The Divided Kingdom

God’s Judgment

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

 Judgment on the House of Ahab

 Book of 2 Kings

 There are many disagreements in the many denominations of the Church about the “Judgment of God,” but we are all united in the belief that there will be a final “Judgment”.

 Death is a reality for every member of the human race.

 Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

 We should understand that this Scripture refers to the physical death of the body, but not the soul.

 The soul can be described as the life-principle of a human being, and the life-principle of every human will live on after the death of the body.

 The Lord Jesus says this about the soul: Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

 The soul can be said to be the immaterial nature of every human!

 The soul can only be seen by God, who gave it!

Sometimes, the real me on the inside of this sack of flesh will be looking out, and I will want to do something, but I cannot get this flesh to cooperate. It gets worse as I get older.

 At death, the soul and the body will separate: Jas 2:26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead”, so faith without works is dead also.

 With the body now dead, it is the soul that will face the judgment of God, as our verse in the Book of Hebrews says.

 No one is exempt from this death. Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

 We must be very clear that because Jehovah is holy, He must judge all that is unholy, or He would no longer be holy Himself!

 “Judgment” is an expression of God’s character!

 Today, we will see that many will face God’s “Judgement” as they die because they are evil and wicked, and they have refused to repent of that wickedness.

 We have already spoken some on the judgment of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel, but today we will see it as it takes place in the Scriptures.

 It was the Prophet Elijah who first informed King Ahab about how his life would end in judgment.

 We know that God had already judged Lucifer and the fallen angels, and the things written in the Scriptures will take place as they are written.

 We know that God judged the people on this earth with the worldwide flood in the days of Noah.

 God judged the people at the Tower of Babel.

 God judged the people of the Northern Kingdom, as we have been studying.

 God also judged the Southern Kingdom.

 We know that the wrath of God will be revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness!

The Book of Revelation gives us the horrible details of this “Judgement”.

 Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

 As the Son of God, our Lord Jesus has the authority to render judgment when He returns, and He will only do this after He has removed His Church from this earth.

 Joh 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

 It would be Jehu who would be the hand of God’s judgment upon King Ahab and his wife Jezebel.

We will see that Jehu went farther than the Lord intended and in ways that were not intended.

 *****2Ki 9:1 And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead:

2Ki 9:2 And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber;

2Ki 9:3 Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not.

2Ki 9:4 So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramothgilead.

2Ki 9:5 And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of all us? And he said, To thee, O captain.

 Once Jehu was known to be the next King of the Northern Tribes of Israel, he had to move fast because he would be charged with high treason.

 Jehu was commanded by Jehovah to put a stop to the House of Ahab and being obedient to God and upon the right principles, he did not have to worry about opposition.

 What did the Lord actually say?

 1Ki 19:17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

1Ki 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

 What had God said to Ahab?

 1Ki 21:21 Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,

1Ki 21:22 And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin.

1Ki 21:23 And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.

1Ki 21:24 Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat.

 This was Ahab’s last chance to repent. We know that Ahab did repent at least a little and Jehovah allowed him to die in a war with Syria “before his family came to judgment”, but the words of God’s prophet still held.

 1Ki 22:37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.

1Ki 22:38 And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake.

 *****2Ki 9:6 And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel.

2Ki 9:7 And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel.

2Ki 9:8 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel:

2Ki 9:9 And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah:

2Ki 9:10 And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.

 It was Elijah who had received the order from Jehovah to anoint Jehu as the new King of the Northern Tribes of Israel.

 Elijah anointed Elisha to replace him as a Prophet of God, and it was Elisha who anointed Hazael as King of Syria. Now, Elisha sent another prophet to anoint Jehu as the new king.

 God had allowed King Ahab to reign until his death.

 1Ki 21:27 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.

1Ki 21:28 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,

1Ki 21:29 Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.

 Once King Ahab had died, Jehovah fulfilled the promise He had made.

 1Ki 21:21 Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,

1Ki 21:22 And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin.

 The person Elisha chose to anoint Jehu as king was to do three things.

 Jehu was one of the captains of the Army of King Ahab and may have been the lead captain.

 1) This prophet was to take Jehu into an inner room and privately anoint him out of sight of everyone else.

2) He was to declare that it was Jehovah who had appointed him king over Israel.

3) He was to flee the scene as quickly as he could.

 For someone to declare themselves to be king would be considered high treason to the existing government.

 This is the thing that the Jews used to have the Lord Jesus crucified.

