1. Lesson 1: The Split Rehoboam & Abijah

2. T HIS Q UARTER ’ S C LASS … Will not be boring (hopefully) Will not be a history class Will be a practical study Will be focused on certain themes

3. T HE S PLIT (1 K INGS 12:1-24) Setting the stage (1-5) All Israel gathers in Shechem to make Rehoboam king Jeroboam has returned from Egypt Jeroboam and all Israel make a demand

4. R EHOBOAM ’ S L EADERSHIP (1 K INGS 12:5-14) Rehoboam’s options: (5-11) Serve them Be harder than his father ” 42 You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. 43 But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” - Mark 10:42-45 NASB - 28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, AND YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30 NASB -

5. W HY D ID T HE S PLIT H APPEN ? (1 K INGS 12:15) It was from the L ORD Theme: The L ORD ’s involvement (Daniel 4:25; Luke 1:32-33) Spoken by Ahijah to Jeroboam! Theme: Prophets telling the word of the L ORD (1 Kings 11:29ff) Events fulfilling the word of the L ORD (1 Kings 12:15)

6. T HE R EACTIONS : (1 K INGS 12:16-24) Rehoboam reigns over the people in Judah Sends the head of the labor to the people (cf. 11:28) The people stone Adoram Flees to Jerusalem Jeroboam is made king over the rest of Israel Rehoboam arrives in Jerusalem Shemaiah comes with the word of the L ORD (23-24) Rehoboam listens to the word of the L ORD !

7. 2 Chronicles 12-13

8. T HEME : “ if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. ” -2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV -

9. 17 Y EARS 930-913 BC 1 K INGS 12:1-24 1 K INGS 14:21-31 2 C HRON. 10-12

10. R EHOBOAM ’ S R EIGN (2 C HRONICLES 12) He and all Israel forsook the Law of the Lord (2 C HRON. 12:1) “He did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the L ORD ” (2 C HRON. 13:14) Wars with Jeroboam continually (2 C HRON 13:15) 22 Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked Him to jealousy more than all that their fathers had done, with the sins which they committed. 23 For they also built for themselves high places and sacred pillars and Asherim on every high hill and beneath every luxuriant tree. 24 There were also male cult prostitutes in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD dispossessed before the sons of Israel. - 1 Kings 14:22-24 NASB -

11. R EHOBOAM ’ S R EIGN (2 C HRONICLES 12) In the fifth year, Shishak of Egypt came (2-4) Because of unfaithfulness Shemaiah gives the word of the Lord to Rehoboam(5) They humbled themselves The L ORD is righteous (6) The L ORD doesn’t allow Shishak to destroy completely Learn about serving the Lord (8) Afterwards, good conditions in Judah (9-12)

12. 3 Y EARS 913-910 BC 2 C HRONICLES 131 K INGS 15:1-8

13. A BIJAH ’ S R EIGN (2 C HRON 13) Begins to reign in the 18 th year of Jeroboam At constant war with Jeroboam One battle with Jeroboam is recorded (3-20) Setting & Speech (3-12) You have forsaken God, do not fight against Him The battle They cried to the L ORD (14) & trusted in the L ORD (18) God routed and gave Israel into Abijah’s hand (15-16)

14. A BIJAH ’ S R EIGN (2 C HRONICLES 13 VS. 1 K INGS 15) Abijah: “Jehovah (L ORD ) is my father” Abijam: “my father is the sea” OR “my father is (Canaanite god)” Recognizes the promises to David (13:5,8) Head of a nation that had not forsaken the L ORD in worship (13:10-11) Man who trusted in the L ORD in battle (13:12) Walked in the sins of his father (15:3) Heart not wholly devoted to the L ORD like David (15:3) His son is allowed to reign because of promise to David (15:4-5)

15. A PPLICATIONS 2013 1. Great leaders are servants (M ARK 10:42-45) 2. The L ORD ’s words are true (J OHN 17:17) 3. Listen/do the word of the L ORD all the time! (J AMES 1:21 FF ) 4. The L ORD is just/fair/righteous (R OMANS 3:4, 26) 5. When we forsake the Lord he becomes jealous! (J AMES 4:4-5) 6. We need to humble ourselves before the L ORD (J AMES 4:10) 7. We need to trust the L ORD not ourselves (2 C ORINTHIANS 1:8-10)

16. 1 K INGS 12-15 F OCUS ON I SRAEL /N ORTH