A Walk with the Kings of Israel Wednesday

Hey y’all! I am so excited to be ending this walk with the kings of Israel with you! I do hope you enjoyed our time in the word together. Please do read 1 Kings 17. I would love to talk about that passage and how it relates to us today but unfortunately at this time we are unable to do that. So read it for yourself and email me your thoughts. It is a rich passage of Scripture.

Shallum
Now Shallum, who assassinated Zechariah, only had the throne for one month. He was assassinated by a very violent man named Menahem. Menahem took the throne after this.

Menahem
Menahem reigned for ten years. He also did evil during his entire reign.

Read 2 Kings 15:19
“Then Pul king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave him a thousand talents of silver to gain his support and strengthen his own hold on the kingdom. Menahem exacted this money from Israel. Every wealthy man had to contribute fifty shekels of silver to be given to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and stayed in the land no longer.”

Menahem wasn’t only a very violent guy but he also put an inconvenient tax on the people. Now you know how people feel about taxes. Considering our experiences in our time with taxes and the great debates that go on, how do you think these decisions made the people feel? I can imagine he was probably not a popular king with the people.

Pekahiah
Menahem’s son took over the throne after him. He reigned two years. He also did evil like those before him. We have now seen several assassinations for transfers of power. Pekahiah’s reign too ends in assassination. A chief officer killed him taking 50 men with him on this task. He was killed in his own palace.

Pekah

From his assassination of Pekahiah, Pekah now took over the throne. He reigned in Israel for 20 years. He was also a king who did evil.

Read 1 Kings 15:29-30.
“In the time of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. He took Gilead and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and deported the people to Assyria. Then Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked and assassinated him, and then succeeded him as king in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.”

Also, he teamed with the king of Aram to go and fight against his brother Israelites in Jerusalem. The war was not a success (Isaiah 7:1).

His reign was not very successful at all. He would be the one remembered in the history books as the one who lost much land and power. He also lost many people into captivity.

Hoshea conspires to kill Pekah and succeeds.

Hoshea
2 ki 15:30, 2 kings 17:1-6
Hoshea reigned for nine years. He also did evil but the text noted his sin was not like the kings who preceded him.

Since Assyria had a hold on a lot of their land, Hoshea started paying a tribute to Assyria to keep them from attacking. He ended up being a puppet king with Assyria calling the shots for six of those years. Finally Hoshea decided that he was no longer going to pay off Assyria. Instead he sent some help to Egypt. The king of Assyria did not like this so put Hoshea in prison and he attacked Samaria. The Israelites were under siege with Assyria for three long years. Finally the siege ended with Assyria overpowering Israel. All the people at this point were taken captive and deported to Assyria.

The rest of Chapter 17 explains the deportation. It is such a sad story. God recorded these things from the past to teach us (Romans 15:4). I think we can learn that we worship such a merciful and loving God. Yet He is no wimp or push over, He is the God of perfect justice. He encompasses the perfect balance of both. My heart just beats in awe of Him. As we know Israel sinned horribly against Him yet He still holds out the covenant to them and now to us. All we have to do is to accept what He did for us and follow Him. An easy and precious gift that I am so thankful for!

Precious Father, I love You with my entire being. Thank You for Your great mercy and justice. Thank You that You are our Father and that nothing can separate us from You love. Father, help us to learn from these people You recorded for us to learn from. Help us to live our lives fully devoted to You. Please cleanse my heart and reveal any idols that it may be worshiping. I cast those down before You in repentance. Father, keep us ever close to You. Help us to follow in Your ways alone. We love You. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

Copyright 2008----------------Refresh My Soul Ministries---------------Angela Parsley

A Walk with the Kings of Israel Wednesday

Jeroboam II
After Jehoash’s death his son Jeroboam reigned on the throne. You would think that after all the sin that Jeroboam the first caused Israel to commit that Jehoash would not use the same name but unfortunately he did. In these days names meant a lot. I am guessing that this name held honor with it in Jehoash’s eyes. Why else would he name his son this? Especially since most of these kings have not walked away from the sins that Jeroboam I caused them to commit.

