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1 Kings 12-14
Stupidity
of Idolatry
Psalm 51:1-8 Forgiven and Free
1.“Have mercy on me, God, according to Your hesed/loyal love. According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.2.Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse/purify me from my sin.3.For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.4.Against You, and You only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in Your sight; that You may be proved right when You speak, and justified when You judge.5.Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.6.Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.7.Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.8.Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which You have broken may rejoice..."Observations
51:1-8.David is asking for two things: forgiveness and cleansing/purification.
51:2.
Although translators vary: “iniquity” (which comes from a word that means “twisted”) stresses the guilt arising from “sin,” which is missing the mark or going astray from the standard of God. Transgression is rebelliously stepping over the line. All three are mentioned in Exodus 34:7.
51:3.
David doesn't play hide 'n seek with God, but acknowledges his sin and seeks freedom from it.
51:6.
David is not concerned with the external punishments that Nathan pronounced upon him, but with the inner purity God desires. He chose the wrong objectives and now seeks a heart of wisdom that will choose correctly next time, resulting in joy. See the rest of the Psalm.
Application
Go beyond forgiveness to freedom by seeking a change of heart that values loyalty to God over the lie that the passing pleasure of sin is worth it. It isn't.
Prayer
Gracious God, thanks for not only forgiving me, but offering freedom; may I learn to have Your truth guide my steps. Amen.
Bonus verses
1 John 1:8 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Proverbs 14:5-9 Are You in the Dark or Walking in the Light?
5.“A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.6.A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn't find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.7.Stay away from a foolish man, for you won't find knowledge on his lips.8.The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.9.Fools mock at making amends for sins, but among the upright there is good will.Observation
14:5-9.Bad guys live a dark life of lies, so they can't find wisdom, nor knowledge; are foolish, and mock at the idea of justly setting errors right (v9). Good guys live lives in the light of truth, so easily find wisdom and knowledge; they think about and evaluate their lives to see that they are dealing justly toward others.
Application
Walking in the light is not just a good idea; it's a command.Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.
Prayer
Light of My Life, may I follow You, not walk in darkness, and have the light of life (John 8:12). Amen.
1Kings 12-14 Stupidity of Idolatry
These chapters are a sad contrast to the splendor of Solomon, as they record the inevitable consequences of willful sin. The hard-earned gains of the previous chapters are eroded, the kingdom splits, peace is lost, idolatry re-instituted and the temple looted. Leaders and nation no longer do what is right in God's sight, ignoring His promises of blessing for faithfulness, becoming just like the nations God had used them to judge (unholy). So in the infinite justice of God, He must judge them for practicing the same sins as the pagans, bringing curses upon them. Not pretty.
1 Kings 12 Servant vs Selfish Leadership
1.Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.2.When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from king Solomon, and Jeroboam lived in Egypt,3.and they sent and called him), Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came, and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,4."Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make you the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you."5.He said to them, "Depart for three days, then come back to me." The people departed.6.King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, "What counsel do you give me to return answer to this people?"7.They spoke to him, saying, "If you will be a servant to this people this day, and will serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever."8.But he forsook the counsel of the old men, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.9.He said to them, "What counsel do you give...?"10.The young men spoke to him, saying, "Thus you shall tell this people ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist.11.Now whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.’"13.The king answered the people roughly, and forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him,14.and spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men15.So the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was a thing brought about of Yahweh, that he might establish his word, which Yahweh spoke by Ahijah to Jeroboam.16.When all Israel saw that the king didn’t listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, "What portion have we in David? Neither do we have an inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, Israel! Now see to your own house, David." So Israel departed to their tents.17.But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.18.Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the men subject to forced labour; and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam made speed to get up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.19.So Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day.20.When all Israel heard that Jeroboam was returned, they called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.21.When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.22.But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,23."Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying,24.'Thus says Yahweh, "You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers, the children of Israel. Everyone return to his house; for this thing is of me."’" So they listened to the word of Yahweh, and returned and went their way, according to the word of Yahweh.25.Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived in it; and he went out from there, and built Penuel.26.Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now the kingdom will return to the house of David.27.If this people goes up to offer sacrifices in the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me, and return to Rehoboam king of Judah."28.Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said to them, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look and see your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt!"29.He set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.30.This thing became a sin; for the people went to worship before the one, even to Dan.31.He made houses of high places, and made priests from among all the people, who were not of the sons of Levi.32.Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that is in Judah, and he went up to the altar; he did so in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made.33.He went up to the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart: and he ordained a feast for the children of Israel, and went up to the altar, to burn incense.Observations
12:1-15.Rehoboam becomes king after his father Solomon, and the people ask for tax and conscripted labor relief from Solomon's massive building projects. Rehoboam consults the older advisers who had counseled his father, who said “serve the people, listen to them, and they will serve you.” The younger friends of Rehoboam said “be meaner and harder than Solomon.” The older and wiser counsel correctly viewed leadership as meeting the needs of one's subjects. The younger foolish counsel viewed leadership as a means of boosting one's worth and value by being better than others. There was no rational basis for increasing taxes (usually isn't). Rehoboam didn't ask God's perspective, nor listen to the people, nor the voice of experience, and alienated the populace. The hallmark of a deceived fool is not listening to wise counsel, but finding people who tell them what they want to hear so they can pursue their sinful desires. This was brought about by God, using the unsanctioned desires and free-will stupidity of Rehoboam, to fulfill the promise He made to Jereboam, and carry out His discipline of Solomon by tearing the kingdom from his house.
