The divided Kingdom… (3 things)

• 1^st – The foolishness of Rehoboam… vs. 1-11 Read: II Chronicles 10:1-19
  • 1^st – Rehoboam – the son of Solomon – went to Shechem for his coronation… vs. 1-5
    • Shechem was the capital of Israel during the period of the Judges – Joshua 24:1
      • Interesting that the coronation took place there and not in Jerusalem…
      • He may have know Israel was considering a revolt – so stayed away from the capitol
    • Jeroboam also came back from Egypt to attend the coronation…
      • He led a group of leaders from Israel with a list of demands for Rehoboam…
      • Solomon was a hard King – he heavily taxed the people to pay for his projects…
      • They wanted Rehoboam to lighten the load – then they would serve him!
    • Solomon had turned his back on God and allowed idol worship into Israel…
      • Yet the nation was only concerned about paying less money to the government…
      • Israel wanted tax reform – but was not concerned about religious reform!
      • It can be tempting to base our vote on things other than spiritual issues…
      • We might base our decisions on financial policy – or work against corruption…
      • But all of those things pale in comparison to making sure we are following God…
      • Because when a nation turns its back on God – God will turn his back on a nation!
  • 2^nd – Rehoboam asked for three days to consider their request… vs. 6-11
    • He went to his advisors and asked for their counsel and advice…
      • A lot of times we get into trouble because we rush into a decision…
      • If we would simply be patient – and ask for advice – we would end up blessed!
      • Proverbs 15:22 – “Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many counselors bring success.”
    • The King first asked for advice from the elders who served Solomon…
      • They encouraged the King to listen to the request made by the nation…
      • Let the people see that the king lived for them – and not for himself…
      • Then the people would obey – love – and defend the King!
      • God does not put people into power to be served – but to serve the people…
      • Mark 10:45 – “[Even Jesus] did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life…”
    • The King rejected the good counsel of the elders – and instead asked his friends…
      • Their advice was to tell the people – his pinkie was thicker than the waste of Solomon…
      • Solomon punished people with whips – Rehoboam would use scorpions!
      • In other words – he would be a MUCH harsher King than his father…
      • We need to be very careful whom we go to for our advice…
      • Because while it is wise to seek advice from others – not all advice is good!
      • You do not want someone who gives you their opinion – no guarantee they are right…
      • You want someone who is going to point you to the Lord – He is ALWAYS right!
  • 3^rd – Jeroboam and all of Israel returned on the 3^rd day… vs. 12-15
    • The King answered the people roughly – rejecting the wise advice of the elders…
    • The King did not listen to the people – BECAUSE God wanted to divide the Kingdom!
    • Proverbs 21:1 – “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”
    • It can be easy to get frustrated with the decisions of our leaders / politicians…
    • We can judge them for their foolish decisions – blame them for our problems…
    • But we need to remember they are ultimately not in control – God is!
    • And if a nation were perfect – we would never learn to look to and trust in God…
    • It is in the imperfections in our governments that let us see our need for the Lord!
  • 4^th – When Israel heard Rehoboam’s reply – they rebelled… vs. 16-19
    • Rehoboam was clueless – he sent out Hadoram his tax collector the very next day…
      • He was ready to bring down his ‘big pinkie’ and make Israel pay their taxes…
      • Israel responded by cutting off his pinkie – they stoned Hadoram to death!
      • Then Rehoboam realized his mistake – and fled back to the safety of Jerusalem!
    • We are called to be obedient to the government – Romans 13:1
      • Some Christians take that to mean we are just to accept whatever a government does…
      • But we are not to idly stand by and do nothing when faced with evil leaders…
      • Bad people are allowed to rule unchecked – because good people do noting about them!
      • When a government stops listening to and serving the people…
      • It is our responsibility as Christians – to PEACEFULLY stand up to the government!

