#482 Kill Your Idols, We Use To Chant With Our Idols

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 Lordand did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 6 Now there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. 7 The rest of the acts of Abijam and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. 8 And Abijam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And Asa his son reigned in his place.

Asa Reigns in Judah

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.

16 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 17 Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might permit no one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.18 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king's house and gave them into the hands of his servants. And King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, saying, 19 “Let there be a covenant[a] between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending to you a present of silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me.” 20 And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel and conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. 21 And when Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and he lived in Tirzah. 22 Then King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah, none was exempt, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had been building, and with them King Asa built Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah.23 Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, all his might, and all that he did, and the cities that he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? But in his old age he was diseased in his feet. 24 And Asa slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.

Nadab Reigns in Israel

25 Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. 26 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin which he made Israel to sin.

27 Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him. And Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon. 28 So Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah and reigned in his place. 29 And as soon as he was king, he killed all the house of Jeroboam. He left to the house of Jeroboam not one that breathed, until he had destroyed it, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite. 30 It was for the sins of Jeroboam that he sinned and that he made Israel to sin, and because of the anger to which he provoked the Lord, the God of Israel.

31 Now the rest of the acts of Nadab and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 32 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

Baasha Reigns in Israel

33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah began to reign over all Israel at Tirzah, and he reigned twenty-four years. 34 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he made Israel to sin. 1 Kings 15 ESV

David's dynasty continues to hold a smaller kingdom, much like his original boundaries. It is to his honor that his family remains and not to the current administration. Hmm, so it is that some may stand on the shoulders of good men for a long time, not understanding how they are now being held up, that their own legs would not touch the ground or be able to carry their heads. David is credited for following God except in the way of Uriah, for there in Uriah was David's breaking of the laws, thou shalt not covet, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not commit adultery and thou shalt not kill. Yet it was grace that David had no other gods before him, not even himself, for he was able to confess his sin, receive his chastening, and bow before a Greater than the king. Against You and You only have I sinned. He ached over being chosen before God, for how can this be but by grace alone? The least sin demands death before holiness, darkness has no choice before the light. Truth must be destroyed for the sinner to find rest, God must die or be brought low for me to see myself up high. Asa came and saw himself low, and tore down the idols of his mother and removed the male prostitutes from the land. He did not allow even the matriarch of his family to hold him back from doing what was right. Ah, but there is no rest for the wicked then, it is only a delusion that we hold for a time. It is only hiding from the light, calling good evil and evil good. His counterparts in Israel continue to serve themselves and the darkness. How long Lord, how long will you put up with us?

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:[b] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[c] 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self[d]with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[e] free; but Christ is all, and in all. Colossians 3: 1-11 ESV

Read More

#481 Hypothetic Apathy

At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick.

2 And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, which told me that I should be king over this people.

3 And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he shall tell thee what shall become of the child.

4 And Jeroboam's wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age.

5 And the Lord said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to ask a thing of thee for her son; for he is sick: thus and thus shalt thou say unto her: for it shall be, when she cometh in, that she shall feign herself to be another woman.

6 And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam; why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings.

7 Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel,

8 And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes;

9 But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:

10 Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.

11 Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the Lord hath spoken it.

12 Arise thou therefore, get thee to thine own house: and when thy feet enter into 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 some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.

14 Moreover the Lord shall raise him up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day: but what? even now.

15 For the Lord shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the Lord to anger.

16 And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.

17 And Jeroboam's wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah: and when she came to the threshold of the door, the child died;

18 And they buried him; and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by the hand of his servant Ahijah the prophet.

19 And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

20 And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead.

21 And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.

22 And Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done.

23 For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.

24 And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.

25 And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem:

26 And he took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

27 And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king's house.

28 And it was so, when the king went into the house of the Lord, that the guard bare them, and brought them back into the guard chamber.

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 all their days.

