Rehoboam's Reign in Judah
[ READ ] 1 Kings 14:21–31
Rehoboam Reigns in Judah
21 Now Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite. 22 And 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. 23 For they also built for themselves high places and pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, 24 and there were also male cult prostitutes in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations that the Lord drove out before the people of Israel.
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.
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? 30 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. 31 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite. And Abijam his son reigned in his place.
21 Now Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite. 22 And 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. 23 For they also built for themselves high places and pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, 24 and there were also male cult prostitutes in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations that the Lord drove out before the people of Israel.
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.
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? 30 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. 31 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite. And Abijam his son reigned in his place.
Rehoboam begins a long line of failure kings in Judah. He and his kingdom gets the “evil in the sight of the Lord” stamp in v22, but it’s really v31 that provides a clue as to his predestined failure: “his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite.” If you recall, Solomon’s heart turned away from the Lord and turned instead to his foreign wives and their idol worship (see 1 Kings 11). Being the begotten love child of an Ammonite-Molech-worshipper and the apostate Solomon, Rehoboam likely never knew what true worship of Yahweh looked like. You almost feel sorry for him, but then you go back and look at his foolish misadventures in 1 Kings 12. Unfortunately, there’s really nothing redeemable about Rehoboam… and yet, he is in the lineage of Christ (Matt 1:7).
How many of us, or people we know come from broken or faithless families? It turns out our parents’ stories have a significant impact on our own, sometimes for good and sometimes not. If you come from one of these families that have never exhibited what a heart wholly devoted to God looks like, I’m sorry. Truly. Only God can heal these wounds. I would also invite you into the family of believers, where even those who feel so distant from God can find redemption. God redeemed Rehoboam’s legacy by including him in the lineage of Christ. And He offers redemption to us today which likewise includes us into the family of Christ (we become adopted sons and daughters…co-heirs to the throne). Like Rehoboam we have a choice – choose wisdom. Choose forgiveness. Choose Christ.
- Hayden Van Dyke
How many of us, or people we know come from broken or faithless families? It turns out our parents’ stories have a significant impact on our own, sometimes for good and sometimes not. If you come from one of these families that have never exhibited what a heart wholly devoted to God looks like, I’m sorry. Truly. Only God can heal these wounds. I would also invite you into the family of believers, where even those who feel so distant from God can find redemption. God redeemed Rehoboam’s legacy by including him in the lineage of Christ. And He offers redemption to us today which likewise includes us into the family of Christ (we become adopted sons and daughters…co-heirs to the throne). Like Rehoboam we have a choice – choose wisdom. Choose forgiveness. Choose Christ.
- Hayden Van Dyke
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Why do you think Rehoboam’s story is broken into segments and interwoven with Jeroboam’s story? (note: it makes it tough to keep track of all the “-boam’s”!)
+ Why do you think Rehoboam replaced the gold shields with bronze shields?
+ Why do you think Rehoboam’s story is broken into segments and interwoven with Jeroboam’s story? (note: it makes it tough to keep track of all the “-boam’s”!)
+ Why do you think Rehoboam replaced the gold shields with bronze shields?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What is impeding true worship of God in your life? What can you do about it?
+ If you come from a broken family, how has Christ redeemed you? If you don’t, who in your life might benefit from a story of redemption, or an invitation to a “family of faith”?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What is impeding true worship of God in your life? What can you do about it?
+ If you come from a broken family, how has Christ redeemed you? If you don’t, who in your life might benefit from a story of redemption, or an invitation to a “family of faith”?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, I am thankful that you have adopted me into your family. I ask that you guard me from the brokenness of the world, and create in me a clear heart from which to worship you. I lift my family up to you, O Lord. Would you see them, bless them and encourage them today? You are awesome and mighty, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.
+ Pray with me:
Father, I am thankful that you have adopted me into your family. I ask that you guard me from the brokenness of the world, and create in me a clear heart from which to worship you. I lift my family up to you, O Lord. Would you see them, bless them and encourage them today? You are awesome and mighty, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Given the prevalence of broken families in today’s society, think of at least one person who may be suffering the pain of abandonment or apathy from someone that was meant to love them – can you encourage them today?
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Given the prevalence of broken families in today’s society, think of at least one person who may be suffering the pain of abandonment or apathy from someone that was meant to love them – can you encourage them today?
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