 Jehu was chosen specifically to execute justice on the house of Ahab.

 This was because Ahab had allowed Jezebel to slaughter the people of God and God’s prophets.

 Jehu was to kill all the descendants of Ahab and Jezebel.

 God had said this same thing would happen to other kings of Israel.

 Jezebel’s ending would be just as God had described.

 2Ki 9:10 And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her.

 The army of King Ahab became the army of King Jehu.

 Jehu was appointed to be a just ruler to execute justice.

There is a big difference between justice and murder!

 It is the same for every ruler that God allows to rule today.

 They are in place to execute justice, and they will be held accountable to God for how they do this!

 Executing justice does not always mean murder, which is a sin!

 However, how any ruler executes justice to their people will determine how Jehovah will execute justice to them!

 Whatever they sow, they will reap!

 The Lord Jesus Christ will execute perfect justice when He returns!

 2Ch 19:6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.

2Ch 19:7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

 Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

 Joram, a son of Ahab, was now ruler of Israel, and Ahaziah was King of Judah, and they were both together.

 Because Athaliah was the daughter of Jezebel and the mother of Ahaziah, Joram, King of Israel, was the uncle to Ahaziah, the King of Judah.

 *****2Ki 9:21 And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite.

2Ki 9:22 And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?

2Ki 9:23 And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah.

 The uncle and his nephew went out to meet Jehu.

 As only God can manage, these men met at the portion of land that had been taken from Naboth.

 If we do not believe in the providence of God, then we will never understand the Word of God.

 In reality, Jehu carried out a bloody slaughter throughout Israel.

 Did Jehovah command this to happen, or did He just warn King Ahab that this was going to happen?

 God will always allow us to repent.

 God will tell us what will happen if we refuse to repent.

 Hos 1:4 And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.

Hos 1:5 And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.

 We can see that the military of King Ahab did not think too highly of Jezebel.

 Joram was just like his mother, and Ahaziah was just like his mother Athaliah, the daughter of Jezebel.

 *****2Ki 9:24 And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.

2Ki 9:25 Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain, Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, the LORD laid this burden upon him;

2Ki 9:26 Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the LORD; and I will requite thee in this plat, saith the LORD. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of the LORD.

2Ki 9:27 But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot. And they did so at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there.

 There are over fifty-two verses of Scripture that describe the slaughter of Jehu, so it must be important that we understand what God is saying here.

 Jehu took out King Joram with one shot of an arrow through his heart, and his body was cast into the field once owned by Naboth where the birds would eat him.

 It is Verse 26 that tells that the sons of Naboth were also slaughtered by King Ahab and Jezebel.

 Now Jehu turns his attention to King Ahaziah of Judah, best described in the Book of 2 Chronicles:

 2Ch 22:7 And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.

2Ch 22:8 And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them.

2Ch 22:9 And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.

 The death of Ahaziah and his sons left Judah without a king, and this is when Athaliah took it upon herself to become Queen of Judah by her treachery. She murdered her own children and grandchildren.

 2Ch 22:10 But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.

 Only one son had survived, who was Joash, who continued the promise made to King David.

 2Ch 22:11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.

2Ch 22:12 And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.

 Jehu decided it was time to take care of Jezebel.

 *****2Ki 9:30 And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.

 A tire was a headdress, an ornament for the head, generally of gold or precious stones, a tiara.

 Jezebel was old by this time, but made herself look like royalty in an attempt to impress Jehu.

 She had been the cause of the death of many prophets of God.

 *****2Ki 9:31 And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?

2Ki 9:32 And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs.

2Ki 9:33 And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot.

2Ki 9:34 And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king’s daughter.

2Ki 9:35 And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.

2Ki 9:36 Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel:

2Ki 9:37 And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.

 The end of Jezebel was just as Jehovah had said.

 Her blood had splattered everywhere, she was trampled, and the dogs had eaten her until nothing but her skull, her hands, and her feet were left.

She would be as dung as her remains passed from the dogs in the nearby fields of Jezreel.

 She was buried in an unmarked grave, and no one mourned for this wicked woman.

 It was then that Jehu turned his attention to the seventy sons of King Ahab.

 The Scripture says seventy sons, but it may mean sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons.

 *****2Ki 10:10 Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done that which he spake by his servant Elijah.

2Ki 10:11  So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining. 

 Jehu may have considered himself to be the arm of God, but in reality, we know that God does not need our help for His Word to be True!