• 2^nd – Two Kings in Israel… vs. 1- Read: II Chronicles 11:1-23
  • 1^st – Israel took Jeroboam and made him their King… vs. 1-12
    • Rehoboam gathered an army of 180,000 men to attack the new king…
      • But the Lord sent a prophet Shemaiah to Rehoboam – and told him to stand down…
      • The division of the Kingdom was the will of God – they were to all go home…
      • Rehoboam listened to the prophet – and obeyed the Word of the Lord!
    • From that point on Israel was divided into two nations…
      • The Northern 10 tribes – called Israel – were ruled by Jeroboam…
      • Judah and Benjamin – called Judah – were ruled by Rehoboam / the dynasty of David…
      • A nation divided – because they had turned their back on God!
      • Israel would not be reunited again as one nation until 1948 – Ezekiel 37:21-22
    • In Leviticus 26 – God told Israel if they did not obey – 7 times the punishment…
      • Interesting cross reference to the 7 times more judgment – the 430 days of Ezekiel 4:1-8…
      • Ezekiel had to lie on his side for 430 days – representing 430 years of judgment for Israel…
      • 430 years x 7 (7 times the punishment) = 2,520 years of judgment for Israel…
      • If you start from the 1^st fall of Judah to Babylon (there were 3 sieges of the city)…
      • Add 2,520 years – May 14^th, 1948 – the day Israel was declared a nation again!
      • If you start from the destruction of the Temple 586 B.C.
      • Add 2,520 years – you come to June 7^th, 1967 – the day Israel recaptured Jerusalem!
      • God did punish Israel 7 times – but in the end – Israel became a nation again!
      • Because God had a plan to bless Israel – in spite of all they had done!
  • 2^nd – All the Priests and the Levites left Israel and moved to Judah… vs. 13-17
    • The reason was because Jeroboam had rejected the worship of God…
      • Instead he appointed his own priests for the worship of demons and calf idols…
      • Jeroboam was concerned about people going to worship at the Temple in Jerusalem…
      • Jerusalem was in Judah – it was under the control of Rehoboam…
      • If the people went there every year for the required feast / sacrifices…
      • It would only be a matter of time before they would want to go back to Rehoboam…
      • Then they would kill Jeroboam – and make Rehoboam their King again!
    • Jeroboam said – these are the gods who brought you out of bondage in Egypt – I Kings 12:28
      • This was not a new idea – he got the idea from the rebellion in the wilderness…
      • Exodus 32:4 – “Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded and tooled it into the shape of a calf. The people exclaimed, ‘O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of Egypt!’”
      • Satan is not very creative – he tends to just copy what has worked in the past…
      • Then he tries to convince us that his way is – ‘good enough’ – we do not need the Lord…
      • God created us to worship Him – satan tries to get us to worship anything but the Lord…
      • He tries to convince us living for money – pleasure – fame – is ‘good enough’…
      • But everything satan does is only a counterfeit/copy of God – second best…
      • It is the ‘Chinese’ imitation of the genuine product – looks similar but it does not last!
    • Jeroboam set up one calf in Dan – in the northern most end of Israel – I Kings 12:29-33
      • And the other he set up in Bethel in the south – only about 20km from Jerusalem!
        • He changed the ‘feasts of Israel’ to a more ‘convenient’ time for the people…
        • And he allowed anyone – not just Levites – to serve as Priests…
        • He made it easier to follow his religion – than to follow the true God of Israel!
      • Satan wants to make it very easy for us NOT to worship God…
        • He will tell us there is no reason to travel far to attend a good Bible teaching church…
        • Just go to the one that is closest to you – they are all the same anyway…
        • And you do not have to go to church every Sunday – just go when it is convenient…
        • But following God is not supposed to be easy or convenient – we are to sacrifice!
        • Make the time to get to church so you can make sure you are growing in the Lord!
  • 3^rd – The power of example… vs. 18-23
    • For the first three years of his reign Rehoboam followed the Lord…
      • The reason was everyone from Israel who still loved God – moved from Israel to Judah…
      • This influx of Godly believers encouraged Rehoboam to follow God – I Corinthians 15:33
      • We must be very careful where we go – who we are identified with…
      • If we ‘hang out’ with the wrong crowd – we are going to be negatively influenced…
      • But in the same way if we hand out with Godly men and women – we will grow…
      • So choose VERY wisely whom you spend time with – we will become just like them!
    • Rehoboam married Mahalath, Abihail, and Maacah – all close relatives (cousins)…
      • This was forbidden in the Law of Moses – Leviticus 18:6-18 – 2 reasons…
        • Birth defects – the idea of marrying a close relative is revolting to us today…
        • The reason why is based in science – the chemistry behind the miracle of birth…
        • A baby is a blend of a Father and Mother’s genes (DNA)…
        • If there is a mutation/flaw in the DNA code from one set of the parents genes…
        • It can be fixed by taking the relevant code from the others non-flawed set of genes…
        • If both parents are closely related – high chance they share the same genetic flaws!
        • There is no place to get ‘good’ DNA for the new baby – so the flaw is passed along!
      • When marriage is to a close relative – the relationships of family becomes confused
        • Marriage is meant to be a picture to help us understand God’s love for us…
        • To define His love – He calls us his kids – He calls us his bride…
        • Marriage impacts our understanding of God’s love…
        • If someone marries their 1^st cousin – their kids are also their 2^nd cousins…
        • Things can quickly get out of control – and people get confused!
        • If the relationship is confused – our understanding of God’s Love is damaged!
    • In all Rehoboam had 18 wives – and 60 concubines…
      • The practice of adding wives was also forbidden – Deuteronomy 17:17…
      • But Rehoboam had learned from his Dad – when it came to marriage – ignore the Bible!
      • We must be very careful of the example we give to others / our children…
      • God calls Dads to be the example to their children of how to follow the Lord…
      • Our children are watching – learning – what example do we give to them…
      • Our kids are like sponges – they soak up every word we say…
      • Our kids are like mirrors – they reflect everything we do…
      • Take the time – make the time – to be with your kids – teaching them about Jesus!
      • Do not miss the most important ministry God has given to you – your family!