31 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess. And Abijam his son reigned in his stead. 1 Kings 14 KJV

No matter what we may think of the sins of another, we should take heed, and not shut off those natural compassions, such empathy for their loss. There is a time when I won't mourn, for some feelings are themselves a sin, but the tenderness of a child, those most divine affections, the pain you feel when they are sick. You are reading the story of a father, not someone whose favorite car is broken, whose football team is losing, for then I don't care so much. This is the apple of his eye, the joy of his house, the light of his name, but it's torch has grown dim. He remembers Ahijah the prophet, he has brought me good news before, he told me that I would be king. He is God's prophet though, so he does not go himself, for he knows that he has betrayed the God of Israel, it was not far off to guess that he had come to detest the God Who would not honor his approach, who disrespected his position. This is more than the shriveling of the hand, this is his son now, but rather than go himself he sends his wife. Now if you are expecting this same prophet to know what the outcome of your son will be, then how do you so detest that same reason that should see through your wife's disguise? If he should be able to look so far as to the son in your house, what will he make of the woman before him.? He is a blind old man but can see your wife before she arrives. The bread, the honey, it does not matter what we send when we refuse to come ourselves. This is the story of his life, I accept the appointment to the throne, but I hold back my heart. I will thank God for it, but I shall worship Him in my own way, and I will maintain control of my own people through control of their religion. 

He took the kingdom from the house of David, His servant David, who you have not lived up to, yet you were given the chance. I have more respect now for David then ever I did when I first started this, for who among the kings was ever so broken before the Lord? He came more and more to see his wickedness, and his despair was not against his God, but against his sin. He accepted the Lord's judgments, sought the Lord's forgiveness, he was miserable over the Lord's honor, but was able to receive much rebuke toward himself. Jeroboam, even now, I know how much anguish he must feel, but still he chooses his own way. He will send his wife to approach God's prophet, hoping that he will see and yet not see, hoping that he be just a fortune teller this time and not the mouth of God, for what would God say to me? I would rather not know. No, my honor, my pride is not worth this much. What must I do to be saved? What can you tell me of my state, and what can be done to correct this? Jeroboam does not make it thus far, and if he did he is the sort that would try to lay the condition upon God, that He heal his son or else. You want me to serve You, then do this thing for me. What comes out of the mouth of God's true prophets, lets men know, that He does not need me to serve Him, it is an honor, it is a blessing not owed. If He needs any to serve Him or to praise Him, He can make the rocks to cry out and to become children unto Abraham. Those who think God shall have so much to answer for, the death of loved ones, the loss of youth, their own grave, pain and suffering, you are in a worse state than Jeroboam, for you can read his story, and all the rest of the counsel of God that states what you are owed. You really want God to answer for sin? I don't want Him to settle the books, not like men do, not like true Holiness should either. The child goes as she touches the threshold and what seems like robbery now is also a blessing, because it is as the prophet has said, and he also spoke of God's favor toward this child, for He had found some light in this frail figure. Lord, please save my children, place that name upon their foreheads, that light within their chest.

She knows well now, that this kingdom will fall and someday Israel will find itself in captivity. When we come to serve the gods of other nations, we shall become a gift to those nations as well. This is also the story of the king of Judah, and he has come as historians put it, to take the house of his father and grandfather, "from gold to bronze", in less than a generation. So fast is the fall of this place, those who looked light upon silver, now buy knock offs to maintain appearance. He is like the man who dresses for success, raised upon the shoulders of giants, he thought himself to be that tall. This is the product of the wisest man in the world, the offspring of his unequal union. He was raised in the greatest courts, but has fallen more for the pomp, the rites, the rituals and the state, then to know a heart after God. Neither cry out in anguish over their sins, and both have much to lament. Rehoboam's kingdom is full of idolatry, unsanctioned altars, groves and the mingling of sexual perversions with the articles of religion. Was this David's vision when he wanted to build the temple? Both kings have led their people into a battle, but on the other side of the field, stands the Lord.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Romans 1:16-32

Read More

#480.5 A Better Man Than Me

It has been brought to my attention that I spent a bit too much time on the application in the last post. My apologies, let me see if I can find my way over to the text again, oh the irony.