 Zec 1:6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

 Mar 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

 Jehu wrote a letter to the officials of Samaria and Jezreel, telling them to choose the closest relative of King Ahab and make him king of Israel and to prepare for war.

 This only terrified these officials, who were afraid to confront Jehu.

 Since they had switched their allegiance to Jehu, Jehu wrote another letter demanding that they execute justice against the seventy sons of King Ahab for treason.

 They were to bring the heads of these seventy sons to Jezreel the very next day.

 The word of Jehu was honored.

 Jehu made out that he was on a special mission for Jehovah to remove any blame for himself seeking the sympathy of the people.

 Jehu was not a godly man.

 *****2Ki 10:31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.

 He was just like Jeroboam.

 King Jehu went beyond the justice that God had intended, and he became a murderer.

 God wanted justice throughout the Northern Tribes of Israel and not just the elimination of one family, though God knew what Jehu would do.

 To murder is a terrible sin because it takes the life of a person out of this world.

 The hearts of many who are left behind also suffer much pain and grief, and in many cases hardship, because it was the male who was the breadwinner on that day, while the wife took care of the children.

 Jehu caused a terrible number of single-parent families.

 God never instructs His children to murder. God still says that they will suffer the consequences of this evil.

 For the wages of sin is death!

 Amen

Arrogance

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Bad Counsel Caused Division

Book of 1 Kings Chapter 12

We have a new president, and we hope those he chooses as councilors will help lead him to make our nation great again.

The best advice that any should give him is to return our nation to the Lord our God.

We can be assured that he was chosen to lead the United States of America by God Himself and God has His reasons, and it is His will.

Our lesson today covers one of the most important times in the history of Israel.

The division of the tribes of Israel caused many bad feelings that have not been overcome even in our day.

These were also important times for the Church because as Christians we need to understand the history of Israel to understand the prophets and prophecy.

Israel will divide into a Northern Kingdom and a Southern Kingdom.

We will also see that God loves the Gentiles who the people of Israel considered to be heathen.

These things were not done in secret. God had warned Solomon just as He warns us all today.

Now, God does not cause these things to happen, He allows them to happen.

God has given us free will to choose between right and wrong and He guides us to show us the right way.

God cannot be blamed for the wrong that is done in our world because He will not force us to do right nor will He force us to do wrong. He just tells us the truth!

As King Solomon died at the young age of around sixty the turmoil began with his son Rehoboam.

*1Ki 12:1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.

We know that King David had ruled as a conqueror.

King Solomon ruled as a man of peace but high taxation.

The people of Israel had no benefits from the rule of King Solomon except they lived in peace.

After King Solomon, the people wanted to modify the character of the next government.

Arrogance is a terrible evil. Arrogance puts people down and then pushes them away, treating them as inferior.

Here in America, we understand this very well.

We have seen this in our last few Democratic governments so we can relate to the people of Israel during the time of King Solomon.

This arrogance was passed down to Solomon’s son Rehoboam.

Rehoboam possessed none of the traits of his father other than arrogance.

Rehoboam possessed none of the traits of his grandfather David.

Rehoboam was recognized as heir to the throne of his father.

The coronation of Rehoboam was to take place at Shechem.

It was at Shechem that Abraham built his first altar in the Promised Land and received the promise of Jehovah.

It was at Shechem where Jacob bought a parcel of land from the children Hamor and settled with his household and where he buried the idols of his wives under a tree named “the oak of the sorcerer”.

It was at Shechem where Jacob dug a well where the Lord Jesus would meet a Samaritan woman.

It was at Shechem where Joshua gave his parting address and made a covenant with the people.

Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Shechem was a special place of the promises of God!

It will be at Shechem where Rehoboam will show his arrogance and cause Israel to become a divided nation.

It was at Shechem where Jeroboam took up his residence for a while.

It is Shechem that is said to be the most beautiful place in all of Palestine.

*1Ki 12:2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)
1Ki 12:3 That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
1Ki 12:4 Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.

Jeroboam, who King Solomon had run out of town was now back and was taking the lead voice of the opposition to the kingdom under Solomon.

1Ki 11:40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

We could ask ourselves why.

1Ki 11:28 And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.
1Ki 11:29 And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:
1Ki 11:30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:
1Ki 11:31 And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:
1Ki 11:32 (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)
1Ki 11:33 Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.

The name Joseph denotes the two tribes Ephraim and Manasseh and Ephraim denotes the Kingdom of Israel and then the whole covenant people of Israel.

