CALVARY PANDAN BIBLE- ended in failure. In addition, he was PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH told of God’s judgement upon him and his descendants. The latter part of [Adapted from Bethel Bible-Presbyterian chapter 14 describes Rehoboam’s Church, 10 Downing St. Oakleigh, Vic., 3166] reign in Judah. Chapter 15 features the reigns of Abijam (Rehoboam’s son) DHW BIBLE CLASS and Asa (Rehoboam’s grandson). LESSON 9 Throughout the Book of Kings, it is observed that parental influence THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS played a very important part in the CHAPTER 14 moulding of a child’s character. We see how a man led his family and nation to ruin. We learn that God is INTRODUCTION interested in our relationship with Him, The nation of Israel was then not in our worldly accomplishments. divided into two kingdoms. The Northern Kingdom comprising ten tribes would be known as Israel; the OUTLINE Southern Kingdom comprising two 1. Seeking God only when in trouble tribes (Judah and Benjamin) would be vv.1-20; known as Judah. Each kingdom had its own king. Israel’s first king was 2. Rehoboam’s Reign in Judah Jeroboam I, the son of Nebat. Judah’s (vv.21-31) first king was Rehoboam. For a period of 345 years from the time of the divided kingdom (930-586 B.C.), eight COMMENTARY of the 19 kings of Judah were Seeking God only when commended as “good” whereas in trouble 14:1-20 Israel’s 20 kings were all condemned as “evil”. It is sad that most of the The opening verse of chapter 14 kings were self seeking; very few of states that Abijah, the son of them walked in the ways of the LORD. Jeroboam, was sick. We do not know the details of his ailment. The name In His dealings with King Abijah means “my father is Yahweh”. Jeroboam, God revealed that He is This may imply that he was born at a very patient. In many ways, God was time when his father acknowledged the merciful to him and had warned him to LORD God of Israel. It could also be repent but he did not heed the because his father showed much warning. The same was true of King concern for him, the crown prince. Rehoboam. Jeroboam remembered Ahijah, the Chapter 14 features the last prophet who had prophesied to him days of Jeroboam. His pleas to save that the nation Israel would be divided his favourite son, the crown prince, into two and that he would be the king DHW LESSON 9 1 KINGS 14 of the Northern Kingdom (11:30, 31). Jeroboam’s wife obediently did as Since then he had never asked Ahijah told (14:4). She went to Shiloh, which for God’s guidance or direction in his was about 28 kilometres south of life. Now that his favourite son’s life Tirzah (Jeroboam had made it his was threatened, he wished to seek his capital city). Humanly, it would have help. However, instead of going been difficult for Ahijah to recognise personally, he decided to send his Jeroboam’s wife as his eyesight was wife. We do not know much about his failing due to old age. However, before wife. Her name was not even she appeared, the LORD told Ahijah recorded. She was submissive to her that Jeroboam’s wife would be coming husband’s wishes and agreed to go to in disguise with the intention of the prophet. Although the reason for pleading for her sick son. The LORD not going to Ahijah personally was not instructed Ahijah what he should say stated, we can venture a few possible to her. Hence, the moment Jeroboam’s reasons wife stepped through the door of the prophet’s residence, Ahijah exposed First, he could be too proud to make the trip to Shiloh where Ahijah her real identity and informed her that lived. Since the day he became king, he had “heavy” news for her. except for the time when he pleaded to Indeed, the message from the the “man of God from Judah” to heal LORD for Jeroboam was grave. Firstly, his withering arm, he had not sought Jeroboam was reminded of God’s the LORD’S will nor prayed for spiritual grace. God had exalted him from discernment. He also did not ask the among the people and made him the LORD to make him a godly man. king over His people in Israel, the Secondly, he could be too ashamed to Northern Kingdom. God required him plead for mercy having realised his to be like David, to keep His careless attitude towards God. In order commandments and to follow Him with to avoid any public scandal, he sent all his heart and do what was right in his wife and in disguise! Thirdly, it His eyes (14:7, 8). could be his fear of any direct Secondly, the LORD charged encounter with Ahijah who might Jeroboam with his sins. Ahijah challenge him in the name of God. highlighted several of them. He had Fourthly, by sending his wife in done evil above all who were before disguise, their true identity could be him. He had made other gods and hidden and Ahijah may give her a images which angered the LORD. He favourable word from the LORD. had “cast” the LORD behind his back. Hence he also told his wife to bring a The verb translated “cast” was a word gift of food for the prophet which was a used to describe God’s forgiveness of modest gift and would allay any a believer’s sins1-- God put the sins suspicion that it had come from the royal purse. 1 Isaiah 38:17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. 2 DHW LESSON 9 1 KINGS 14 behind His back once the believer had The LORD would give Israel up repented which was good news. But because Jeroboam had sinned and the verb used in the present context made Israel sin. was a serious charge against Jeroboam’s wife stood up and Jeroboam. He had ignored God, and departed for home. She did not talk at hurled Him away (14:9) all during the meeting with Ahijah. She Thirdly, God would bring came, she heard, she left and when disaster upon the “house” of Jeroboam she reached home, her son passed and would remove every male (“he away. We can feel pity for this woman. that pisseth against the wall”) of What could she possibly say? Her Jeroboam’s descendants just like a husband should have come to Ahijah man would dispose of “dung”. Their personally to face the music, instead of deaths would be dishonourable. Those leaving her to carry the heavy burden who died in the city would have their of a message of doom, and to bear the bodies mutilated by dogs, while those grief of the impending death of her who died in the fields would be son. devoured by birds. What the LORD Verses 19 and 20 made mere had spoken would surely come to mention of Jeroboam’s war pass. The first sign of the veracity of accomplishments and his reign of 22 His word would be the death of years, after which he was succeeded Jeroboam’s son the very moment his by his son Nadab. No details of these wife returned home. All Israel would military and political successes were mourn for him and bury him. Of all the provided. They did not matter to God. members of Jeroboam’s family, he God is concerned with the faithfulness would be the only one to be buried in of His servants and people.2 He is the grave because some good thing more interested in whether Jeroboam was found in him toward the LORD was obedient to the covenant made. God of Israel (14:10-13). God showed mercy and spared him from the evil days ahead. Rehoboam’s Reign in Judah – Fourthly, the LORD would raise 14:21-31 another king over Israel. This king Rehoboam was 41 years old when would destroy the “house” of he was first made king. He ruled for 17 Jeroboam. The nation Israel would be years (930 to 913 B.C.). His palace weak like a “reed shaken in the water” was in Jerusalem, the city which the and it would be rooted out of the land and the people scattered “beyond the river”. The river referred to was the 2 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath Euphrates. This judgement upon Israel the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and was because the people had turned sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to away from the LORD to the worship of hearken than the fat of rams. idols, provoking the LORD to anger. 3 DHW LESSON 9 1 KINGS 14 LORD had chosen from among all the homosexuality. The name Sodomy or tribes of Israel. homosexuality derived its label from Rehoboam’s mother was Naamah, the inhabitants of Sodom during the an Ammonitess. She was not an time of Abraham and Lot. The male Israelite. The fact that Solomon chose inhabitants of Sodom were bent on Rehoboam as his successor tells us homosexuality, and because of such that she must have been the favourite sins, the LORD condemned the city to from among his many wives and destruction (Genesis 19:24, 25).