Rehoboam died and was buried in the city of David – his son Abijam became the next King

3^rd – The fall of Rehoboam… vs. 1-16 Read: II Chronicles 12:1-16

1^st – When he was established – Rehoboam forsook the Law of God… vs. 1-12

As a result in the 5^th year of Rehoboam – Shishak the king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem…

He came with 1200 chariots / 60k horsemen / and an innumerable army…

And although Rehoboam humbled himself at the rebuke of Shemaiah the prophet…

God left Judah to be the servants of Shishak – to teach them a lesson…

Living in sin can seek enjoyable – freeing even – but it sucks us in and we are trapped!

In the end we find we are in bondage to sin – morally and spiritually bankrupt!

The man who chooses to sin – gives up his freedom to choose!

John 8:34 – “I say unto you he that commits sin is the slave of sin…”

The challenge we are given is what is our choice today – every day…

Do we choose to live in bondage to sin – or do we choose to be free!

Romans 6:16 – “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?”

Shishak took away all the treasures from the House of the Lord – the riches of Solomon…

Including the 500 gold shields Solomon made to hang up in his palace…

Afterwards Rehoboam made ‘fake’ bronze shields to replace the ones he had lost…

Although they looked similar – there was no comparison between the two!

A lot of people try and act like Christians – while still living for the world…

Thinking it is enough to just look like the real – but it ends up being a cheap imitation!

The true joy of following Jesus – only comes to those who are wholly sold out to Him!

2^nd – Rehoboam reigned for 17 years in Judah… vs. 13-16

And although God spared him from being completely defeated by Egypt…

There was constant war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam during his reign…

The reason is because did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord…

What does it mean that he did not prepare his heart – he did not humble himself…

Psalms 10:17 – “You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart…”

The fall of Rehoboam was his pride – although he humbled himself when Shishak came…

As soon as the trial was over – he was quick to return to his old ways!

II Peter 2:22 – “It has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit…’”

When people are face their consequences – they are quick to run to God…

But the moment the problem has passed – they go right back to depending on themselves!

We prepare our heart to seek the Lord – when we live everyday in humility…

Not depending on ourselves – but admitting our constant need for Jesus!