From Ezekiel, we see this thing:

Eze 37:16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
Eze 37:17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
Eze 37:18 And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?
Eze 37:19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.

We can now see the other side of the rule of King Solomon.

There were heavy taxes under Solomon.
Tyrants oppressed their subjects with grievous impositions.

This tax and impositions were not only for the people which would have been ok, but for the expenses of Solomon’s court.

This tax supported all the wives and concubines of King Solomon and any whim he took part in which did not set well with the people.

This tax-supported all the festivities of Solomon’s lavish lifestyle.

We should keep in mind that King Solomon was the richest person to have ever lived, but he kept those riches to himself when he could have paid all the taxes and still been rich.

When Solomon forsakes the Lord and worshipped idols then the people surely had enough of him and were glad to see him go.

To the average Israelite, being under the burden of such high taxes was like a yoke laid upon beasts of burden and seemed more like servant work rather than living in peace.

As long as King Solomon walked with the Lord, he was important as the Holy Spirit guided this author, but as soon as he forsake the Lord God Jehovah he became insignificant, not just to the people but also to Jehovah.

In a sense Solomon destroyed himself and it was not helping his son Rehoboam.

Millo was a new fortification that protected Jerusalem from an attack from the north. It is also called the Citadel.

Solomon also repaired any weak places in the walls of Jerusalem.

Solomon began to fear the loss of his kingdom which was impossible because of God’s promise to King David.

All King Solomon had to do was to remain faithful to Jehovah.

Solomon took his eyes off the Lord and fell into the trap of lust.

1Jn_2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Let us see this history of Israel develop.

*1Ki 12:5 And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.
1Ki 12:6 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?
1Ki 12:7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.

Now the Son of Solomon, Rehoboam was facing some angry people, especially those of Ephraim who were being led by an angry Jeroboam.

We already know that Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor.

1Ki 11:28 And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.

Solomon had determined to kill Jeroboam for what God’s prophet had said to him.

We all know that we cannot change what God has said will take place!

Rehoboam was at least wise enough to seek counsel before responding to the people of Ephraim.

Shechem was a twelve hour walk from Jerusalem, and it would take some time for the councilors of Rehoboam to reach Shechem and to meet with Rehoboam.

Rehoboam had sent for the councilors of his father Solomon and his friends who he had been raised with.

These were a bunch of rich spoiled kids who had no worries growing up and knew nothing of ruling government.

Solomon had caused every Israelite to serve one month in government service and then two months at home until all his building project had been completed and many more of them were drafted into the military, but not these young men who had rich parents.

Solomon required heavy taxes upon the people and the rich just got richer and the poor got poorer, and the poor were seeking some much-needed relief.

All the building projects were complete and such taxes were certainly no longer needed.

Rehoboam had inherited the riches of his father, and he certainly did not need more riches.

For years the people had been complaining about the harshness of King Solomon, but nothing changed.

Rehoboam first consulted with the elders who had counselled his father, Solomon.

There was wisdom in the council of the elders, good for every government.

A government that serves the people will be a lasting government.

A government that listens to its people and takes action to help them will be a lasting government.

The government that does these things will find people who will willingly serve the government.

This is the principle behind the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus came to serve!

Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Jesus taught us that whoever would be great must begin by being a servant.

The proud and lofty in this world are served enough without taking the needs of the poor.

Rehoboam was already forty-one years of age, he should have known better, but his mother was a pagan, and he had witnessed his father worship a pagan god.

1Ki 14:21 And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess.

Rehoboam next turned to his friends who were not so young being his age but certainly younger than those elders.

Rehoboam forsook the council of the elders and turned to his rich friends.

*1Ki 12:8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:
1Ki 12:9 And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?
1Ki 12:10 And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.
1Ki 12:11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

Now we should not think of these young men as in their twenties or their thirties.

Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he succeeded his father on the throne, and we should expect those men that he grew up with to be about his age but they were still spoiled rich kids.

Rehoboam was even more arrogant and prideful than his father Solomon.

He would tax these tribes even more than his father and increase their workload.

He even mentioned scourging.

If we do nothing else in our lifetime we need to guard against arrogance and pride!

These things do not suit the Christian who is following in the ways of our Lord Jesus Christ who gave us the example of humility.

These younger men had grown up living in luxury and wealth and they knew nothing of an honest day’s work.

They knew nothing of responsibility!

