Saturday, August 2, 2014

The Announcement of the King (1 Kings 12:12-17)


2/2/2011 5:30:26 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  The announcement of the king

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  1Ki. 12:12-17; 2Chron. 10:12-17

 

            Message of the verses:  “12  Then Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king had directed, saying, "Return to me on the third day." 13  The king answered the people harshly, for he forsook the advice of the elders which they had given him, 14  and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions." 15  So the king did not listen to the people; for it was a turn of events from the LORD, that He might establish His word, which the LORD spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

    “16 ¶  When all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, "What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse; To your tents, O Israel! Now look after your own house, David!" So Israel departed to their tents. 17  But as for the sons of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.”

            “12 ¶  So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king had directed, saying, "Return to me on the third day." 13  The king answered them harshly, and King Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the elders. 14  He spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions." 15  So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of events from God that the LORD might establish His word, which He spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 16  When all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them the people answered the king, saying, "What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to your tents, O Israel; Now look after your own house, David." So all Israel departed to their tents. 17  But as for the sons of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.”

 

            I like what Warren Wiersbe writes at the end of his commentary on this section of Scripture when he says that the first decision that Solomon made gave him the reputation of being a wise man, while the first decision that his son made gave him the reputation of being a fool.  At the beginning of his commentary he relates to a third generation phenomena where the first generation works hard to start a business or a church and the second sees the hard work and continue it, but the third generation sees nothing of the hard work, takes if for granted and then it all falls apart.  This is what is happening to Grace Baptist Church, as it is falling apart because this third generation sees nothing of the hard work and sacrifice of the first two generations, and is taking it all for granted not listening to the advice of the second generation.

            The decision that Rehoboam made is said by many in the nation of Israel as the biggest mistake the nation had ever made.  I want to write something about what people call the lost tribes of Israel, but the truth is that there is no lost tribes of Israel for there were representatives of the ten tribes living in Judah who stayed there and were ruled by the kings of Judah. In the book of Revelations there is mention in the 7th chapter of 12,000 from each of the tribes of Israel, so God does not see the ten tribes as being lost.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Make wise decisions by praying through a decision, by seeking good counsel, and by looking at circumstances last to help make a decision.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1.      Seek the Lord to make wise decisions today.

2.      Trust the Lord to guide my path today.

3.      Put on the Spiritual Armor, for I am in a battle.  2/2/2011 5:53:51 AM

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