12:16-24.
The ten northern tribes rebel against the king who wouldn't listen, stoning his “enforcer”, causing Rehoboam to flee for his life. They send for Jereboam and make him their king. I remember who's who alphabetically, on a map: Jeroboam is in the north, Rehoboam in the south. Rehoboam assembles 180,000 warriors from Judah and Benjamin to fight the other ten tribes, hereafter referred to as “Israel.” God sends a prophet, Shemaiah, telling them not to fight and go home since this is part of God's plan. Amazingly, they listen.
12:25-33.
To fully appreciate the idiocy of Jereboam, recall that God had offered to fulfill all his hearts desires, and have the same deal He gave David and Solomon: “walk before Me and I'll establish your house forever” (11:38). He had seen and experienced how God exalted David and Solomon. So what does he do? Rather than trust in God's plan to establish him (as David did), listens to bad counsel, and trusts in his own schemes, building alternative worship places to Jerusalem, so he won't lose the people's hearts there when they worship as God specified. He sets up golden calves for them to worship as their deliverers (Duh! Weren't there problems when Israel did this earlier in their history? Ex 32). He appeals to the people to engage in illegitimate worship on the basis of: “it is too much for you” to do what God said (a common way of leading people astray today). This lack of trust and obedience forfeits God's blessing promises, and brings the cursing parts into effect. His independence from God sets the new low standard in walking away from God; future kings will be compared to his benchmark.
Application
Those who don't wholeheartedly trust and serve God will regret it.
Prayer
God, You made me to serve You and Your people; may I never sink to serving myself and my desires. Amen.
1 Kings 13 Good and Bad Prophet; Good Donkey
1.Behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of Yahweh to Bethel: and Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense.2.He cried against the altar by the word of Yahweh, and said, "Altar, altar, thus says Yahweh: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name. On you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and they will burn men’s bones on you.’"3.He gave a sign the same day, saying, "This is the sign which Yahweh has spoken: Behold, the altar will be split apart, and the ashes that are on it will be poured out."4.It happened, when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Bethel, that Jeroboam put out his hand from the altar, saying, "Seize him!" His hand, which he put out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back again to himself.5.The altar also was split apart, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of Yahweh.6.The king answered the man of God, "Now entreat the favor of Yahweh your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again." The man of God entreated Yahweh, and the king’s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.7.The king said to the man of God, "Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward."8.The man of God said to the king, "Even if you gave me half of your house, I would not go in with you, neither would I eat bread nor drink water in this place;9.for so was it commanded me by the word of Yahweh, saying, ‘You shall eat no bread, nor drink water, neither return by the way that you came.’"10.So he went another way, and didn’t return by the way that he came to Bethel.11.Now there lived an old prophet in Bethel; and one of his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel. They also told their father the words which he had spoken to the king.12.Their father said to them, "Which way did he go?" Now his sons had seen which way the man of God went, who came from Judah.13.He said to his sons, "Saddle the donkey for me." So they saddled the donkey for him; and he rode on it.14.He went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak. He said to him, "Are you the man of God who came from Judah?" He said, "I am."15.Then he said to him, "Come home with me, and eat bread."16.He said, "I may not return with you, nor go in with you; neither will I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place.17.For it was said to me by the word of Yahweh, ‘You shall eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that you came.’"18.He said to him, "I also am a prophet as you are; and an angel spoke to me by the word of Yahweh, saying, ‘Bring him back with you into your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’" He lied to him.19.So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house, and drank water.20.It happened, as they