These were pampered men with childish ways.

They had no respect for the people of Israel!

Sounds a whole lot like the America we have been living in where our government had no respect for the taxpayer, and we hope these things change with our new government.

We as the children of God are not better than anyone else in this world though we may be better off because our names are written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

None of us are to be slaves to arrogant governments or anyone else!

In many places, God speaks against these things.

Psa_10:2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
Psa_10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

Pro_8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Pro_16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Rehoboam claimed that his power would far exceed that of his Father King Solomon.

Pro 10:14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
Pro 10:15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

What happens eventually in such cases? People rebel.

Jeroboam knew exactly how the people of Israel had suffered under King Solomon, and he now had the respect of ten of the tribes of Israel.

Jeroboam now clearly understood what the Prophet Ahijah had told him.

1Ki 11:29 And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:
1Ki 11:30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:
1Ki 11:31 And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:

God keeps His reason for doing this very simple.

1Ki 11:33 Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.

We talk many times about God keeping His promises and we can be sure He will also keep those promises of forsaking Him.

In the end, Jeroboam was not so much different from Rehoboam, but he would still rule Ephraim which included ten of the tribes of Israel for twenty-two years.

*1Ki 12:16 So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
1Ki 12:17 But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

The United Kingdom of Israel was dissolved before Rehoboam was crowned as King of Judah.

Rehoboam was a weak and wicked man!

There is an old saying that says “he who would rule others must first rule himself”.

We should understand by now that God gives opportunities to individuals and nations even though they will not improve them.

It was the divine plan of God to give Jeroboam control of the ten tribes of Israel even though God knew that Jeroboam would also forsake Him.

We may not understand this, but Jehovah has a much greater plan in motion.

Now this does not mean that Jehovah caused Jeroboam to act the way he did because he was allowed to do good and he failed to do so as he too became arrogant and prideful.

We must also understand that Jehovah is not sitting in Heaven waiting to see what rulers will do and he is not ever caught off guard.

God gives everyone a chance to do good when opportunities are given to them.

It is that sinful nature that gets us in so much trouble.

Rehoboam would rule Judah and Benjamin.

Rehoboam tried one more thing to insert his authority over those who rebelled.

*1Ki 12:18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

Adoram (or Adoniram) was the man over the taxes or tribute for King Solomon and now for King Rehoboam to either collect the taxes or make a compromise with the tribes of the north, but he was stoned to death and Rehoboam left for the safety of Jerusalem.

Adoram was the wrong man to send for he was famous for his harsh policies of forced labor.

From this point in the history of Israel, the name Israel referred to the ten Northern Tribes and the name Judah referred to the Southern Tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

*1Ki 12:19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.
1Ki 12:20 And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.

Jeroboam becomes the king of the Northern Tribes of Israel.

We should understand that Ephraim had always felt the most important since the time of Joseph, but Jehovah does not see it that way and God made sure promises to the House of David still recognized as Israel’s greatest king.

Again, we must understand that Jehovah has guided the nation of Israel with a special purpose, but He guides the history of all the world in the same way.

God gave mankind free will to follow Him or not to follow Him.

We must also understand that nothing in this universe is outside the scope of Jehovah’s sovereign rule!

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

The will of God is made known in real-time.

It is each believer in the Lord Jesus Christ that is chosen by Jehovah and He made this decision before He created any part of this world.

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

There is no one alive today, no one who lived in the past or who will live in the future that Jehovah will not offer an opportunity to be adopted into the family of God, and it all centers around the Lord Jesus Christ.

2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Our purpose is not here on this earth even though we will be given opportunities while we are alive.

Even the death of the Lord Jesus Christ was determined before the foundation of the world was laid.

1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Our God has this amazing plan for every believer, and we could look at our world as the place God has chosen to separate the believer from those who reject Him.

Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

We simply cannot comprehend the wisdom and the knowledge of our Divine Savior.

He does not have to consult with anyone, and no one has advised Him.

It is because God knows all things before, they happen, and He controls and guides all events for His Own Glory and For Our own Good.

Psa 104:24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

Pro 3:19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

God does not ever have to adjust His plan according to the things that happen here on earth, He simply knows all things!

Amen

The Divided Kingdom Of Israel

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Splendor To Splinter

The Divided Kingdom

2 Chronicles 10

After the death of King Solomon, Israel became two distinctive political states which eventually led to the destruction of Israel as a nation for more 2000 years.

