-1 Kings 15:9-15 ESV

9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah, 10 and he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. 11 And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as David his father had done. 12 He put away the male cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 13 He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother because she had made an abominable image for Asherah. And Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron. 14 But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true to the Lord all his days. 15 And he brought into the house of the Lord the sacred gifts of his father and his own sacred gifts, silver, and gold, and vessels.

ASA, A GOOD KING.

Unlike his predecessors, Asa ‘did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as David his father had done.’ We understand that he was not perfect but that he followed His father David’s reign, the abstinence from any form idolatry. He put away the male cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. He even stripped his own mother Maacah her crown as the queen. Why? She had made an abominable image for Asherah. He cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron.

Asa did not allow her relationship with family to shroud his relationship with God. How many believers had mellowed down in their commitment to God by consenting to their erring family member? Our relationship with God should be paramount in all things, should it be not? For the reputation of the family before the world, they would sacrifice their relationship with God.

However, the high places were not taken away. There was a reform at Jerusalem. However, outside of the city, he let the high places to continue for 41 years. He could have been a better king should he completely removed the idol worship. Thus, it was his son Hezekiah who would remove all these in the future. [ 2 Kings 18:4]. Asa was a good king but he was not the best.

Perhaps, we are plagued by complacency in our lives. Thus, we allow the seemingly lesser or secondary dangers as the ‘high places” and taken them for granted. Let’s not allow the little foxes to ruin the vines. [Song 2:15] Should we be acceptable before God, let us present our everything to Him.

As Rom 12:1,2 says, “ I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

-------------------------

Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

1 Kings 15:1-5 ESV

Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah. 2 He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. 3 And he walked in all the sins that his father did before him, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father. 4 Nevertheless, for David's sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem, 5 because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

HAVE A HEART WHOLLY TRUE TO THE LORD.

Abijah succeeded his father Rehoboam. He had reigned in Judah for only three years before he died. Like father like son. He was a wicked king. “He he walked in all the sins that his father did before him, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father” (v.3). Due to his attempts to reclaim the northern ten tribes of Israel as part of his kingdom, there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam throughout his reign (v. 6).

He should have followed the Lord wholly with his heart as David. But, he did not. God had just favored him because of His covenant to David. God gave him a son to succeed him and protect Jerusalem. In other words, God is always faithful to His covenant.

Interestingly, God had recognized David that ‘ did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.’[v.5]. In God’s eyes, he was right despite his sins with Bathseba and to Uriah. In a seemingly contradictions, we may exclaim, “What an amazing God we have!”

“The statement in question is by no means a pronouncement of David’s virtual sinlessness for several reasons. First of all, it is a general and true characterization of David’s life. Just as Job was not sinless, but was called “blameless and upright” (Job 1:1), even so David’s life was without major fault. Second, this commendation of David is not absolute, but relative to all the sins Abijam had committed (cf. 1 Kings 15:1, 3). David did, with one major exception, “that which was right in the eyes of the Lord” (v. 5). Third, even when he sinned, he did what was right, namely repented immediately when confronted by God (cf. 2 Sam. 12:1ff and 1 Chron. 21:8). Fourth, the exception clause (“except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite”) is not found in many manuscripts of the OT, including the Vatican Ms. Without it, the point that this was only a general commendation of David has even stronger force. Fifth, the phrase “had not turned aside” indicates that God is speaking of the generally steadfast direction of David’s life, not every specific sin in it. This would account for why David’s other sins are not mentioned, since they did not turn him from the generally forward direction of his life in serving the Lord to this point.”[ from https://defendinginerrancy.com/bible-solutions/1_Kings_15.5.php]

-------------------------

Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

1 Kings 14:25-28 ESV

25 In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. 26 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 shields of gold that Solomon had made, 27 and King Rehoboam made in their place shields of bronze and committed them to the hands of the officers of the guard, who kept the door of the king's house. 28 And as often as the king went into the house of the Lord, the guard carried them and brought them back to the guardroom.

REPLACING GOLD WITH BRONZE.

Rehoboam’s reign at the south was marked with evil practices in almost every place. “Judah did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins that they committed, more than all that their fathers had done.”[v.22]

In his fifth year, Shishak king of Egypt invaded the land. He took away every treasure from the temple and the palace. This included the shields of gold that Solomon had made. Rehoboam replaced them with shields of bronze and committed them to the hands of the officers of the guard, who kept the door of the king's house. The wealth Solomon had accumulated were gone in just five years.

Substituting gold with bronze is unquestionably a downgrade. How many times we sacrifice the superior with the cheap in life? The temporal for the eternal? Or the important with the urgent? Let’s not forget what Paul had argued, saying, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” [2 Cor 4:17,18]

This replacement is a perfect picture of the decline under the days of Rehoboam. During Solomon’s reign, the gold shields were hung on display in the House of the House of the Forest of Lebanon (1 Kings 10:16-17). Under Rehoboam, these replacement bronze shields were kept in a protected guardroom until they were specifically needed for state occasions. He was contented to assure himself that the appearance had not much difference.