sat at the table, that the word of Yahweh came to the prophet who brought him back;21.and he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, "Thus says Yahweh, ‘Because you have been disobedient to the mouth of Yahweh, and have not kept the commandment which Yahweh your God commanded you,22.but came back, and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to you, "Eat no bread, and drink no water"; your body shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’"23.It happened, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for the prophet whom he had brought back.24.When he had gone, a lion met him by the way, and killed him. His body was cast in the way, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the body.25.Behold, men passed by, and saw the body cast in the way, and the lion standing by the body; and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet lived.26.When the prophet who brought him back from the way heard of it, he said, "It is the man of God who was disobedient to the mouth of Yahweh. Therefore Yahweh has delivered him to the lion, which has mauled him and slain him, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke to him."27.He spoke to his sons, saying, "Saddle the donkey for me." They saddled it.28.He went and found his body cast in the way, and the donkey and the lion standing by the body. The lion had not eaten the body, nor mauled the donkey.29.The prophet took up the body of the man of God, and laid it on the donkey, and brought it back. He came to the city of the old prophet to mourn, and to bury him.30.He laid his body in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, "Alas, my brother!"31.It happened, after he had buried him, that he spoke to his sons, saying, "When I am dead, then bury me in the tomb in which the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones.32.For the saying which he cried by the word of Yahweh against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, will surely happen."33.After this thing Jeroboam didn’t return from his evil way, but again made priests of the high places from among all the people. Whoever wanted to, he consecrated him, that there might be priests of the high places.34.This thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the surface of the earth.Observations
13:1-10.The word of God came to an unnamed man of God (prophet) instructing him to go Bethel and denounce Jeroboam's altar. He names Josiah (about 290 years in advance) as the executor of God's judgment (2 Kings 23:16). Jeroboam witnesses two signs/miracles validating the spoken words (altar split and hand restored), and still doesn't pay attention to God's word, nor desist from his stupid apostasy. God had also instructed the prophet to not eat nor drink (fellowship) with the apostate. An apostate is not an unbeliever, but one who disobeys and departs from the truth, while maintaining a semblance of religiosity. 1 Corinthians 5:11 "But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner --- not even to eat with such a person."
13:11-32.
God kills a miracle working prophet for being deceived into disobeying His word. God did not want any endorsement of fellowship between the true worship in Jerusalem and the false demonic worshipers in Jeroboam's religion. By eating, the true prophet not only disobeyed God's direct word to him, but he lent support to the apostasy. The old prophet was now doing the devil's work, rather than denouncing Jeroboam's idolatry. He lies to the good guy, who should have not wavered from what God had revealed to him. There were enough clues to see the old prophet was lying (are you the guy?; oh yeah, now that you mention it, God told me otherwise). The old prophet gets some real revelation that the good guy is being disobedient and will die for it. The fact that the lion doesn't eat the prophet (nor the brave donkey) underscores the supernatural judgment, which will also come upon Jeroboam and his followers. Like Rehoboam and Jeroboam, the good prophet listened to bad advice, and paid for it with his life.
13:33-34.
Jeroboam is unfazed by the miraculous events, as are most of those who Satan takes captive by their desires to do his will. Jereboam appoints anybody who desires to be a priest, and sets up the kingdom for annihilation, just like the pagans before them who engaged in false worship.
Application
The only defense against the dark demonic arts is a strong grip on and unshakable adherence to God's word.
Prayer
God, may I always follow what I know is true and trust You to fulfill Your promises, based upon Your word, and not be deceived by outwardly religious folks who are really following Satan's will. Amen.