The Northern kingdom was known as Israel and the Southern kingdom was known as Judah and they operated as two separate countries from about 924 BC until 722 BC about 200 years.

Sometimes they would war with each other and sometimes they were friendly enough to aide each other.

The Northern kingdom came to an end in 722 BC at the hands of the Assyrians when the capitol city of Samaria was destroyed.

The Southern Kingdom fell to to the Babylonians in 587 BC when Jerusalem and Solomon’s Temple were destroyed.

It was the Assyrians who caused the mixed breed, called the Samaritans to come about, when all the Jewish men were removed and Gentile men were brought into the Jewish women.

The Jews of Judah hated the Samaritans from that time forward.

2Ki 17:23 Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.
2Ki 17:24 And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

We can see that God had His hand in all these things by allowing them to happen.

The Jewish remnant in Samaria made Mount Gerizim their own chosen place of God and adhered to only the Books of Moses called the Pentateuch.

Jerusalem and Mount Moriah, where the Temple once stood, will always be the place chosen by the Jew as the capitol city and God’s chosen place for them to worship.

But Jesus had these words for all Jews, all mixed cultures and all Gentiles as he taught the woman at that well in Samaria:

Joh 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, “when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him”.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

The place of worship is not near as important as knowing the truth of God!

And the Lord Jesus adds that “where two or three are gathered in His name, He will gather with them”,

King Solomon was the wisest man to have ever lived!

King Solomon was the richest of all Monarchy to have ever lived!

SO, What else does history give the most credit to King Solomon?

It was King Solomon that cause the downfall of the nation of Israel and he late in life realized this himself!

Ecc 2:18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
Ecc 2:19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
Ecc 2:20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

It was these actions of King Solomon in his sin that brought the wrath of God upon Israel!

1Ki 11:9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,

America has fallen away from the truth of God and our own leaders and government have contributed greatly to this but there is never any excuse for God’s people to lose their faith and trust in things other than our true God Jehovah, the Lord Jesus Christ!

So lets see how these things came about:

*****2Ch 10:1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.

Rehoboam was the first born son of Solomon from Naamah the princess daughter of the King of Ammon.

The Ammonites worshipped Milcom, the false fire god of the Ammonites which required human sacrifices.

Shechem was the place where Abraham had pitched a tent and built his first altar in the Promised Land and the very place where Abraham received the covenant of God.

In fact Shechem has a great history in the writings of other nations including Egypt.

Gen 12:6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
Gen 12:7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

Shechem was well remembered by the children of Israel and had a great history and it was at Shechem where Rehoboam decide to give his inauguration speech.

Unlike Solomon who was a teenager, Rehoboam was 41 years old when he became King of Israel.

*****2Ch 10:2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.

Jeroboam had once been a supervisor over a large work force for King Solomon.

1Ki 11:28 And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.

Jeroboam evidently disagreed with King Solomon in the duties of his job and how the people were treated and King Solomon removed Jeroboam from service and Jeroboam fled for his life to Egypt but only after a meeting with a prophet of God named Ahijah.

These things happened in the years when Solomon had forsaken the Lord and had fallen into idolatry!

1Ki 11:40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

Upon the death of King Solomon, Jeroboam had returned to Israel and sought to fulfill the prophecies of God.

It is important for us to know that God does not need our help to fulfill the things He has said He will cause to happen!

Many in Israel knew the truth of Jeroboam and they sent for him to be present to hear the words of Rehoboam in Shechem.

*****2Ch 10:3 And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying,
2Ch 10:4 Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.

It is also important to consider that it was the people of Israel who had made Saul and David kings of Israel.

It had been David who had caused Solomon to be king and he had been accepted by the people.

Rehoboam had just assumed that he would be the next King because he was the first born son of Solomon and without any input from the people.

It is the people who should always have a say in who will lead their nation!

God had already set the standard for selecting the kings of Israel.

1) God must appoint him.

2) The people in a proper assembly must approve him!

Israel did not have an absolute monarchy but Israel was intended to have a monarchy with a democracy, until the true King of Kings returned!

Jeroboam had been selected by Jehovah to be king of 10 of the tribes of Israel, leaving Rehoboam to be king of Judah which included the tribe of Benjamin at that time and all those that refused to follow Jeroboam.

1Ki 11:29 And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:
1Ki 11:30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:
1Ki 11:31 And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:
1Ki 11:32 (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)
1Ki 11:33 Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.
1Ki 11:34 Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant’s sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:
1Ki 11:35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.