Jeroboam the second’s reign lasted 41 years. He also did evil in God’s eyes. We see that he had established a strong political kingdom because he took back some land for Israel. We are first introduced to the prophet Jonah here. He was the prophet who delivered this restoring word to Jeroboam.

Read 2 Kings 14:26
The LORD had seen how bitterly everyone in Israel, whether slave or free, was suffering; there was no one to help them. And since the LORD had not said he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.

Isn’t it interesting that God’s character is still merciful toward His children even in seasons of sin. God is faithful to those who He calls His own. God chose to use a great sinner, Jeroboam II, to save Israel. God is so patient and merciful.

Zechariah
After Jeroboam II’s death his son took the throne after him. His name was Zechariah and he ruled for the short period of six months. He also continued in doing evil in the eyes of the Lord as those before him.

Zechariah’s reign was cut short because he was assassinated by a man named Shallum. This took place in front of the people. When I think of this horrific act that was carried out in public, it reminds me of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. How does someone even do that? It was a time that lacked morals.

Read 2 Kings 15:12
So the word of the LORD spoken to Jehu was fulfilled: "Your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.”

Interestingly enough, just as the prophecy was spoken, Jehu’s family only reigned for 4 generations. Zechariah was the last. God’s word always stands true.

1-What do you think about the character of God with Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:26)? Do we have to be sinless for God to use us? Can you think of a time when God used you when you were at your worst?

2-Have you noticed that history tends to repeat itself. Explain your thoughts on this.

3-God’s word is always true. You never need to doubt it. Can you think of any words of prophecy in the Bible that you are especially fond of?

We are almost finished! Great job in your diligence of the study of God’s word. There are four more kings listed until the captivity of Israel. We will look at them next week.

Copyright 2008-Refresh My Soul Ministries-Angela Parsley

A Walk with the Kings of Israel Wednesday

Jehoahaz now becomes king after his father. His reign lasts 17 years. He unfortunately did evil in God’s eyes and persisted in the sins of Jeroboam (2 Kings 13:1-2).

This did not make God happy. God was in fact burning with anger. God really desires for us to want relationship with Him over anything else. He wants our whole heart devoted to Him. But He will not force it. Instead because of His justice and mercy He allows discipline with the hope it will bring us back toward Him. Just like we discipline our children, God does with us in His perfect knowledge and grace.

God allows, for a long time, the Israelites under Jehoahaz’s rule to be kept under military pressure and oppression from the opposing nation of Aram. See what Jehoahaz finally does in the passage.

Read 2 Kings 13:4-6 (emphasis mine).
“Then Jehoahaz sought the LORD's favor, and the LORD listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel. The LORD provided a deliverer for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram. So the Israelites lived in their own homes as they had before. But they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them. Also, the Asherah pole remained standing in Samaria.”

Matthew 6:33 tells us to “seek first the kingdom of God”. When things got hard and Jehoahaz is finally really feeling it he does seek out the Lord’s favor. Don’t you love how the Lord listens to Jehoahaz? God sees everything, nothing is hidden from Him. Sometimes He watches and waits for us to ask.

Sometimes He has to allow the heat to rise to get our attention. Jehoahaz finally gets this and looks to God. See what God does--He provides a deliverer. We are not told exactly who or what this delivered was but God provides it. When this happens the oppressive power of Aram stops.

Unfortunately though even after getting relief from this long military oppression they still do not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam. Seriously, what is wrong here? You think that they would learn but yet again they do not. This is so hard to understand but again and again we do see it as a pattern of human behavior. Even in our own behavioral patterns.

I want you to see what a huge deal this deliverer should have been to the people. There was great devastation experienced at the hands of the Aram army.

Read 2 Kings 13:7.
“Nothing had been left of the army of Jehoahaz except fifty horsemen, ten chariots and ten thousand foot soldiers, for the king of Aram had destroyed the rest and made them like the dust at threshing time.”