The prophet of the Lord is given a farewell and God speed, atop the ass of the old prophet. His fate is certain, as any of the prophecies up until now, how horrifying. Now the report comes back that the man who cursed the altar is lying dead on the side of the rode. There is a lion there, next to a donkey, but the body of the man is not being eaten. It is a hope here that his punishment is fulfilled, that he has gone the way of all men, for it is given to men to die, yet he is not abused after his death. He will not return to his earthly home, but the wages of sin is here complete. I think Jeroboam will be pleased with this, whatever righteous fear had come upon him before will most likely be put aside at the announcement of the prophet's death. "He cursed my holy place, now look at the end of him, and a fitting end indeed." This is not a vane speculation, look at Revelation 11:7-11, where the people rejoice over the death of the two prophets of God. If you think that sin does not come with a corrupt form of everything good, including justice, then you are still very lost my friend.

The old prophet comes to collect the body from the lion, and what a surreal scene. The lion goes no further, he does not execute the liar, but let's him take the body home. He puts the bones of the dead prophet in his own sepulcher. Like the thief on the cross looks to Christ at his death, and he ask that Jesus remember him after death, the old prophet ask that his sons burry him next to God's messenger. I treated him dishonestly in life, but I would like to identify with him in death. Let my bones be mingled with his, for everything he said will come to pass. This is one response.

Jeroboam, however, did not turn from his evil ways, he has somehow justified himself, his sin. God is yet in control, for he could have stopped the old prophet from lying to His prophet, but He did not. Does this leave room for excuse? Does this release Jeroboam from any fault? No, because even before the prophet came with the word of God, there was the word of God, it said, "thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images." There was the Levitical priesthood, called of God, that Jeroboam goes around as well. This is no longer the religion of the only true God, this is idolatry. It says, he ordained any who wanted to be priest. What, is want of title not the same as qualification? Don't be surprised, there are many pastors like Jeroboam out there even now, more Jeroboams than there are Samuels and Elijahs. There is a whole made up priesthood, that men once used for power and bought their way into it, but we need no other high priest, we have Jesus. Idolatries go on in our day, and men still defy the words of God, still set up their own altars. God, forgive us our sins as we should ever forgive those around us, please lead us to repentance. Please reveal the truth in us, and let us serve gratefully in meekness. 

When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also [c]our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations [d]will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. Revelation 11:7-10 NKJV

  

Read More

#480 I Listened

And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the Lord unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.

2 And he cried against the altar in the word of the Lord, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.

3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the Lord hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.

4 And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.

5 The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the Lord.

6 And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the Lord thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the Lord, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.

7 And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward.

8 And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place:

9 For so was it charged me by the word of the Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest.

10 So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.

11 Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father.

12 And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah.

13 And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon,

14 And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am.

15 Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.

16 And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place:

17 For it was said to me by the word of the Lord, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.

18 He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.

19 So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water.

20 And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came unto the prophet that brought him back:

21 And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee,

22 But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the Lord did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.

23 And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back.

24 And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.

25 And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt.

26 And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the Lord: therefore the Lord hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake unto him.

27 And he spake to his sons, saying, Saddle me the ass. And they saddled him.

28 And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass.

29 And the prophet took up the carcase of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back: and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury him.