God had also given Jeroboam a standard that he was to keep as the new King of Israel:

1Ki 11:38 And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.
1Ki 11:39 And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.

This is the real reason that Solomon had decided to kill Jeroboam!

The first twenty years of Solomon’s rule were as they should have been, but the last twenty years were Solomon’s downfall and he had financed the building of many false places of worship to suit his many wives and by taxing and causing the servitude of all of Israel, he had all of Israel his personal servants.

Not so much different than what is happening in our own nation today!

This is something that David had not done nor Solomon at the first.

Even King Saul had not sank to this level of sin!

If Rehoboam had addressed this issue he could have remained king of all of Israel and he first sought the counsel of the same men who had advised his father Solomon.

*****2Ch 10:5 And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed.
2Ch 10:6 And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?
2Ch 10:7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.

Rehoboam showed some wisdom in seeking the counsel of these men.

SO, What are the facts?

People will not submit quietly to a tyrant!

This is a problem we have in America today. Men become president and forget they are there to serve the people and become tyrants seeking to impose their own will on all people.

There are already 26 states who have refused to allow this to happen along with more than 50 percent of the people in America.

Rehoboam got some real good advise from these experienced statesmen.

1Ki 12:7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.

If Rehoboam had a servants heart and not the heart of a tyrant, all of Israel would have remained united!

This is the same advice that every national leader needs to hear!

1) Leaders are put in place to serve the people!

2) Leaders are put in place to do the good things they say they will do!

3) Leaders are put in place to benefit the entire nation and not just a select few!

4) Leaders are put in place must believe that God has placed them in that position, and for His own reasons and it is not to suit themselves!

Any leader in any position whether it be president, king, governor, judge or legislator who does not serve the people they were elected to serve, are not entitled to the respect of the people and they will not have it!

What these wise old men said still hold true throughout time!

Rehoboam could have solved all his problems if he had just listened to this good advice but instead these were words that did not suit him.

*****2Ch 10:8 But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him.
2Ch 10:9 And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us?
2Ch 10:10 And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.
2Ch 10:11 For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

Rehoboam had been raised in the riches of royalty that had been provided by his father Solomon.

For twenty years he had witnessed his father’s luxurious life style.

Rehoboam discussed these things with others who had also lived in the luxury of royalty and had not seen the real world of ordinary people.

Note: Most of our own government are lifetime politicians who have never known the trials and the tribulations of ordinary people!

What is a despot?

A despot is a tyrant who craves absolute power and who seeks to rule without any control of people, any control of laws, or by any constitution decided on by the people.

Rehoboam became a despot.

Our own President has also become a despot!

Wake up America!

Our leaders do not own us nor are they to rewrite our constitution on a whim!

Nor is that the job of our judicial system.

It is the God fearing people who are to make the laws they want to be governed by!

These young inexperienced men advised Rehoboam by saying “Do not begin your reign as king by giving in to the people” which might be interpreted as weakness on your part!

They advised King Rehoboam to tell these people that only he, Rehoboam, knew how best to deal with the affairs of state and he did not need their input.

All of Israel just needed to accept that he knew what was best for all of Israel.

Where have we heard all these things before? We hear this from our own government!

The meaning of being chastised with scorpions can only mean one thing.

Chastisement came by the whip in those days.

There were two types of whips in that day.

1) One had a handle attached to twisted leather or in some cases a rod similar to a thin cane.

2) Then the other one, similar to that used on Jesus, had a handle with several leather thongs that had attachments of wire, such as fish hooks and pieces of bone known as the “cat-o-nine tails”.

If the whipping by King Solomon as by the first whip, then the whipping of King Rehoboam would be as the whipping of the “cat-o-nine tails”, “the whip of the scorpion”.

What does God teach us about these things?

Eze 2:6 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

And Jesus added these words:

Luk 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Luk 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luk 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Any leader that adheres to such a policy, is an enemy to the nation they were put in place to serve!

The people of Israel had come to this same conclusion about Rehoboam!

And many today feel this same way about our own president!

When a people cannot trust their government they will also refuse his policies.

*****2Ch 10:15 So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
2Ch 10:16 And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.

God had not caused these things to happen. God just knew these things were going to happen and God gave Israel a means to escape this tyrant, while also showing this tyrant Rehoboam that it was not he that was in charge.

Both these men Rehoboam and Jeroboam were given great opportunities to do a good work for God and we will see that they both failed.