How many times a believer is ‘having the appearance of godliness but denying its power.’ [2 Tim 3:5] Forms replace functions. Religious rituals replace reverential worship. Religious appearance replaces relationship authenticity with God.

Today, are you and I replacing our gold for bronze?

-------------------------

Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

1 Kings 14:1-18 ESV

At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. 2 And Jeroboam said to his wife, “Arise, and disguise yourself, that it not be known that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said of me that I should be king over this people. 3 Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall happen to the child.”

4 Jeroboam's wife did so. She arose and went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age. 5 And the Lord said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. Thus and thus shall you say to her.”

When she came, she pretended to be another woman. 6 But when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be another? For I am charged with unbearable news for you. 7 Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: “Because I exalted you from among the people and made you leader over my people Israel 8 and tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, and yet you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commandments and followed me with all his heart, doing only that which was right in my eyes, 9 but you have done evil above all who were before you and have gone and made for yourself other gods and metal images, provoking me to anger, and have cast me behind your back, 10 therefore behold, I will bring harm upon the house of Jeroboam and will cut off from Jeroboam every male, both bond and free in Israel, and will burn up the house of Jeroboam, as a man burns up dung until it is all gone. 11 Anyone belonging to Jeroboam who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone who dies in the open country the birds of the heavens shall eat, for the Lord has spoken it.”’ 12 Arise therefore, go to your house. When your feet enter the city, the child shall die. 13 And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found something pleasing to the Lord, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam. 14 Moreover, the Lord will raise up for himself a king over Israel who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam today. And henceforth, 15 the Lord will strike Israel as a reed is shaken in the water, and root up Israel out of this good land that he gave to their fathers and scatter them beyond the Euphrates, because they have made their Asherim, provoking the Lord to anger. 16 And he will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he sinned and made Israel to sin.”

17 Then Jeroboam's wife arose and departed and came to Tirzah. And as she came to the threshold of the house, the child died. 18 And all Israel buried him and mourned for him, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the prophet.

CAN A MAN DECEIVE GOD?

The time came that the son of Jeroboam, Abijah, got sick. This prompted Jeroboam to devise a sinister plan. He told his wife, “Arise, and disguise yourself, that it not be known that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said of me that I should be king over this people. Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall happen to the child.”

Why didn’t he think of asking the help from the priests at Bethel or Dan? Did he realize now that only Jehovah is the true God and Ahijah, God’s true prophet? But, why the disguise? He was so proud to admit his wrong and believed He could get God’s blessing by fraud. Similarly, Saul went to the witch of Endor to get the blessing of God through Samuel.

What Jeroboam did was futile. They are fools who claim that there is no God. [Psa 14:1]

1 Kings 13:26-32 ESV

26 And when the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard of it, he said, “It is the man of God who disobeyed the word of the Lord; therefore the Lord has given him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the word that the Lord spoke to him.” 27 And he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” And they saddled it. 28 And he went and found his body thrown in the road, and the donkey and the lion standing beside the body. The lion had not eaten the body or torn the donkey. 29 And the prophet took up the body of the man of God and laid it on the donkey and brought it back to the city to mourn and to bury him. 30 And he laid the body in his own grave. And they mourned over him, saying, “Alas, my brother!” 31 And after he had buried him, he said to his sons, “When I die, bury me in the grave in which the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones. 32 For the saying that he called out by the word of the Lord against the altar in Bethel and against all the houses of the high places that are in the cities of Samaria shall surely come to pass.”

GIVING HONOR APPROPRIATELY.

The man of God was killed according to the word of God. “All the circumstances of this tragic occurrence (the undevoured carcass, the untouched ass, the passengers unmolested by the lion, though standing there) were calculated to produce an irresistible impression that the hand of God was in it.”[from Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible] Moreover, he had to be buried not in the tomb of the man of God from Judah’s fathers, in fulfillment of the previous prophecy.

The prophet took up the body of the man of God and laid it on the donkey and brought it back to the city to mourn and to bury him. “How strange it was for the old prophet to look upon the carcass of the dead prophet, and to realize: “My sin was worse than his.” The ways of God’s judgment are sometimes past finding out, and only understandable from eternity.” [ D. Guzik]

The prophet from Bethel lied to him, led him into sin, and prophesied judgment against him. Yet, he laid the corpse in his own tomb. And he said to his sons, “When I am dead, then bury me in the tomb where the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones.” This was his respect to the man of God from Judah.