30 And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother!

31 And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones:

32 For the saying which he cried by the word of the Lord against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.

33 After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.

34 And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth. 1 Kings 13 KJV

While Jeroboam attends his altar, as he burns incense for the dedication of this abomination, a prophet stops in to interrupt this ceremony. What wonderful timing, if we would listen, before our end and as we prepare ourselves to fly full in the face of God. He is about to jump out of this plane with no chute, and the words of the Lord are brought against this altar, the name of the man who will burn the false priests upon it, some 300 years later, will be Josiah. Men think themselves the OGs but how sovereign is that to give the name of the man that will fulfill this? Certainly it is prophetic, but it is bound to bring out so much animosity of the free will, that now I can discover you, God, all I have to do is watch for a Josiah. Like that is going to happen now, we will see about that. He speaks to the rocks, the altar, but Jeroboam takes offense to this, this is his way of worshiping God, his established religion. He is the king, and this man is disrespecting what Jeroboam is calling sacred, so he stretches out his hand toward God's speaker, and his hand shrivels up. It is left pointing out and cannot be withdrawn of his own power, a physical manifestation of a hardened heart. The prophet also spoke to the rocks and now the rocks cry out, they bear witness to him, being rent with their contents poured out, like rotten meat taken into the stomach, like poison producing vomit. We have no right to use the things that God has made to serve another, and some think His patience condones it, their fervor establishes it, but if the word of the Lord comes to you, listen. He is a bit concerned over his hand, and he ask the man to beseech, not God, but thy God, so why does Jeroboam refer to God this way? Did he spend so much time in Egypt that he adopted the bulls, or has the God of Jacob so offended him now that he, like Pharaoh he only wants Him to take away the inconvenience, make the sign stop, remove the locust, heal my hand. This is a stiff necked man, and so he ask the prophet to come home with him, he looks upon his travel worn body, and says, let me refresh you, even more so, let me reward you. He is probably really hungry and could use a bath, a reward would be nice too, but God, has on this occasion, explicitly told him, not to eat here. It suggests that he should have no part in them, and that it is a judgment in passing, there is no looking back as Lot's wife did, nor returning the way of Egypt as did Solomon, how is there these two calves after the knowledge of the broken tablets? What part does light have here in this darkness? I cannot stay for God has told me, and I may not go back the way I came, and not for half of all your possessions would it be worth it to me. 

So he obeys, he says what God says, he is kind and prays for the kings hand, not putting anything above his communion with God. Now it gets really messed up, almost cryptic are the events that unfold next. The sons of a local prophet are at the ceremony for Jeroboam's altar, and they run home to tell their father of the days events, so he finds the man and convinces him to come home with him by a lie. Like Eve, he was deceived, God had said one thing, but now someone claiming to be a prophet like him, says he heard from an angel, the words of the Lord. What did Paul say to the Galatians, even if I or an angel come back to you, preaching another gospel, let us be cursed. But he said he was a prophet you say, he had a fresh word you say, from god even, no, not god, but God, because he said he was a Christian as well. Oh, but God said this, so if there is a change in plan, shouldn't it come from God. Should men twist what God says, put words in God's mouth? No. Will they? Christ said they would and all throughout the Old Testament they do, or as in Balaam's case, who God forced to bless Israel, God makes him say opposite of the curse he would like to say. He was a wicked man though, and even after all he had been shown, he still went back to teach Moab how to break Israel from within, to lead them to idols. 

This prophet is in a weakened state, and now he must hear that he has failed, that he has come all this way, but will not finish the journey. How painful this must be, and he only let down his guard for a moment. What a grand and costly reminder for those of us who would take up the plow. Hath God said? No, get thee behind me, Satan, there is nothing back there for me. I know what God said, and I must move on, like Christian in Pilgrim's Progress, stay the course no matter how unpopular, no matter how lonely at times it may seem. There are those that will demand that you return to the law, but the law was for the lawless, it could not save. What is this New Covenant they will ask you? Why do you eat bacon? Why do you worship on Sunday? You need to speak in tongues, look here, you need a sign, to raise people from the dead, to heal their physical ailments. You need a fresh word every day, don't worry about doctrine, don't worry that my fresh word differs with God's old word. Use God's word like this, like a book of spells to get stuff, to build wealth. Paul deals with all these things from the Super apostles. What does God actually say? Remember, my opinion doesn't matter. So let's look at some of these things, it's important because it's where a lot of us get hung up, myself more than anyone:

What is the New Covenant? It's only new because of the time, that this dispensation has now started because the old covenant has been fulfilled in Christ. Just like the issue here with God's prophet, what God has said, no man can change. Christ Jesus testifies to this saying, that He didn't come to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfill them. He alone could do this, bringing about the New Covenant, because 1. He was God, "I and the Father are One,' and 'if you have seen me, you have seen the Father". 