Rehoboam was to remain King of Judah only because of the covenant God had made with his grandfather King David.

1) David was to have a child named Solomon that would establish his kingdom.

2) Solomon would build the Temple.

3) The throne of David would be established forever.

4) The throne would not be taken away from Solomon even if his sin required it.

5) It was David’s house that would be established forever. “House” here means the royal dynasty of King David!

The ultimate fulfillment of these things would be in King Jesus who was the legal descendant to the throne of David by his adoptive father Joseph, and not only through a continual blood line passed down through Solomon but also through another of David’s son named Nathan, from whom came the blood line of Mary the mother of Jesus.

Jesus Christ is the direct heir to the throne of Israel and He can never die!

God always does what He says He will do!

Psa 89:3 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,
Psa 89:4 Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.

Jeroboam was also given a great opportunity to restore the glory of Israel, if he had just followed the Word of God!

The nation of Israel abandoned Rehoboam and chose Jeroboam as their King.

If we just look back on our own history we would see that the 13 colonies had exhausted every method of seeking relief from the heavy burden that came from England, but to no avail, and the only thing left was open rebellion to the throne of England.

We can also see that America is again reaching that same point of rebellion with an administration that intentionally and continuously tries to destroy the truth of American freedom!

So Israel departed from the government of Rehoboam and prepared to defend their own homes by their own means as many in America are doing today.

This one of the reasons that there more than 8 billion arms in the hands of the American citizen making them the most armed army in the entire world and the true reason our government insist on gun control!

*****2Ch 10:17 But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

For many years those that had lived in the days of the united kingdom would remember these days the nation of Israel was divided, as the most tragic days in the history of Israel, though Isaiah had prophesied of a future time period that would be even worst than this one.

Isa 7:17 The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father’s house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria.

***The pure truth is, that it is “the sin of every nation” that will bring with it an invasion from foreign lands along with all kinds of trouble on the home front!

This is the fact of all sinful generations and history has proven this to be true!

The Lord allowed Assyria to take down Israel but it was the Lord Himself who caused the downfall of Judah who was held to an even higher standard.

Isa 8:7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:
Isa 8:8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.

***God also said that every other nation that has turned against Him would be treated the exact same way

Isa 8:9 Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.
Isa 8:10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
Isa 8:11 For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,

Rehoboam decided to force the issues of his government by first forcefully collecting taxes.

Does it not seem that our own IRS has been given powers that it was never intended to have!

The IRS has now become just another arm of a tyrannical government!

*****2Ch 10:18 Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

***A people who have lost their trust in and have given up on their government will not be brought under control by force!

Rehoboam first tried to forcefully collect the taxes and the tribute.

The reply of the people was death to the tax collector!

Hadoram had been at that job since the time he was appointed by King David but this made no difference to the people of Israel and they hated the tax collector all through the time of Jesus.

To be quiet honest we all detest the tax collector!

So the Israelites of that day rebelled against the house of David, meaning Israel no longer acknowledged the line of the royal family of King David!

*****2Ch 10:19 And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

The period of the divided kingdom lasted about 253 years.

The line of David continue to reign in Judah and there were never any changes to this royal line!

In all there were 9 dynastes in Israel.

The leadership of Israel was always changing for one reason or another, without the input of the people.

***There was never a settled government of those ten tribes in all those years!

***There was not one good king of Israel in all those years!

***BUT, God never stopped sending to them the Word of God.

God sent Elijah, Elisha, Jonah, Hosea, and Amos just to name a few and many of these have their Holy Ghost inspired words preserved forever for us to learn from Israel mistakes.

There was even a school for the prophets located in this area called Israel so God kept the Word of God alive during all this time.

These prophets of God, always prophesied against the kings of the Northern Kingdom, because they all had one thing in common.

2Ki 15:24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: “he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin”.

Not one king of the Northern Tribes ever sought to serve the Lord!

Jeroboam realized that Judah still had some advantages over his new government.

1. The Temple was located in Jerusalem and all of Israel were required to go there on at least 3 occasions each year.

2. It would be the Temple where the priests and the Levites and the scholars and the teachers of the Word of God were located.

3) It was Judah and the line of David that had those marvelous promises of God and even in that day, they knew God had kept every promise He had ever made to them!

And Jeroboam decided he needed to create a religion that was enticing enough to be in direct competition with the truth of God, as so many still do today!

We will expand on these things as we go along.

Questions?

Let’s Pray!