away.

6 Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men,Or the elders; also verses 8, 13‘>1 who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” 7 And they said to him, “If you will be good to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” 8 But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him. 9 And he said to them, “What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke that your father put on us’?” 10 And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Thus shall you speak to the people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us’; thus shall you say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s thighs. 11 And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king said, “Come to me again the third day.” 13 And the king answered them harshly; and forsaking the counsel of the old men, 14 King Rehoboam spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” 15 So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by God that the LORD might fulfill his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, “What portion have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Each of you to your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David.” So all Israel went to their tents. 17 But Rehoboam reigned over the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah. 18 Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram,Spelled Adoram in 1 Kings 12:18‘>2 who was taskmaster over the forced labor, and the people of Israel stoned him to death with stones. And King Rehoboam quickly mounted his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

Rehoboam Secures His Kingdom

11 When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. 2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God: 3 “Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, 4 ‘Thus says the LORD, You shall not go up or fight against your relatives. Return every man to his home, for this thing is from me.’” So they listened to the word of the LORD and returned and did not go against Jeroboam.

5 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built cities for defense in Judah. 6 He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, 7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, 8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, 9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, 10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, fortified cities that are in Judah and in Benjamin. 11 He made the fortresses strong, and put commanders in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine. 12 And he put shields and spears in all the cities and made them very strong. So he held Judah and Benjamin.

Priests and Levites Come to Jerusalem

13 And the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel presented themselves to him from all places where they lived. 14 For the Levites left their common lands and their holdings and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons cast them out from serving as priests of the LORD, 15 and he appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat idols and for the calves that he had made. 16 And those who had set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers. 17 They strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and for three years they made Rehoboam the son of Solomon secure, for they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon.

Rehoboam’s Family

18 Rehoboam took as wife Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse, 19 and she bore him sons, Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham. 20 After her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. 21 Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and concubines (he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters). 22 And Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, for he intended to make him king. 23 And he dealt wisely and distributed some of his sons through all the districts of Judah and Benjamin, in all the fortified cities, and he gave them abundant provisions and procured wives for them.Hebrew and sought a multitude of wives‘>3

Egypt Plunders Jerusalem

12 When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. 2 In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem 3 with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen. And the people were without number who came with him from Egypt—Libyans, Sukkiim, and Ethiopians. 4 And he took the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem. 5 Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the princes of Judah, who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the LORD, ‘You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak.’” 6 Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The LORD is righteous.” 7 When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah: “They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. 8 Nevertheless, they shall be servants to him, that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”

9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. He took away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s house. He took away everything. He also took away the shields of gold that Solomon had made, 10 and King Rehoboam made in their place shields of bronze and committed them to the hands of the officers of the guard, who kept the door of the king’s house. 11 And as often as the king went into the house of the LORD, the guard came and carried them and brought them back to the guardroom. 12 And when he humbled himself the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so as not to make a complete destruction. Moreover, conditions were goodHebrew good things were found‘>4 in Judah.

13 So King Rehoboam grew strong in Jerusalem and reigned. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite. 14 And he did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.

15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, from first to last, are they not written in the chronicles of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer?After seer, Hebrew adds according to genealogy‘>5 There were continual wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. 16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David, and AbijahSpelled Abijam in 1 Kings 14:31‘>6 his son reigned in his place.

Footnotes

[1] 10:6 Or the elders; also verses 8, 13 [2] 10:18 Spelled Adoram in 1 Kings 12:18 [3] 11:23 Hebrew and sought a multitude of wives [4] 12:12 Hebrew good things were found [5] 12:15 After seer, Hebrew adds according to genealogy [6] 12:16 Spelled Abijam in 1 Kings 14:31

(ESV)

New Testament:

2 Corinthians 9

2 Corinthians 9 (Listen)

The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

9 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sendingOr I have sent‘>1 the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the giftGreek blessing; twice in this verse‘>2 you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.Or a gift expecting something in return; Greek greed‘>3

The Cheerful Giver

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifullyGreek with blessings; twice in this verse‘>4 will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiencyOr all contentment‘>5 in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,

  “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;     his righteousness endures forever.”