2. Just like God's prophet here calls out for the one that will put an end to this altar, so the Old Testament constantly calls for the Messiah. It starts in Genesis with the seed of the woman, then we see it in God's provision of the ark for the flood. We see the Abrahamic covenant, and the substitution of the ram for Isaac. We see that even then it was by faith, as the writer of Hebrews testifies. God delivers Lot's family for His servant Abraham's sake, yet his wife is turned to a pillar of salt as her heart is held by Sodom. The Psalmist David speaks clearly to the coming of Messiah and what he will suffer in Psalms 22 and the prophet Isaiah most specifically and clearly in Is. 52 & 53, which also details how the world will receive Him. Then John the Baptist, a voice of one crying in the wilderness, tells people to repent and be saved. When he sees the Christ, he says, "behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world." The New covenant is the promise of the old covenant fulfilled. Look at the tabernacle, the Passover, everything in the OT is based on the Grace of God, received by the gift of faith. Christ didn't just die for us, He also lived for us, he kept the law both in Spirit and in Truth. 

Why do I eat bacon and worship on Sunday? I have actually been asked both of these and even seen rants about it by those not too concerned with the question of doctrine either, but nevertheless, it would not be very meek of me not to answer:

1. The dietary laws were still a very hard and real question for the early Christians, especially for those converting from being under the law. These kept them a separate people, peculiar to those around them, making it difficult to assimilate with other cultures, which was God's purpose in selecting out a people to Himself. It also teaches us clean and unclean, those things that are called clean are made that way by God' choice, not our own. Culture and society do not decide what is right or wrong, that belongs to God. There is also, in the OT, promises made to Abraham in his covenant with God, that in his seed all nations of the earth would be blessed. After Christ dies for our sins on the cross, the law is fulfilled, the temple shroud is torn, and the time of the Gentiles approaches - Jn. 10: 15&16

15just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Acts 10: 9-19 is still debated by people who would refer to themselves as Christians today. This is Peter's vision of a sheet with the animals on it that were to him as a Jew, unclean. The vision also represents that the time of the gentiles has begun, and like circumcision, these outward signs of fidelity  and being separated to the One true God, are no longer necessary. Could the law save you? Did eating certain foods or being circumcised change your heart? If you were honest, the law was your teacher, it showed the condition of your heart. The dietary laws were necessary to separate you from the world, because again, if you're honest, in your fallen nature, your heart was more drawn to the things of the world then the things of God. There was the temptation for Peter, even after this, to return the way he had already come, even though he no longer lived as the Jews when he was with Gentiles. Galatians 2:11-21 is where Paul rebukes him. Don't doubt for a minute that this is a failure in all of us, to strain at gnats but swallow camels, to make the thing of least importance, the most important. The gospel teachers reaffirm the teachings of the moral law, so this is also not the place to run to for comfort in such sins. We are all guilty before God, and we all will try rather to justify our sin then to confess it as sin, and desire to be cleansed from it. It is and was much easier to pass on a BLT then to not have anger, covetousness, deceit, or pride in our hearts. The call of Christ is one of justification by faith, not of works, for He alone can atone for our sins, but it is also a call unto Sanctification, for He alone is faithful, Who began a good work in you, to see it through. 

2. Sunday worship is another one that I have been approached on, it is actually in the moral law, and Jesus also confirms this, to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Now, under the law, this was Saturday, the seventh day of the week. What were supposed to remember? That God created the heavens and the earth in six days, and on the seventh day, He rested from all His work, and said, it is good. There are people who say they are Christians that take a nod to this law on either Saturday because they feel it should be on the seventh day still, by the letter, or Sunday, because that was the first day of the week, the day when the early church came together to hear the disciples teach as in Acts 2, Acts 20:7 and 1Cor. 16:1-2. For the best Scripture doctrinal understanding of both food and Sabbath look at this wonderful passage that helped bring me much clarity:

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions,[a] puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. Colossians 2: 16-23

See it, they were shadows, and look at the end, they had no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. We will just trade gnats for camels. It comes down again, as it always does, that the substance belongs to Christ, that you must be born again. I am going to stop here and do a 480.5 continuation because there is a lot of really cool stuff to cover with this.