“Perhaps he understood that the word he spoke against Jeroboam required a courage he did not have; therefore he confirmed the word of the man of God against Jeroboam and the altar at Bethel.”[D. Guzik] That is, the man’s failure to obey God’s word that caused his life later had not negated his admirable boldness earlier to confront the king the word of God. Unfortunately, in real life, one mistake a person does is remembered clouding over his one hundred and one good deeds done previously.

-------------------------

Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

-1 Kings 13:20-25 ESV

20 And as they sat at the table, the word of the Lord came to the prophet who had brought him back. 21 And he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the Lord and have not kept the command that the Lord your God commanded you, 22 but have come back and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water,” your body shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’” 23 And after he had eaten bread and drunk, he saddled the donkey for the prophet whom he had brought back. 24 And as he went away a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his body was thrown in the road, and the donkey stood beside it; the lion also stood beside the body. 25 And behold, men passed by and saw the body thrown in the road and the lion standing by the body. And they came and told it in the city where the old prophet lived.

TAKING THE WORD OF GOD SERIOUSLY.

What could be a great meal for the man of God was spoiled. This time the word of the Lord came to the host. Thus, he rebuked the man of God, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the Lord and have not kept the command that the Lord your God commanded you, 22 but have come back and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water,” your body shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’”

Taking the word of God carelessly is very costly, is it not? Thus Jesus has warned us, “If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”[John 12:47,48]

Our faithful obedience to His word does only ensure that ‘better is the end of a thing than its beginning.’ [Ecc 7:8a] Thus, the disobedient man of God had ended his life miserably. ‘A lion met him on the road and killed him. And his body was thrown in the road, and the donkey stood beside it; the lion also stood beside the body. And behold, men passed by and saw the body thrown in the road and the lion standing by the body.’[v.24,25]

What a pathetic sight.

Let us resolve therefore to uphold the word of God. As Solomon concluded, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”[ Ecc 12:13] Even, Joshua had written, ‘This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.’[Jos 1:8]

Be committed to make the word of God as the basis of your belief and practice.

-------------------------

Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

1 Kings 13:11-19 ESV

11 Now an old prophet lived in Bethel. And his sons[a] came and told him all that the man of God had done that day in Bethel. They also told to their father the words that he had spoken to the king. 12 And their father said to them, “Which way did he go?” And his sons showed him the way that the man of God who came from Judah had gone. 13 And he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” So they saddled the donkey for him and he mounted it. 14 And he went after the man of God and found him sitting under an oak. And he said to him, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?” And he said, “I am.” 15 Then he said to him, “Come home with me and eat bread.” 16 And he said, “I may not return with you, or go in with you, neither will I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place, 17 for it was said to me by the word of the Lord, ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by the way that you came.’” 18 And he said to him, “I also am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘Bring him back with you into your house that he may eat bread and drink water.’” But he lied to him. 19 So he went back with him and ate bread in his house and drank water.

DECEIVED.

The man of God was very clear about the warning from God. There was no ambiguity. That is, ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by the way that you came.’ Our success over temptation yesterday does not always guarantee the same today. The man of God was able to say no to Jeroboam but not to the old prophet. He wasn’t enticed by the reward Jeroboam had offered to him. However, he was deceived to believe the lie of the old prophet.

Why?

The prophet had tricked him that “an angel spoke to him by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘Bring him back with you into your house that he may eat bread and drink water.’” He must have no second thoughts that a co-prophet would bluff him.

Like the old prophet, Satan may look trustworthy. As Paul warned, “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” [2 Cor 11:14] Undoubtedly, he did appeared intentional to his lying, didn’t he? Looks and impressions can be deceiving. How many of us have been deceived to trust a decent looking guy with sweet words?

Should an angel had appeared and spoke differently to the old prophet, he should have asked why the angel did not speak to him directly as previously. Does God channel his revelation to us via a third party? Let us be careful therefore to anybody who impose God’s revelation unto us when we have the same Spirit who lives in us as believers.

Thus today, let’s not substitute the clear word of God with our ‘gut feel’. The gospel [or the revealed word of God as a whole] is the only truth we should rely on. [John 17:17, 2 Tim 3:16,17] Even Paul was very emphatic, saying, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”[Gal 1:8,9]

-------------------------

Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

1 Kings 13:1-10 ESV

And behold, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the Lord to Bethel. Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make offerings. 2 And the man cried against the altar by the word of the Lord and said, “O altar, altar, thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and he shall sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who make offerings on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.’” 3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign that the Lord has spoken: ‘Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.’” 4 And when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar at Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, “Seize him.” And his hand, which he stretched out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back to himself. 5 The altar also was torn down, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the Lord. 6 And the king said to the man of God, “Entreat now the favor of the Lord your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” And the man of God entreated the Lord, and the king's hand was restored to him and became as it was before. 7 And the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.” 8 And the man of God said to the king, “If you give me half your house, I will not go in with you. And I will not eat bread or drink water in this place, 9 for so was it commanded me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water nor return by the way that you came.’” 10 So he went another way and did not return by the way that he came to Bethel.