10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, theyOr you‘>6 will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Footnotes

[1] 9:3 Or I have sent [2] 9:5 Greek blessing; twice in this verse [3] 9:5 Or a gift expecting something in return; Greek greed [4] 9:6 Greek with blessings; twice in this verse [5] 9:8 Or all contentment [6] 9:13 Or you

(ESV)

Psalm:

Psalm 19:7–14

Psalm 19:7–14 (Listen)

7   The law of the LORD is perfect,Or blameless‘>1     reviving the soul;   the testimony of the LORD is sure,     making wise the simple; 8   the precepts of the LORD are right,     rejoicing the heart;   the commandment of the LORD is pure,     enlightening the eyes; 9   the fear of the LORD is clean,     enduring forever;   the rulesOr just decrees‘>2 of the LORD are true,     and righteous altogether. 10   More to be desired are they than gold,     even much fine gold;   sweeter also than honey     and drippings of the honeycomb. 11   Moreover, by them is your servant warned;     in keeping them there is great reward. 12   Who can discern his errors?     Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 13   Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;     let them not have dominion over me!   Then I shall be blameless,     and innocent of great transgression. 14   Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart     be acceptable in your sight,     O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Footnotes

[1] 19:7 Or blameless [2] 19:9 Or just decrees

(ESV)

Proverb:

Proverbs 20:1

Proverbs 20:1 (Listen)

20   Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,     and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.Or will not become wise‘>1

Footnotes

[1] 20:1 Or will not become wise

(ESV)

[richardwhendricks]

Morning Prayer 9.4.21, Paul Jones, Bishop, 1941

King Rehoboam then hurriedly mounted his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. Thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, “I dwell in the high and holy place and also with the one who has a […] from The Daily Office https://ift.tt/3tgNeQN via IFTTT

[mikaltom53]

2 Chronicles 10

The Revolt Against Rehoboam

[1] Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. [2] And as soon as Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt. [3] And they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all Israel came and said to Rehoboam, [4] “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.” [5] He said to them, “Come to me again in three days.” So the people went away.

[6] Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” [7] And they said to him, “If you will be good to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” [8] But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him. [9] And he said to them, “What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke that your father put on us’?” [10] And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Thus shall you speak to the people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us’; thus shall you say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s thighs. [11] And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”

[12] So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king said, “Come to me again the third day.” [13] And the king answered them harshly; and forsaking the counsel of the old men, [14] King Rehoboam spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” [15] So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by God that the LORD might fulfill his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

[16] And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, “What portion have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Each of you to your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David.” So all Israel went to their tents. [17] But Rehoboam reigned over the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah. [18] Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was taskmaster over the forced labor, and the people of Israel stoned him to death with stones. And King Rehoboam quickly mounted his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. [19] So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

2 Chronicles 11:1

Rehoboam Secures His Kingdom

[1] When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.

[dfroza]

will you guard the space of your heart?

will you stand in the spiritual truth of rebirth?

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament for the 8th of february (2021) is the ancient Letter of Jude:

[Truth Worth Fighting For]

From Judah, a loving servant of Jesus, the Anointed One, and brother of James. I’m writing to the chosen ones who are wrapped in the love of Father God—kept and guarded for Jesus, the Messiah. May God’s mercy, peace, and love cascade over you!

Dearly loved friend, I was fully intending to write to you about our amazing salvation we all participate in, but felt the need instead to challenge you to vigorously defend and contend for the beliefs that we cherish. For God, through the apostles, has once for all entrusted these truths to his holy believers.

There have been some who have sneaked in among you unnoticed. They are depraved people whose judgment was prophesied in Scripture a long time ago. They have perverted the message of God’s grace into a license to commit immorality and turn against our only absolute Master, our Lord Jesus Christ.

I need to remind you, even though you are familiar with it all, that the Lord Jesus saved his people out of Egypt but subsequently destroyed those who were guilty of unbelief.

In the same way, there were heavenly messengers in rebellion who went outside their rightful domain of authority and abandoned their appointed realms. God bound them in everlasting chains and is keeping them in the dark abyss of the netherworld until the judgment of the great day.

In a similar way, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and nearby towns gave themselves to sexual immorality and the unnatural desire of different flesh. Now they all serve as examples of those who experience the punishment of eternal fire.

In the same way, these sensual “dreamers” corrupt and pollute the natural realm, while on the other hand they reject the spiritual realms of governmental power and repeatedly scoff at heavenly glories. Even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil over the body of Moses, dared not insult or slander him, but simply said, “The Lord Yahweh rebuke you!”

These people insult anything they don’t understand. They behave like irrational beasts by doing whatever they feel like doing. Because they live by their animal instincts, they corrupt themselves and bring about their own destruction. How terrible it is for them! For they have followed in the steps of Cain. They have abandoned themselves to Balaam’s error because of their greedy pursuit of financial gain. And since they have rebelled like Korah rebelled, they will experience the same fate of Korah and likewise perish.