Read More

#479 The Scorpion King

And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.

2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)

3 That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,

4 Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.

5 And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.

6 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?

7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.

8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:

9 And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?

10 And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.

11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.

13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;

14 And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

15 Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the Lord, that he might perform his saying, which the Lord spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.

17 But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

20 And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.

21 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.

22 But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

23 Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,

24 Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the Lord, and returned to depart, according to the word of the Lord.

25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.

26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:

27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.

28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.

30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.

31 And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.

32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.

33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense. 1 Kings 12 KJV

Solomon's son is now going to take the throne of his father, who has relinquished it by the way all men will one day have to. Israel is there for the inauguration, but the man who Solomon wanted dead is also there as their speaker. Now the kingdom had never known such riches as it did under the rule of Solomon, but this is the pretense of their willingness or unwillingness  to be governed, not the sins of Solomon against God, but rather how much they pay in taxes. You wanted a king, and with such comes this liability, unto Caesar what is Caesar's, but you are not so worried as unto the Lord. I don't care that Solomon has so many wives, I like that about him, our king looks more powerful and successful than all the rest, but guess where your tax money is going? It is not wrong for them to bring this up, and especially now at the beginning of what will be his son's reign, but how will his son handle this proposition. They are willing to be ruled by him, but not grievously. He goes to the older men for counsel, and they give him the advice fitting to a public servant, that he should address their grievance. Take a look at your kingdom, is their room for reform? Your father sinned against God in so much and God has made known to him the like. You could tear down the high places of your step mothers, return to the law of kings, ask of God a clean heart and good conscience in your rule. Ask for help to find such moderation that will not be so heavy to carry. Their advice to him is simple and open, but I don't think he is of integrity or desires to be the king of all people by way of justice and honor. So many make this mistake and it becomes clear by way of who he goes to next. To rule over all justly is to represent all well. You have to listen to all sides, and you must not represent only one group. He goes to his friends, his mates, his buddies, and they who are not so affected by his judgments, and they give him a harsh line of advice. Tell the people, tough, you think my father was harsh, well get ready to dig deep into those pockets. He likes their advice, it feeds his and their egos, and this government of his fathers is so large, and if he is to add to or maintain it, then this will be the only way. He does not have his father's wisdom, so he will have to raise the tax, but his buddies are ok with it because it represents them well. He is no longer the king of Israel, but rather of the few, the oligarchy. It is cute though, because men still play out their game of chess upon the board, they will waltz across the floor, say it wonderfully and with much conviction. It sounded so cool, whips, scorpions, and executive decisions, but it was all wrong. Even if the people were unjustly accusing his father, or their was room here on both sides, he elevates it to the extreme, and removes the ability to reason. In essence, I am the king, you will bow, you are not important. I don't care to hear your reasons, there is nothing to discuss. He goes through all of this for nothing, because God has already decided to divide the kingdom. Israel leaves, Rehoboam sends the tax collector to the people, and they stone him. He gathers an army together, as he should in normal circumstances, but for all their pomp and circumstance, God has already spoken. He has already divided it so that David has only these two parts. Rehoboam has a big army, lineage on his side, the people have murdered one of his employees, but God sends Shemaiah and tells Judah not to go up to battle. Rehoboam might have won some more ground, or Israel may have destroyed David, but that's not where God had drawn the line, and so He keeps His word, something that men, even kings cannot seem to do. 

