 When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. 2 But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God: 3 “Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, 4 ‘Thus says the Lord, You shall not go up or fight against your relatives. Return every man to his home, for this thing is from me.’” So they listened to the word of the Lord and returned and did not go against Jeroboam.
5 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built cities for defense in Judah. 6 He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, 7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, 8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, 9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, fortified cities that are in Judah and in Benjamin. 11 He made the fortresses strong, and put commanders in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine. 12 And he put shields and spears in all the cities and made them very strong. So he held Judah and Benjamin. Priests and Levites Come to Jerusalem13 And the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel presented themselves to him from all places where they lived. 14 For the Levites left their common lands and their holdings and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons cast them out from serving as priests of the Lord, 15 and he appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat idols and for the calves that he had made. 16 And those who had set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord, the God of their fathers. 17 They strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and for three years they made Rehoboam the son of Solomon secure, for they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon. Rehoboam's Family18 Rehoboam took as wife Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse,19 and she bore him sons, Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham. 20 After her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. 21 Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and concubines (he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters). 22 And Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, for he intended to make him king. 23 And he dealt wisely and distributed some of his sons through all the districts of Judah and Benjamin, in all the fortified cities, and he gave them abundant provisions and procured wives for them. Meditation God does not bless us for being obedient but when we obey God, we experience the fruitfulness and fullness of life in Him. This truth is the teaching of wisdom: “Blessed is the man… whose delight is in the law of the Lord… in all that he does, he prospers” (Psalm 1:1-3) This reality is revealed all through Scripture: “And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them (Daniel and his friends), he found them ten times better… (Daniel 1:20). Obedience to God is access to God’s best for our lives, ten times better than the best offered by the world. Rehoboam experienced blessing flowing from obedience. Listening to God’s word and joining with people seeking the Lord, Rehoboam experienced peace in the midst of a divided family (1-4), strength in security (5-12), satisfaction in seeking the Lord (13-17), and prolific family (18-23). When we follow wisdom, we will reap wisdom’s rewards. Jesus teaches that when we abandon the folly of the world to follow His teaching, we will receive 100 times the reward (Mark 10:29-30). Parents do not give wise direction to their children in order for them to earn favor or blessing, but in order to lead them in better, more beneficial ways of living. So too God gives His Word in order to shape His children for fruitful living in His design for His glory. For this reason Paul says, “For I delight in the law of God!...” (Romans 7:22). Richly Dwelling -How does the author’s focus on the life and leadership of Rehoboam highlight the blessings we experience when we obey God’s design and direction? -Obedience does NOT obligate God to bless us. In fact, often it leads to persecution, which God uses for His purposes in and through us. Where have you seen this in your life? -The obedient record of Christ is given to all who believe (When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. 2 But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God: 3 “Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, 4 ‘Thus says the Lord, You shall not go up or fight against your relatives. Return every man to his home, for this thing is from me.’” So they listened to the word of the Lord and returned and did not go against Jeroboam. 5 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built cities for defense in Judah. 6 He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, 7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, 8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, 9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, fortified cities that are in Judah and in Benjamin. 11 He made the fortresses strong, and put commanders in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine. 12 And he put shields and spears in all the cities and made them very strong. So he held Judah and Benjamin. Priests and Levites Come to Jerusalem13 And the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel presented themselves to him from all places where they lived. 14 For the Levites left their common lands and their holdings and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons cast them out from serving as priests of the Lord, 15 and he appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat idols and for the calves that he had made. 16 And those who had set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord, the God of their fathers. 17 They strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and for three years they made Rehoboam the son of Solomon secure, for they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon. Rehoboam's Family18 Rehoboam took as wife Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse,19 and she bore him sons, Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham. 20 After her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. 21 Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and concubines (he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters). 22 And Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, for he intended to make him king. 23 And he dealt wisely and distributed some of his sons through all the districts of Judah and Benjamin, in all the fortified cities, and he gave them abundant provisions and procured wives for them. Meditation God does not bless us for being obedient but when we obey God, we experience the fruitfulness and fullness of life in Him. This truth is the teaching of wisdom: “Blessed is the man… whose delight is in the law of the Lord… in all that he does, he prospers” (Psalm 1:1-3) This reality is revealed all through Scripture: “And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them (Daniel and his friends), he found them ten times better… (Daniel 1:20). Obedience to God is access to God’s best for our lives, ten times better than the best offered by the world. Rehoboam experienced blessing flowing from obedience. Listening to God’s word and joining with people seeking the Lord, Rehoboam experienced peace in the midst of a divided family (1-4), strength in security (5-12), satisfaction in seeking the Lord (13-17), and prolific family (18-23). When we follow wisdom, we will reap wisdom’s rewards. Jesus teaches that when we abandon the folly of the world to follow His teaching, we will receive 100 times the reward (Mark 10:29-30). Parents do not give wise direction to their children in order for them to earn favor or blessing, but in order to lead them in better, more beneficial ways of living. So too God gives His Word in order to shape His children for fruitful living in His design for His glory. For this reason Paul says, “For I delight in the law of God!...” (Romans 7:22). Richly Dwelling -How does the author’s focus on the life and leadership of Rehoboam highlight the blessings we experience when we obey God’s design and direction? -Obedience does NOT obligate God to bless us. In fact, often it leads to persecution, which God uses for His purposes in and through us. Where have you seen this in your life? -The obedient record of Christ is given to all who believe (2 Corinthians 5:21). We experience God’s blessings through the grace of Christ! Where do you need to respond to God’s grace with obedience in your life? Do you trust God’s design to be ten times better? Key verses 16 And those who had set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord, the God of their fathers. Comments are closed.
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