1 Kings 14 Rehoboam
We have already met Rehoboam. He is Solomon’s son who alienated most of Israel. Now we get to look at his time on the throne.
Our Bible gives us two different authors who look at the kings of Judah. Chronicles focuses strictly on the kings of Judah. Second Chronicles tells the stories of Solomon on forward to the fall of Judah. I’m going to be combining these two accounts more often now. I already have been, but will be making more of an effort now. I wish we had the Chronicles of Israel’s kings that is referred to in Kings.
We are going to pick up Rehoboam story from the point where the people have gone home after gathering to go to war with the portion of Israel who followed Jeroboam. God told them that it was His doing. After that, Rehoboam turned back to the Lord for a short time. Then he too led the people away, or at least allowed them to do as they pleased. Let’s rejoin our story and see where the Spirit takes us during his reign.
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Rehoboam feels secure in his reign over Judah and Benjamin. There hasn’t been any more talk of breaking away. He is not happy over the division of Israel, but he has learned to deal with it.
One thing that Judah has that Israel doesn’t is the Temple of the Lord. Rehoboam looks out over it every morning and is grateful for this. It is what has unified the people and even drawn those who loved the Lord over to his side.
When Jeroboam raised his false gods, he sent the Levites fleeing to Judah. Those who clung to the Lord, no matter their tribe, also fled to Judah. The Lord is what binds this people together more than anything else.
But Rehoboam’s view in the morning becomes less and less important to him as time goes on. The people begin erecting altars to the gods of other nations on the hilltops and under the trees. And Rehoboam does NOTHING to stop it.
Rehoboam has started fighting with Jeroboam not long after God told him that this split was his doing. Rehoboam calls it ‘defending’ themselves as Jeroboam was the first aggressor, but neither has put down arms or tried talking it out.
God’s patience is wearing thin, “They need another ‘object lesson’”, He tells the Spirit and the Son. They both agree.
“Whatever it takes Father.”
During Rehoboam’s fifth year as king, God hits him with another enemy. Shishak king of Egypt, who harbored Jeroboam when Solomon was seeking his life, comes against Rehoboam.
With 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen, and too many foot soldiers to be numbered, Shishak storms right into the heart of Judah and straight to Jerusalem. All the cities of Judah fall before him.
As Shishak is throwing up his siege ramps against Jerusalem, Rehoboam is beside himself in fear. Shemaiah the prophet comes to stand before him. Rehoboam looks at Shemaiah as he hears him clearing his throat to speak.
“Thus says the Lord, ‘You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak.’” (2 Chronicles 12:5b).
Rehoboam is terrified. “This is the hand of God for my sins” he says to Shemaiah. There is only one thing he can do. Appeal to the Lord.
Rehoboam is truly humbled as he calls all his sons together. “If Judah is to survive, we must seek the Lord and make attornment for our sins.”
Rehoboam sends one of his servants for a bull and a goat for each of his sons. Once the animals are brought to him. They all lay their hands upon the bull and each lays a hand upon a goat. These are then offered to the high priest to sacrifice to the Lord. As the flesh is accepted and burning on the altar, Rehoboam calls out “The Lord is righteous” (2 Chronicles 12:6b).
The next day, the Lord speaks to Shemaiah again. “They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. Nevertheless, they shall be servants to him, that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries” (2 Chronicles 12:7-8). Shemaiah holds this message in his heart and doesn’t deliver it to the king, just het.
Shishak breaks through the gates of Jerusalem. Once inside the city, they begin to plunder the Temple treasury and the king’s house. He even takes doors that are covered with gold and the gold shields Solomon made. Rehoboam is down on his knees, begging them to stop before they finally end their plundering.
God stands sentinel over His sacred things within the Temple.
Before leaving, Shishak swears Rehoboam to allegiance to him and imposes tariffs each year. Because Rehoboam humbled himself, this is a lesson, not an eviction.
Rehoboam is unable to replace what was taken, but he tries. He replaces the gold shields of Solomon with bronze ones. And he uses these shields every time he goes to the Temple of the Lord. His soldiers guard him with them, then return them to their places once he is back in his home.
Rehoboam does not wholly honor the Lord, nor does he stop the people from worshiping other gods. He even allowed male cult prostituted to practice their deplorable acts in Judah. Rehoboam does, however, grow strong again; in the people’s eyes and in how he rules the kingdom of Judah. God allowed His blessings to flow on Judah during Rehoboam’s reign, even though his acts were evil in His sight.
After seventeen years as king, Rehoboam slept with his fathers. He was buried in the city of David and his son Abijam ruled in his place.
(to be continued)
I didn’t realize that vassal kings started as early as Rehoboam. I was also certain that Shishak didn’t take the Temple furnishings because they are carried off by the Babylonians. And I KNOW that God is able to take care of His things and His people.
I feel for the people, not having a godly example to follow. But each man is ultimately responsible for his own actions. The people who fled Israel because of the gods Jeroboam set up probably didn’t bow down to those cropping up in Judah.
Stand Firm in the face of opposition or depravity. WE can do that today! No matter where our leaders try and direct us, STAY on God’s paths. Be the palm tree standing in the hurricane. Rooted deep in His word. Protect your relationship with the Lord above ALL else. Lean into the Holy Spirit and let Him guide your steps. And walk in the paths that Jesus walked. There is SAFETY there.
Father God, thank You for Your stories. And Thank You once again for bring meaning to my life from them. I was wondering what You would share from this story. You NEVER disappoint me!