So now Jeroboam sets up his government and God has told him the same thing, do right by me and I will do right by you. Easy peasy. We saw what the past administration did wrong, so don't do that, don't add to that, and we saw what they did right, don't throw that away. If you're not certain, refer to the Mosaic law and the law of kings, pray and seek Godly wisdom. Or, be afraid that if the people go up to worship at the temple, where God has shown His presence, at the mercy seat, this may somehow undermine your authority. If they do right by God, you may in someway be diminished, or your outward fear is that they may be drawn back to the Davidic dynasty. They are a fickle people after all. So, rather than give them what they need, give them what they want, appeal not to God, Whom they will have to face, but rather to their comfort and ease. They want to worship, but they want it their way, so point out what a burden it is to go to the temple at Jerusalem. Give them some places to worship, that look holy, make them some idols, but call them God's idols. It's ok as long as you say the bulls represent the one true God, regardless of the second commandment. At least you're not as bad as Solomon, he went up with his wives and worshiped other gods with them. He was too wise to think anything of it probably, but it was still a stumbling block, and it was disobedience. You now ordain men whom God has not called, and here is one of the best reasons for separation of church and state, that the state does not lead the people astray, that the church stands up to question the state. God reserves the right to call good and evil, men will only muck it up. Jeroboam could have appealed to God's wisdom, but instead he took the counsel of his own insecurity, satisfied with a form of godliness but denying the power and authority thereof. 

Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers and sisters[a] with me,


To the churches in Galatia:


3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
No Other Gospel


6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!


10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1: 1-10

Read More

#478 Division or Multiplication?

But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites:

2 Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.

3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lordhis God, as was the heart of David his father.

5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.

7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.

8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

9 And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,

10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.

11 Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.

12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.

13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.

14 And the Lord stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom.

15 For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom;

16 (For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:)

17 That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a little child.

18 And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran: and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; which gave him an house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land.

19 And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.

20 And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh.

21 And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country.

22 Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise.

23 And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:

24 And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.

25 And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.

26 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.

27 And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.

28 And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.

29 And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:

30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:

31 And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:

32 (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)

33 Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.

34 Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:

35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.

36 And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.

37 And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.

38 And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.

39 And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.

40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

41 And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?

42 And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.

43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead. 1 Kings 11 KJV

So, when I was a kid and I heard this story this is where it seemed the person reading would say Solomon went wrong. There was a law written to kings in Deuteronomy 17 that read like this:

When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” 15 be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite. 16 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” 17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

18 When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. 19 It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees 20 and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel. Deuteronomy 17:14 -20

So it was predicted in Moses time that the people would want a king like the nations, and David's time saw a glimpse of Messiah when a star would come out of Jacob, as predicted by the prophet Balaam, who didn't even want to serve God. Now Solomon's time has come and he has asked for wisdom, but in Ecclesiastes he laments its sorrows, and that he has in the end chased folly. The wisest among us has become a fool. When we read the story of Solomon though and we compare his life to that of the law that kings were to write for themselves a copy, to keep it with him and to read all the days of his life. 

1. He was of God's choosing - he could check that box. Those that will not be ruled by God will be ruled by tyrants in the end, but here God allows His own people, that He has chosen out of all the world, to His good pleasure, He allows them the lesson of having a king under the best of circumstances. First in Saul, who was the most stately among them, he really looked the part, then David who was passionate for God, who could be convicted of his sin and blessed as those who mourn. Now Solomon, who God loves, not for His merit, because that is fading with his material rise, falling into the shadows and shade of his own splendor. It pleased God that he asked for wisdom though. 

2. He must be an Israelite - check that box too, in fact, his dad was from the line of Judah. He was the first king to actually succeed his father's throne by God's choice, not unchallenged by the politically powerful, or those that would give preference to custom of the eldest, yet not as difficult an ascension as David faced. 

3.Not to acquire a lot of horses or go back to Egypt for them. I am doing a bit of side study on this so it will come up again, but one of the first things Solomon does is take a wife from Egypt, which is not one of the places warned against for this, and she may very well be a wife of conversion, but he does use this contract of marriage to such gains that are contrary to the laws of kings. He acquires not only horses from Egypt for himself but becomes an arms dealer to the countries north of him. He returns the way God said not to go back, acquires horses and chariots for his kingdom and as the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil, he cannot resist a bargain either. He flips horses and chariots to the Syrians at a profit. What's wrong with that? God said not to.