These false teachers are like dangerous hidden reefs at your love feasts, lying in wait to shipwreck the immature. They feast among you without reverence, having no shepherd but themselves. They are clouds with no rain, swept along by the winds. Like fruitless late-autumn trees—twice dead, barren, and plucked up by the roots! They are wild waves of the sea, flinging out the foam of their shame and disgrace. They are misleading like wandering stars, for whom the complete darkness of eternal gloom has been reserved.

Enoch, the seventh direct descendant from Adam, prophesied of their doom when he said, “Look! Here comes the Lord Yahweh with his countless myriads of holy ones. He comes to execute judgment against them all and to convict each one of them for their ungodly deeds and for all the terrible words that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

These people are always complaining and never satisfied—finding fault with everyone. They follow their own evil desires and their mouths speak scandalous things. They enjoy using seductive flattery to manipulate others.

But you, my delightfully loved friends, remember the prophecies of the apostles of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. They taught you, “In the last days there will always be mockers, motivated by their own ungodly desires.” These people cause divisions and are followers of their own natural instincts, devoid of the life of the Spirit.

But you, my delightfully loved friends, constantly and progressively build yourselves up on the foundation of your most holy faith by praying every moment in the Spirit. Fasten your hearts to the love of God and receive the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who gives us eternal life.

Keep being compassionate to those who still have doubts, and snatch others out of the fire to save them. Be merciful over and over to them, but always couple your mercy with the fear of God. Be extremely careful to keep yourselves free from the pollutions of the flesh.

Now, to the one with enough power to prevent you from stumbling into sin and bring you faultless before his glorious presence to stand before him with ecstatic delight, to the only God our Savior, through our Lord Jesus Christ, be endless glory and majesty, great power and authority—from before he created time, now, and throughout all the ages of eternity. Amen!

The Letter of Jude (The Passion Translation)

Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is the 11th chapter of 2nd Chronicles that takes a look into History at the split kingdoms of Israel:

Having returned to Jerusalem, King Rehoboam assembled 180,000 warriors from the territories of Judah and Benjamin in the South, and he charged them to fight against Israel and to reunite both kingdoms under one king, Rehoboam. But the Eternal spoke to Shemaiah, the True God’s servant and prophet.

Eternal One: Tell Rehoboam, Solomon’s son and the new king of Judah, and all the Israelites living in Judah and Benjamin, what I am telling you: “I have decided to allow Israel to divide into two kingdoms. You will not fight against your Northern relatives and their king, Jeroboam. Return to your homes.”

The Southerners did as they were told, and Rehoboam began to fortify Judah from his capital in Jerusalem. He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, all of which are walled cities in the territories of Judah and Benjamin. He reinforced the fortresses, staffed the defenses with leaders, and stocked the storage houses with food, oil, and wine. In all the cities, he provided shields and spears for the citizens to protect them in case of attack. With these provisions, Rehoboam protected the Southern Kingdom in the territories of Judah and Benjamin.

Meanwhile, Jeroboam and the ruling family in the Northern Kingdom prohibited the priests and Levites from performing their duties for the Eternal. Jeroboam appointed his own priests to serve the religious centers of the Northern Kingdom, which honored false gods in the forms of goats and calves. So the priests and Levites left their homes among the Northern tribes, moved to the Southern Kingdom and Jerusalem, and supported Rehoboam as their king. Likewise, those Israelites living in the Northern Kingdom who were dedicated to the Eternal One, the only True God of Israel, also moved to Jerusalem to make sacrifices to the Eternal One, True God of their fathers. Those who moved south strengthened the Southern Kingdom with their dedication to the True God and His chosen King Rehoboam (son of Solomon) for three years. These people were faithful to God and followed the example of our beloved kings David and Solomon for three years.

His first wife, Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth (son of David) and Abihail (daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab) gave birth to three sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham. Rehoboam’s second wife, Maacah (granddaughter of Absalom), had four sons: Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. Rehoboam loved his second wife, Maacah, more than all his other 18 wives and 60 concubines, who gave him a total of 28 sons and 60 daughters. Of those children, Rehoboam appointed Abijah (eldest son of his favorite wife Maacah) as the leader among his brothers and as the crown prince. Rehoboam then wisely made some of his other sons governors of the territories and fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. He ensured their contentment and loyalty, giving them food and selecting their wives.

