I Kings 14 – The end for Jeroboam and Rehoboam

1. I Kings 14 – The end for Jeroboam and Rehoboam

2. I Kings 14 (b) – The reign of Rehoboam

3. A Reminder: Now 2 Kingdoms Jeroboam Rehoboam Judah 2 Tribes: Judah and Benjamin More loyal to God Headquarters in Jerusalem Now Rehoboam • Israel • 10 Northern Tribes • Already deep in idolatry • Headquarters in Shechem

4. Rehoboam & Judah • (1 Ki 14:21 NKJV) And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king. He reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there. His mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonitess.

5. Judah did evil also • (1 Ki 14:22 NKJV) Now Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked Him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, more than all that their fathers had done.

6. Judah Slips into Idolatry • (1 Ki 14:23 NKJV) For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and wooden images on every high hill and under every green tree.

7. Perverted persons • (1 Ki 14:24 NKJV) And there were also perverted persons in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.

8. Trouble in Judah • (1 Ki 14:25 NKJV) It happened in the fifth year of King Rehoboam that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem.

9. The Losses Outlined. • (1 Ki 14:26 NKJV) And 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 gold shields which Solomon had made.

10. Another step down • (1 Ki 14:27 NKJV) Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who guarded the doorway of the king's house.

11. What is the Emphasis? • (1 Ki 14:28 NKJV) And whenever the king entered the house of the LORD, the guards carried them, then brought them back into the guardroom. • Is it on his “Secret Service”? • Or is it on his Worship to God?

12. The end of Rehoboam • (1 Ki 14:29 NKJV) Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

13. A Sad state of Unrest • (1 Ki 14:30 NKJV) And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days. • Why the unrest? • Because God was not too much in their thoughts.

14. The End for Rehoboam • (1 Ki 14:31 NKJV) So Rehoboam rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. His mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonitess. Then Abijam his son reigned in his place.

15. What about Chronicles? • (1 Ki 14:29 NKJV) Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

16. What about Chronicles? • (1 Ki 14:29 NKJV) Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? • And doesn’t Chronicles give us some spiritual insight as to what is happening?

17. Rehoboam provides Defense • (2 Chr 11:5-12 NKJV) So Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah. {6} And he built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, {7} Beth Zur, Sochoh, Adullam, {8} Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, {9} Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, {10} Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and Benjamin, fortified cities.

18. Rehoboam provides Defense • (2 Chr 11:5-12 NKJV) {11} And he fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine. {12} Also in every city he put shields and spears, and made them very strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

19. I am for Self Defense, but . . . • (Psa 127:1 NKJV) Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.

20. Costly Decisions • (2 Chr 11:13-14 NKJV) And from all their territories the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel took their stand with him. {14} For the Levites left their common-lands and their possessions and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them from serving as priests to the LORD.

21. More Idolatry for Jeroboam • (2 Chr 11:15 NKJV) Then he [I think it is pretty obvious that the he here is Jeroboam] appointed for himself priests for the high places, for the demons, and the calf idols which he had made.

22. Leave home to worship God • (2 Chr 11:16-17 NKJV) And after the Levites left, those from all the tribes of Israel, such as set their heart to seek the LORD God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD God of their fathers. {17} So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years, because they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years.

23. Rehoboam takes many wives. • (2 Chr 11:18-23 NKJV) Then Rehoboam took for himself as wife Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliah the son of Jesse. {19} And she bore him children: Jeush, Shamariah, and Zaham. {20} After her he took Maacah the granddaughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

24. Rehoboam takes many wives. • (2 Chr 11:18-23 NKJV) {21} Now Rehoboam loved Maachah the granddaughter of Absalom more than all his wives and his concubines; for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and begot twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. {22} And Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maachah as chief, to be leader among his brothers; for he intended to make him king.

25. Like father, like son! • (2 Chr 11:18-23 NKJV) {23} He dealt wisely, and dispersed some of his sons throughout all the territories of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city; and he gave them provisions in abundance. He also sought many wives for them.

26. Rehoboam Forsakes God! • (2 Chr 12:1 NKJV) Now it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, that he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel along with him.

27. Rehoboam’s Defense is Gone • (2 Chr 12:2-4 NKJV) And it happened in the fifth year of King Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD,

28. Rehoboam’s Defense is Gone • (2 Chr 12:2-4 NKJV) {3} with twelve hundred chariots, sixty thousand horsemen, and people without number who came with him out of Egypt; the Lubim and the Sukkiim and the Ethiopians. {4} And he took the fortified cities of Judah and came to Jerusalem.

29. The warning from God • (2 Chr 12:5-6 NKJV) Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah, who were gathered together in Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, "Thus says the LORD: 'You have forsaken Me, and therefore I also have left you in the hand of Shishak.‘”

30. The People Turn • (2 Chr 12:5-6 NKJV) {6} So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, "The LORD is righteous."

31. Partial Forgiveness? • (2 Chr 12:7-8 NKJV) Now when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, "They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance. My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.

32. Partial Payment • (2 Chr 12:7-8 NKJV) {8} "Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may distinguish My service from the service of the kingdoms of the nations."

33. Sometimes we are left with the scars.

34. Let’s return to the end of Rehoboam in I Kings • (1 Ki 14:31 NKJV) So Rehoboam rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. His mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonitess. Then Abijam his son reigned in his place.

35. Adam Clarke says: • Naamah an Ammonitess - He was born of a heathen mother, and begotten of an apostate father. From such an impure fountain could sweet water possibly spring?

36. His mother an Ammonitess.

37. His mother an Ammonitess. • What’s the impact of a pagan mother?

38. His mother an Ammonitess. • What’s the impact of a pagan mother? • What hope was there for Rehoboam?

39. His mother an Ammonitess. • What’s the impact of a pagan mother? • What hope was there for Rehoboam? • His father was married to a 1,000 women, so how much time did he have for Rehoboam?

40. His mother an Ammonitess. • What’s the impact of a pagan mother? • What hope was there for Rehoboam? • His father was married to a 1,000 women, so how much time did he have for Rehoboam? • How much spiritual training do you think an Ammonitess is going to give a child?

41. Who paid the price?

42. Who paid the price? • Rehoboam

43. Who paid the price? • Rehoboam • Judah

44. Who paid the price? • Rehoboam • Judah • Israel

45. Who paid the price? • Rehoboam • Judah • Israel • And the world.

46. Who paid the price? • Rehoboam • Judah • Israel • And the world. • God’s light in the world was going out.

47. How Does it Apply to Us? • (Mat 5:14-16 NKJV) "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. {15} "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. {16} "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

48. Be the Best you can be. • In the restaurant where we ate lunch today, there is this sign: • Life is a Game: Golf is serious! • It’s a joke of course, but some live their lives that way. • We need to be serious. • We never know how many depend on us.

49. One more time:

50. One more time: • The Battle belongs to the Lord.