4. He must not take many wives or his heart will be led astray. Is 700 a lot? Maybe, but apparently still not enough, besides them he had 300 concubines. What is the difference between a wife and a concubine at that point? I can't pretend at any kind of piety here. If I would have had his mojo when I was young, I would have had a different girl every day myself. Rock stars were my heroes for that very reason, "money for nothing and the chicks for free." Probably just me, but I thought that was as good a religion to subscribe to as any, better than any boring Christianity. One man, One woman, it just didn't sound that interesting and it wasn't what the world was advertising. More is better, successful people always have more, more money, more women, more gold, more horses. His father David broke this law and was called a man after God's own heart. It's a wonder that he was led away to worship fertility gods. David's lust led to coveting and the murder of Uriah. Solomon's has caused him to disobey the law of kings and God's words spoken directly to him, not to go after other gods. It is his idolatry, his pride and the demise of his kingdom. We always no more than God though, after all, Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived. Vanity of Vanities.

5. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold. Well, he does, but he is the king after all and he is a shrewd business man, nothing personal. What's he supposed to do, its just too easy for him, people pay a lot of money just to hear his wisdom? He has the arms deal thrown in his lap, plus all these major projects that need to be paid for, one of which was Your temple God, remember that and just keep blessing me. Didn't I do all this in Your name? Oh yeah, if your a church doing this, a pastor being greedy, a king accumulating vast treasuries, that's different. Except verse 20 there where he tells the kings not to consider themselves better than their fellow Israelites, not to go to the right or to the left, straight and narrow, no excuses. You just get to live in a fish bowl, have a lot of power, wealth at your finger tips and beckon call, but God still expects you to walk in integrity, to not have other gods putting popularity or materialism before Him. I have been gross enough with not even a measurable fraction of the temptation that was in front of Solomon, wow, how depressing is that?

 

So now, he who has been blessed with so much wisdom, he who has been called beloved by God, and has known great riches, will now be made aware of God's displeasure. This dispensation knows so much of material blessings from God, and for so very little in return. They came to God in tears before, the people have often cried out when oppressed by other nations, yet would always find their way to embracing the dead pieces of wood and brass, carved into images of worship. The wives, that David and Solomon acquired from the nations that God declared of unequal yoke, were probably much more enticing than the boring and plain Israelite women. Now don't be confused, it is not that they were from other countries or cultures, but rather that they served other gods. It was that those cultures upheld the gods and goddesses that were first vanities of the mind and totems to sin. Yet, it begs the question of the second rule, that he must be an Israelite, was he whose heart was so easily led astray, an Israelite indeed? Did not Christ speak to such things as the cleaning of the outside of the cup and the inner circumcision of the heart? Now the kingdom will be split, it will go to his servant, Solomon will not fall prostrate before the Lord right away, he will not hate his sin right away. We can only hope from his other writings that he eventually did turn away from his pride, that such wisdom as he was given was finally given back to God, but for now his response is to desire the life of Jeroboam. Not much has changed from the days of Cain, and Solomon has become more like Saul than like David. It's all in vane. God forgive me for holding up such things, those idols of my youth, of wealth, of not respecting your image in my fellow human being, of ever saying, "its just business', or 'if I don't sell it to them they will buy it from someone else." Lord, it can't be for my merit that you would call me loved of Yourself, or chosen, but I must beg that You would for the sake of Your Son, in Whom I do rest my hope, please forgive me and bless me to have such works that You have prepared before hand. I would rather You correct me here, humble me here, draw me away from my pride that I not go to my grave shaking the fist of human standards and achievement. It is all vanity. I thank you even for my infirmities, for I am still alive and able to read Your word, to seek what I did not want to know before. Everything that I have ever thought of as evil against me, every person that has ever been against me, I thank you for all of it, and don't let me play the victim or the martyr, but let me know and always realize what others may intend for evil, You can turn to good. Thank you God, I praise You and lift Your name above all names, I am sorry that I am ever anxious over anything. You have blessed me with eternity through Your Son, and so everything else is more than I need. Your grace is sufficient for me. 

I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. 18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. 19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! 20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!

Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands. 2 Corinthians 11: 16-33

Read More