1 Kings 14 Promised Consequences
1.At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick.2.Jeroboam said to his wife, "Please get up and disguise yourself, that you won’t be recognized as the wife of Jeroboam. Go to Shiloh. Behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, who spoke concerning me that I should be king over this people.3.Take with you ten loaves, and cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will become of the child."4.Jeroboam’s wife did so...Now Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age.5.Yahweh said to Ahijah, "The wife of Jeroboam comes to inquire of you concerning her son; for he is sick...she will pretend to be another woman."6.When Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, "Come in, you wife of Jeroboam! Why do you pretend to be another? For I am sent to you with heavy news.7.Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: "Because I exalted you from among the people, and made you prince over my people Israel,8.and tore the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it you; and yet you have not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in my eyes,9.but have done evil above all who were before you, and have gone and made you other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and have cast me behind your back:10.therefore, behold, I will bring evil on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam everyone...and will utterly sweep away the house of Jeroboam, as a man sweeps away dung, until it is all gone.11.He who dies of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and he who dies in the field shall the birds of the sky eat: for Yahweh has spoken it."’12.Arise therefore, and go to your house. When your feet enter into the city, the child shall die.14.Moreover Yahweh will raise up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam.15.Yahweh will... root up Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond the River, because they have made their Asherim, provoking Yahweh to anger.
16.He will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he has sinned, and with which he has made Israel to sin."
17.Jeroboam’s wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah. As she came to the threshold of the house, the child died.18.All Israel buried him, and mourned for him, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the prophet.20.Jeroboam reigned two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his place.21.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...22.Judah did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, above all that their fathers had done.23.For they also built themselves high places, and pillars, and Asherim, on every high hill, and under every green tree;24.and there were also sodomites in the land: they did according to all the abominations of the nations which Yahweh drove out before the children of Israel.25.In the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem;26.and he took away the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king’s house; he took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.27.King Rehoboam made in their place shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king’s house.28.As often as the king went into the house of Yahweh, the guard bore them, and brought them back into the guard room.30.There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.31.Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. Abijam his son reigned in his place.
Observations
14:1-20.Jeroboam's son Abijah falls sick, so Jeroboam tells his wife to disguise herself and go ask the now blind Ahijah (the prophet who gave him the ten pieces of the robe and offered him his own Davidic Covenant) the prognosis. God sees through the disguise, and delivers a prognostication of judgment for his failure to follow Him with all his heart in doing what was right in God's eyes. Not only will the son die when his mother returns, but so will all of Jeroboam's line. The whole nation of Israel (10 northern tribes) will be uprooted and scattered, for their sin in following him (so much for blind allegiance to authority that doesn't follow God). During his reign Israel loses the peace they had under Solomon, and the territories gained under Joshua and David. We always lose when we don't wholeheartedly follow God.
14:21-24.
Speaking of losers, Rehoboam leads Judah further into Solomon's sin, going beyond their fathers in doing evil in the sight of the Lord, “worshiping” according to their lusts, and doing all the abominations of the nations God had used the Israelites to judge.
14:25-31.
So a just God is obligated to judge the sin, regardless of who is committing it. God brings Shishak, the king of Egypt to attack Jerusalem, and he takes all the gold shields that Solomon had made. Instead of repenting and seeking God, Rehoboam makes brass shields and brings them to the house of God whenever he plays at “worshiping” so he doesn't feel bad that they're gone. Of all that could be mentioned of his reign, we get one sentence that there was continual war (peace was a blessing from God), and the comments about the shields. Rather than reflecting on why the shields were gone and doing something about it (like repent), he comes up with a cheap substitute to keep up appearances. As is the case with most people who have no inner relationship with God based upon loyal obedience to Him, Rehoboam chooses one outward aspect of “religion” and focuses on that to balance out the lack of a real relationship with God. Pitiful.
Application
We will experience certain and painful judgment for our sin unless we repent and do what is right in God's sight, with all our heart.
Prayer
God, I will keep Your revelation in front of my eyes and serve You as David did “who kept Your commandments, and who followed You with all his heart, to do that only which was right in Your eyes” (14:8). Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God really wants to incredibly bless people and fulfill their desires, as He did with David and Solomon; however, He has sovereignly determined to only bless those who do what is right in His sight. He has also sovereignly determined to curse those who don't seek and obey Him, with destruction, deprivation, and death. He can raise up and exalt a servant to bless, or a king to curse. He will judge sin wherever it is found, sometimes letting it continue for years, other times smiting sinners in a day. He will curse those He has blessed, and reverse their blessings if they don't continue to trust and obey.
Us in a nutshell: We are given the choice to follow God's ways, or not. We are not given the choice to attach different consequence to our actions than what God has determined. If we faithfully do what is right in God's sight, He will exalt us, fulfill our desires and His promises in His time. We can be deceived by religious folks and ritual rather than the revealed will of God if we don't purpose to seek what God wants and stick to it.