THE MAN OF GOD.

The abomination that Jeroboam did was too much to Yahweh. He is a jealous God. Thus, He sent the man of God to confront the king of Israel. Was it incidental that he was there at Bethel when Jeroboam was doing his offering?

And, by the word of the Lord, he pronounced judgment upon the king boldly. He said, “O altar, altar, thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and he shall sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who make offerings on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.’” Moreover, he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign that the Lord has spoken: ‘Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.’”

The king defied and stretched his arm to seize the man of God. Amazingly however, the king’s hand froze. The altar also was torn down, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the Lord.

The haughty king had been humiliated to say, “Entreat now the favor of the Lord your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” And the man of God entreated the Lord, and the king's hand was restored to him and became as it was before.

Though the man of God was unknown to the king, he did not doubt that God was behind this man. He saw that his proclaimed words had happened to the letter. The evidence was undisputable, was it not? “As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.”[Jer 28:9] Conversely, a prophet who pronounced judgment and nothing happens is proven an impostor. Indeed, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

And the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.” The king was physically healed but his heart had remained hardened. Instead of being remorseful, he was arrogant to give a reward. Did he not think that a true prophet can be bribed with material gain? 

1 Kings 12:25-33 ESV

25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And he went out from there and built Penuel. 26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David. 27 If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” 28 So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” 29 And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. 30 Then this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one. 31 He also made temples on high places and appointed priests from among all the people, who were not of the Levites. 32 And Jeroboam appointed a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he made. And he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made. 33 He went up to the altar that he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month that he had devised from his own heart. And he instituted a feast for the people of Israel and went up to the altar to make offerings.

WHEN TAKING MATTERS ON OUR HANDS.

Jeroboam’s plan seemed brilliant to gain the loyalty from his people. He took counsel and made two golden calves for worship, one in Bethel and the other in Dan. This had provided convenience so that the people needed not to travel to far south anymore to worship. But, to promote the worship of idols and deprive God’s people their right worship to Jehovah in Jerusalem were always abominations before the eyes of God.

They are only to worship Jehovah and nobody else. And, they’re to offer to Him in Jerusalem and in no other place. Had Jeroboam forgotten that this was an abomination before God? Had he forgotten as well that God assured him His blessings if he would follow Him as David, his father?

Jeroboam had successfully convinced the people. Perhaps, the newly temple worship and the feasts instituted did not have a big difference than the one in Jerusalem. It appeared clearly that the people had just reflected the kind of leadership they have had.

Let’s get the rubber hit the road. A closer church to your home is convenient. But, if they’re not preaching the gospel and the bible isn’t taught well enough, would you attend in their services? You have a financially secured suitor but not a believer. Would you marry him? You are offered a lucrative job that requires moral compromises. Are you going to take it?

Therefore, let’s not forget that;

“There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way to death.”[Prov 16:25]

Thus, let us “Commit our work to the Lord,

and our plans will be established.

The Lord has made everything for its purpose,

even the wicked for the day of trouble.”[Prov 16:3,4]

-------------------------

Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

1 Kings 12:21-24

21 When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. 22 But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God: 23 “Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, 24 ‘Thus says the Lord, You shall not go up or fight against your relatives the people of Israel. Every man return to his home, for this thing is from me.’” So they listened to the word of the Lord and went home again, according to the word of the Lord.

LISTEN TO THE WORD

Rehoboam was either oblivious or knew but minimize the declarations by God about the consequence of his father’s sins. Thus, he organized 180,000 chosen warriors to fight Jeroboam and restore the kingdom. Thus, God had revealed to the man of God Shemaiah, saying, “Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, ‘Thus says the Lord, You shall not go up or fight against your relatives the people of Israel. Every man return to his home, for this thing is from me.’”[v.23,24]

Rehoboam and his army did listen and obey. They went home according to God’s word.

The word of God is perfect.[Psa 19:7] David acknowledges;

“This God—his way is perfect;

the word of the Lord proves true;

he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.”[Psa 18:30]

Perhaps, the word of God was painful to Rehoboam to hear that the kingdom be divided. Truth hurts definitely. Nevertheless, they had to follow it. More disobedience or rebellion against God and His words would undoubtedly hurt the nation more. Enough is enough.

We have the choice to make everyday. Either we honor and obey God’s word or not. Lest, we are carried by our senses, let us be reminded that;

“The heart of man plans his way,

but the Lord establishes his steps.”[Prov 16:9]

Moreover, let us “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.”[Prov 3:5,6]

Therefore, obedience to God’s word is the only means that could make us wise. Nothing else could do.

-------------------------

Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram