Diane Avenue Church of Christ John 3:16 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
BIBLE CLASS THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH 1 Kings 14:21-31
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH 1 Kings 14:21-31 (KJV) 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 Ammonites 22 And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done.
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH 1 Kings 14:21-31 (KJV) 23 For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree. 24 And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 25 And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem: 26 And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH 1 Kings 14:21-31 (KJV) 27 And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king's house. 28 And it was so, when the king went into the house of the LORD, that the guard bare them, and brought them back into the guard chamber. 29 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?
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH INTRODUCTION After Jeroboam led the 10 northern tribes to revolt, only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained faithful to Rehoboam. (1 Kings 12:20-21), The division occurred just as the prophet Ahijah had predicted. and the resulting nation wore the name Judah, Although he had been rejected by much of the kingdom, Rehoboam was allowed by God to remain as king over Judah. Thus, God kept the promise He made to David (cf. 2 Samuel 7:12-16),
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH Nevertheless, Rehoboam did not use his influence to turn the hearts of the people back to God. Instead; his period of rule was marked by idolatry. paganism and war. That is not to say that none of the succeeding kings of Judah tried to reform the wicked practices of the people, for some -:- most notably, Hezekiah and Josiah - did, However, during the reign of Rehoboam, the practices of idolatry initiated under Solomon's rule did not abate but rather intensified.
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH Because these were the very practices that led God to allow the kingdom to be divided (I Kings 11:33). it is little wonder that Judah's continuation of these wicked practices provoked God's jealousy (14 :22).
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH REHOBOAM'S REIGN (1 KINGS 14:21, 29-31) The author of I Kings provides several facts about both Rehoboam and his reign. The text reveals that Rehoboam began his reign at age 41 and reigned for 17 years (1 Kings 14:21). Although precise details about his reign are not recorded in this passage, we know Rehoboam's kingdom was strengthened initially by an influx of faithful Levites who came to Judah when Jeroboam instituted his idolatrous practices.
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH According to 2 Chronicles 11:17, "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." This period of faithfulness, however, did not last, for "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" (12: 1)
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH When the kingdom began and was weak, Rehoboam leaned upon those who were faithful to God for strength; when the kingdom was established and strong, Rehoboam forsook the faithful and God. Sadly; this behavior is often repeated today. Individuals frequently turn to God in times of crisis but turn from Him after the crisis is over. Perhaps Rehoboam would have been remembered more favorably if his reign had ended after three years rather than 17.
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH Why do people have a tendency to turn to God during times of trial but forget Him when things are going well?
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH Life application We must be careful not to seek God's help or rely upon Him only during times of difficulty. At the beginning of Rehoboam's reign, those " who were faithful to God favorably influenced him. But when the kingdom was firmly established, 'the king turned from God's law. Unlike Rehoboam, we must faithfully serve God in times of rejoicing and trial.
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH The text reveals that Rehoboam's reign occurred "in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there" (1 Kings 14:21), This fact is significant, for it provides a legitimacy to Rehoboam that Jeroboam never possessed. Jerusalem was home to the temple - the house that Solomon built for God (cf. 8: 13). Consequently, it was the center of Jewish worship. Of primary importance is that Jerusalem was chosen by God.
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH The text also reveals that Rehoboam's mother was named "Naamah, an Ammnonitess" (1 Kings 14:21,31). The restatement of this fact seems to indicate its importance to the author of I Kings. Does the author 'reveal Rehoboam's mother's name because of her pagan ancestry? Scripture does reveal that Solomon worshiped "Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites" (11 :5). Possibly the emphasis upon Naamah's race was intended to help explain the origin of the idolatrous practices that filled the land.
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH It is also possible that Naamah descended from the royal family of the Ammonites, If so, this would reinforce Rehoboam's claim to royalty. But' whatever else might be concluded, it is certainly true to say that the queen-mother exercised a great influence "both upon the king personally and upon his government" (Keil and Delitzsch, vol. 3, 150).
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH Why do you think the author of 1 Kings stressed the name and race of Rehoboam' s 'mother?
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH Finally, the text' reveals -that Rehoboam’s reign was marked by constant war with Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:30).' Despite God's warning to refrain from fighting against the Israelites (12:24), Rehoboam continually sought to reunite the kingdom by force, Obviously, his attempts fell short. Because of his spiritual degeneration, Rehoboam never grasped God's role in the division of the kingdom.
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH God divided the kingdom because of Israel's idolatrous practices. Thus, the force of Rehoboam's army could not restore what God divided, The words of Psalm 127:1 ring true: "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,"
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH JUDAH'S EVIL PRACTICES (1 KINGS 14:22-24) The behavior of the people of Judah under Rehoboam's rule grew more and more wicked: "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" (I Kings 14:22). Like the rebellious nation of Israel, the people of Judah succumbed to the practice of idolatry and built for themselves high places
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH sacred pillars. and wooden images on every high hill and under every green tree'; (v. 23), In addition;' the people also engaged in perverse sexual actions: The text continues: "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" (v.: 24) Adam Clarke describes these individuals as persons who had devoted themselves; in practices of the greatest impurity, to the service of the most impure idols" (444).
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH Sexually perverted actions were rendered as a means of worship to the fertility gods of the Canaanites. Such behavior, however. was an obvious violation of God's Law (cf. Leviticus 18). No wonder God was provoked to jealousy by Judah's. actions (I Kings 14:22). "Jealous protection of what is rightly one's own... is justified" (House 194), God intended for His people to live on a different moral plane than the pagans whom He removed from the land.
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH How was God's jealousy of Judah justified?
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH Life Application We must do more than claim to be separate from the world. Although the people of Judah claimed a relationship with God, their behavior was no different than those of pagan nations. Christians are to live in a manner that sets them apart from others (cf. Titus 2: 11-14). Read; turn your Bible
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH Because their removal was due in part to their sexual perversity, Moses specifically warned the Israelites about engaging in similar practices: "Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you" (Leviticus 18:24).' Despite this warning; the people of Judah engaged in the very same sins as the land's former inhabitants. The behavior of God's people was no better than the behavior of the pagans.
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH JUDAH'S LOSSES (1 KINGS 14:25-28) In the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign:."Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem" (1 Kings 14:25). This invasion occurred, according to 2 Chronicles 12:2, "because they had transgressed against the LORD. Again;' we see the hand of God at work in the events of history. Shishak's invasion is notable because of what he took from Judah: "And he took away. the treasures 'of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king's house; he took away everything.
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH He also' took away all the gold shields which Solomon had made" (1 Kings 14:26). When we stop to consider the vast array of treasures accumulated by Rehoboam's father, Solomon (cf. 10:21, 27), it is truly amazing that everything 'was lost. No wonder the wise man wrote: "How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver" (Proverbs 16: 16).
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH What does 1 Kings 14:26 teach us about the' fleeting nature of riches? What must we do to avoid trusting in riches?
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH Life Application We must beware the dangers associated with riches. Rehoboam doubtlessly believed that his riches provided some security. Nevertheless, those riches were all taken away. Our trust must not be placed in what we possess ( 1Timothy 6: 10); our trust must be placed in the God who possesses us (1 Corinthians 6: 19-20).
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH 1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV) 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV) 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH In an effort seemingly designed to save face. Rehoboam replaced the captured golden shields with shields made of bronze (I Kings 14:27). These shields were to the guards of the king's house, and evidently, they were used in an orchestrated act of pomp each time the :'king entered the house of the LORD". (v. 28): Just as Rehoboam's bronze shields resembled the gold shields taken by Shishak, so Rehoboam's entrances into the temple resembled the actions of one who was loyal to God.
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH Nevertheless, bronze is not gold, and visits to the temple do not necessarily indicate faithfulness.' Rehoboam 's actions revealed his desire to maintain the impression that he was like David and Solomon: Unlike David; he could not defeat his enemies.' Unlike Solomon, he was unable to collect wisdom, wealth, or prestige. Unlike both men, he was unable to keep the nation together" (House 195).
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH Why do you think Rehoboam continued to make appearances at the temple of God?