DBG - April 21 - I Kings 12-14

In this chapter the kingdom divides and the Northen Kingdom establishes a new religious system.

vs. 1-15 – Rehoboam (“enlarger of the people”), son of Solomon, is set to take his father’s throne. He is 41 years old when he begins to reign. This will be done at a national assembly at Shechem because the monarchy does not rule absolutely.  God chose the king and the people ratified the choice. The question pressed by Jeroboam and the tribes is what the burden of Rehoboam’s rule would be. Solomon’s expansions and luxury brought heavy taxes and forced labor upon the land, and the people were ready for relief. Rehoboam declines the wise advice of his father’s advisors and takes the stern  approach of his own generation. Note vs. 15 that this was all done according to the will and word of the Lord.

vs. 16-24 – The Northern tribes (identified as Israel going forward) reject Rehoboam and select Jeroboam to be their king. Rehoboam had only Judah and its neighbor Benjamin.  The break is official when Rehoboam sent Adoram to collect tribute and he was stoned by the people. Rehoboam prepares for war against his own people but the prophet Shemaiah (“heard by Jehovah”) stops them.

vs. 25-33 - To prevent his new kingdom from reuniting with Judah through worshipping at Jerusalem, Jeroboam puts golden calves at Dan and Bethel. He establishes a new priesthood, sacrificial system, and cycle of holy days. It must be noted that the religion established by Jeroboam is not completely pagan nor a complete rejection of God’s truth. There are syncretic elements borrowed from other religions, such as the use of idols/images with the two calves.  It is strange to see as we continue that many thought they were worshipping God in an acceptable manner.  As a consequence of the new religion and priesthood in the Northern Kingdom, it appears that the tribe of Levi largely defected to the Southern Kingdom.  Note in vs. 28 that Jeroboam uses the same wording as Aaron did with the Golden Calf in Exodus 32:4,8 – “behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt”.

In this chapter a prophet speaks against Jeroboam’s new religion.

vs. 1-10 – An unnamed prophet appears at Bethel as Jeroboam is offering incense on his new altar. A remarkable prophecy is made, that a descendant of David named Josiah would desecrate that altar. This is fulfilled 351 years later with King Josiah in II Kings 23:16. As a sign of the sureness of the prophecy, the altar broke open and spilled its ashes. As Jeroboam pointed to the prophet for someone to arrest him, his outstretched hand became lifeless. After the unnamed prophet prays, the use of Jeroboam’s hand returns. The prophet departs without eating or drinking and heads back in a different way than when he came.

vs. 11-32 – An old prophet hears the news and seeks the unnamed prophet. He presses for that prophet to return to his home in Bethel and dine with him. The unnamed prophet refuses, saying that God had forbid him from doing so. But the old prophet lies and claims that an angel had instructed him to invite the unnamed prophet. The unnamed prophet is rebuked by Divine message through the old prophet and his death is foretold. A lion attacked him as he left the city but did not devour him or his donkey (a most unusual thing). The old prophet retrieves the body and buries it in his own tomb.

vs. 33-34 – Jeroboam did not heed the prophetic warning and that sin – the poisonous seed he planted – would be the downfall of his kingdom.

In this chapter we see events in the reigns of Jeroboam and Rehoboam

vs. 1-18 – Abijah (“my father is Jehovah”), son of Jeroboam, was deathly sick. His mother was sent to seek the prophet Ahijah to intercede for the child’s life. Ahijah was elderly and had largely lost his sight. But God revealed to him who the visitor was and what her mission would be. God’s message for Jeroboam was that because of his unfaithfulness his dynasty would end.

vs. 19-20 – Jeroboam reigned for 22 years and was succeeded by his son Nadab (“liberal, generous”)

vs. 21-31 - Rehoboam reigned for 17 years over Judah. His son Abijam/Abijah (“my father is Jehovah”) succeeded him. The failures of Rehoboam were (1) that high places and images multiplied in his reign, (2) there were sodomites9 in the land, and (3) that Shishak spoiled the city of its riches. Take note in vs. 26-27 on how Shishak took golden shield that Solomon had made in I Kings 10:16- 17. Rehoboam replaces them with brazen shields which would look similar, but of course of much lesser value. One cannot help but wonder if this was done to try to make the people believe that they still possessed the golden shields.

There are few more fateful events in the history of Israel than the establishment of Jeroboam’s counter religion.  None of the changes were ordained by God, they are all completely man-made.  They tried to worship God through the proxy of idols.  The use of pagan means of worship made it even easier for the people to slip into idolatry.  The corruption and compromise that Jeroboam introduced aided in the spiritual decline of the Northern Kingdom over 250 years until it was conquered by the Assyrians in 721 B.C.  It should be a grave warning to us to make sure we are truly worshipping God on His terms and not our own.  He is the one that sets the parameters of acceptable worship, not us.

Our hymn today is “Pray for Me”, written by Johnson Oatman around 1920.  It echoes the request of Jeroboam for the prophet to pray for him in 13:6.

1 When you at the footstool of mercy
Are sending to Heaven your plea,
Remember in your intercession
To offer a prayer, too, for me.

Refrain:
Pray for me, pray for me,
Wherever on earth you may be.
For, O it will help in the battle of life
To know you are praying for me.

2 What tho’ we may part far asunder,
Divided by land and by sea,
I know I’ll have heavenly blessings
If you will keep praying for me. [Refrain]

3 I ask not a lengthy petition,
But yet when upon bended knee,
’Twill comfort me much on life’s journey
To think you are praying for me. [Refrain]

4 Until we shall meet over yonder,
Our King and Redeemer to see,
For you, my dear friends, I’ll keep praying,
While you are all praying for me. [Refrain]