The Book of 2nd Chronicles, Chapter 11 (The Voice)

my personal reading of the Scriptures for monday, february 8 of 2021 with a paired chapter from each Testament of the Bible, along with Today’s Psalms and Proverbs

A set of posts by John Parsons that looks at this week’s Torah reading by Jews around the world:

Shavuah tov, friends. Last week we read in the Torah that exactly seven weeks after the Exodus from Egypt (i.e., 49 days after the first Passover), Moses gathered the Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai to enter into covenant with the LORD. In a dramatic display of thunder, lightning, billowing smoke and fire, the LORD descended upon the mountain and recited the Ten Commandments (or Ten Declarations) to the people. Upon hearing the awesome Voice of God, however, the people shrank back in fear and begged Moses to be their mediator before God. The people then stood far off, while Moses alone drew near to the thick darkness to receive further instructions from the LORD.

In this week's Torah reading (i.e., Mishpatim, Exod. 21:1-24:18) we learn about these additional instructions Moses received on the mountain. The Jewish sages traditionally count 53 distinct commandments in this portion of the Torah, easily making it one of the most “legalistic” (i.e., law-focused) sections of the entire Bible. Civil laws, liability laws, criminal laws, agricultural laws, financial laws, family purity laws, Sabbath laws, and holiday laws are all given in this portion. These various social and civil laws are called “mishpatim” (מִשְׁפָּטִים), the plural form of the masculine noun mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט), meaning a “judgment,” “ordinance,” “law” or legal ruling. The word derives from the verb shafat (שָׁפַט) meaning to judge or govern. A shofet (שׁוֹפֵט) is the Hebrew word for “judge,” and the LORD is called Ha-Shofet kol ha’aretz (הֲשׁפֵט כָּל־הָאָרֶץ) -- the “Judge of all the earth” who loves justice (Gen. 18:25, 37:28, Psalm 50:6, 94:2). In this connection note that the mishpatim became the basis for the tradition application of Jewish case law as well as for halakhah. According to common Jewish tradition, mishpatim are ethical judgments (or laws) given for a clearly specified reason (i.e., logical laws), as opposed to chukkim (חֻקִּים) which are divine fiats or decrees. An example of a mishpat would be the commandment to give charity or the prohibitions against theft and murder. These mitzvot (commandments) are inherently rational since the denial of their validity would make civil life impossible.

After receiving these additional rules, Moses descended Sinai and went before the people to reveal to them the words of the LORD. Upon hearing the details, the people responded in unison, “all the words which the LORD has said we will do” (i.e., na’aseh: נַעֲשֶׂה). Moses then wrote down the words of the covenant into a separate scroll (sefer habrit), built an altar at the foot of Sinai, and ordered sacrifices to the LORD to be made. He then took the sacrificial blood from the offerings, threw half upon the altar, and read the scroll of the covenant to the people. The people ratified the covenant by saying, “all that the LORD says we will do and obey” (i.e., na’aseh ve’nishmah: נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִשְׁמָע). Upon hearing this, Moses took the other half of the sacrificial blood and threw it on the people saying, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words” (Heb. 9:18). After this ceremony, Moses, Aaron, and seventy of the elders of Israel ascended Mount Sinai to eat a “covenant affirmation meal” between Israel and the LORD.

Upon returning from the mountain with the elders, the LORD commanded Moses to go back up to receive the tablets of stone inscribed with the Ten Commandments. On the seventh day there, he heard the Voice of the LORD calling to him from the midst of the cloud of glory, and then entered into the Presence of the LORD. He remained on the mountain for a total of forty days and forty nights receiving further revelation about the Mishkan (i.e., Tabernacle) while the Israelites waited for him at the camp down below. [Hebrew for Christians]

2.7.21 • Facebook

The first four of the Ten Commandments focus on our relationship with God, and it is only through obedience to these commandments that we are able to really understand our own identity - as well as the identity of others in our family, our community, and our world. The Fifth Commandment, to honor your parents, bridges the commandments directed heavenward (bein adam la'makom) with those directed toward one's fellow man (bein adam le'chavero). Honoring our parents teaches us the first principles of honoring God and others; it is the fulcrum by which we learn empathy and "derekh eretz" (דרך ארץ), the basic respect that underlies courtesy and good manners. The importance of this commandment cannot be overstated, since the word translated "honor" (i.e., kabed: כבד) derives from a root word meaning "weighty" (in terms of impressiveness or importance) and is often used to refer to the glory of God. The meaning of kabed in this context derives from the preceding verses (i.e., the first four commandments) which center on honoring God Himself. When we likewise honor our father and mother, the LORD says, “I reckon it as though I dwelled with them and they honored Me” (Kiddushin 31a). [Hebrew for Christians]

2.7.20 • Facebook

The Mechilta (a halakhic midrash on Exodus) teaches that the Ten Commandments were divided into two groups with the first five on one tablet and the second five on the other, and that these correspond to one another so that, for instance, the Sixth Commandment (לא תרצח, "you shall not murder"; Exod. 20:13) is linked to the first commandment to believe in God (Exod. 20:2). Since man is made in the image of God, his life is infinitely precious, and only God Himself has the right to give and take life. In the Mishnah it is written, "Why was only one man (i.e., Adam) created by God? - to teach that whoever takes a single life destroys thereby a whole world; and whoever saves one life, the Scripture accounts it as though a whole world had been saved (Sanhedrin 4:5). But murder can be figurative as well as literal. The Talmud notes that shaming another publicly is like murder, since the shame causes the blood to leave the face. Moreover, gossip or slander are considered murderous to the dignity of man. The Ethics of the Fathers states, "The evil tongue slays three persons: the utterer of the evil, the listener, and the one spoken about..." Yeshua also linked the ideas of our words and attitudes with murder (see Matt. 5:21-22; 15:19). [Hebrew for Christians]

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/

2.7.20 • Facebook

Today’s message from the Institute for Creation Research

February 8, 2021

A Model Church

“Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.” (1 Thessalonians 1:3)

Paul had begun the work at Thessalonica, and when forced to leave, he maintained an active interest in and contact with the Thessalonian believers. The book of 1 Thessalonians contains both encouragement and commendation for these believers. In the context of our text verse, he mentions some of their strengths, and it would behoove us to take note and apply these strengths to our churches.

Paul mentions the triad of faith, love, and hope so common in New Testament writings. The “work of faith,” that past work of salvation in the believer’s life, is amplified in verses 4-6, where we see that God has chosen to work His work of grace in them through the Word of God and the ministry of the Holy Spirit (v. 5). Their reception of the Word had been with both affliction and joy (v. 6).

Next, Paul commends their “labour of love.” They were committed to both outreach and missions, as we see in verses 7 and 8. Their testimony had not only affected the local area but was “spread abroad.” Moreover, they had entered into proper worship of God, maintaining purity of doctrine (v. 9). The “labour of love” to others will inevitably follow as a means of serving God.

Lastly, Paul commends their “patience of hope”—their expectant joyful outlook on the future, waiting for Christ’s return (v. 10).

May our own churches have this same perspective on the past, present, and future work of Christ. May our own lives give attention to the same details and have the same goals and outlook as those of the Thessalonian church. Purity in doctrine and a life of service constitute the best way to wait for our Lord’s return. JDM

[everydaysoulinspiration]

SCRIPTURE

1 Kings 12:8

But he ignored the advice of the older men and went instead to the young men who had grown up with him and who were now his advisers.

 OBSERVATION

Rebellion of the Northern Tribes

 Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all the people of northern Israel had gathered to make him king. People of the northern tribes asked him to make the burdens lighter and make life easier and promised him that they will be loyal to him.  He consulted the older men and asked for their advice for the people and was commanded to give the people a favorable answer to their request so they will serve him loyally. Rehoboam ignored the advice of the older men and went instead to the younger men and sought their advice which instructs him to make the burdens heavier. Rehoboam spoke harshly of the people because of that, the people of Israel has rebelled against the dynasty of David.

 As strangers and pilgrims in this world, we really need to have someone that will give us a good advice. The worthiest person that can give us the advice a God given wisdom is our pastors and elders. As mentioned in Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. God wanted his people to be wise. Rehoboam did not listen to the good advice which made the people turned away from him. If we will not listen to the word of God, most likely people will be disappointed to us and so is God.

  APPLICATION

It is true that when there is no guidance, the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory. Sometimes we feel that we already know everything and has not needed any advice. But the truth is, everyone of us needs it. We need someone’s opinion in everything that we do. We should not trust ourselves but instead we must always rely onto the Lord. He wants us to always be honest unto Him and tell Him how we feel. It is more peaceful if we will lay everything to the Lord as he also working on whatever situations we may have.

  PRAYER

Thank You Jesus for Your words, I pray that you will help me not to think that I know it all. I pray to give me a heart that desires to seek You daily before checking on the things of this world. I pray Lord that You will give me a submissive heart that always seeks council to You, Your Words, and to my elders. I pray that You will always teach me to be humble and surrender everything to You. Amen.