It is so sad when the answer is right before us. God will provide yet in our sin nature we persist in our sins. This was the case for the people of Israel again.

Jehoahaz’s son Jehoash is the next king on the throne. His reign lasted 16 years. He continued to walk in the sin of Jeroboam. He also had some military tension with his brothers of the southern kingdom of Israel and the country of Aram.

Now an interesting thing about Jehoash was that he was grieved over Elisha the great prophet’s illness because it was going to cause him to die. He wept over this. He also asked for his advice about the kingdom of Aram. This is interesting stuff to read. If you get a chance read 2 Kings 13:14-20.

Now read this about our God. I just love this passage.
Read 2 Kings 13:22-23.
“Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence.”

Now, is that not a great passage about God’s great mercy, grace, compassion and love for His people? There is absolutely nothing that can separate His loved ones from His love. He remembers, He sees, He delivers. God is so amazing. God is a covenant God who takes His covenants seriously. We could learn so much from Him about this. I could go on and on about this but because of this study I will end here.

One last thing to note about Jehoash is how he tried to refuse a war with his own people in the southern kingdom. But the southern kingdom became arrogant and persisted anyway. Jehoash attacked and won. He also took treasuries from the Lord’s temple back with him.

1-Take a look at your own sin patterns in your life. Do they resemble Israel’s? Why or why not?

2-Do you see when we seek God first that He will provide a deliverer? Share your thoughts.

3-I praise God for the new covenant we live in. God gave us Jesus the final deliverer. We stand in Him in righteousness before God through we still have not been brought to completion. Take a moment and just praise God for His great grace.

4-Doesn’t God’s stubborn love astound you? Explain a time when God persisted in His love for you while you continued in your stubborn ways.

Copyright 2008-Refresh My Soul Ministries-Angela Parsley

A Walk with the Kings of Israel Wednesday

Jehu
As fulfillment of the prophecy spoken by God to Elijah, Jehu will be the next king (1 Kings 19:16-17). His reign lasts 28 years.

A violent new start occurs in the kingdom of Israel. Jehu’s reign fulfills all the prophecy about demolishing Ahab’s family and Jezebel. Jehu destroyed all the people close to or related to this family line. Then he went about demolishing all the ministers of Baal. He cleaned house completely of Baal worship.

Again, we have a great opportunity for a new start here with Jehu. We see prophecy fulfilled before our very eyes. We see the Lord commending Jehu for his obedience. Israel has yet another chance for a fresh start with this new leadership.

Read 2 Kings 10:28-30.
“So Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel. However, he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit—the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan. The LORD said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all I had in mind to do, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation."

Based on the passage, take a look at what Jehu failed to do?

He was so close to getting things right by cleaning house. God commends him for completing the work God had in mind to do. He is given the time frame of the fourth generation for his family being on the throne of Israel. Would that not put a fire in your heart to completely clean house?

He has done so much already why not take it all the way? Yet he continues the practices of the very first king in the northern kingdom—Jeroboam. Jehu was so close to a great start. He did demolish the most of the detestable things but not all of them. Full devotion was not toward God.

1-Have you ever realized it was time to clean house of the filth you may have lying around? Things like movies, music, or magazines which God would not deem fitting for His servants?

2-Have you ever partially cleaned up and justified some of the things being okay to keep around? After all, it has always been that way and it seemed to work. Explain.

3-If you have time, check out the amazing prophecy fulfillment by Jehu. You will find them listed in 2 Kings 9:6-10, 2 Kings 9:25-26, 2 Kings 9:36-37, 2 Kings 10:10-11, and 2 Kings 10:17. It amazes me how God’s hand was involved so much here.

Beloved, please see God for who He truly is in this. God is a God of perfect love and He loves you unconditionally. God is also a God of perfect justice. He is the one and only righteous judge. Some of this sounds harsh but we are not God. With some things we just have to stand in awe of Him and thank Him for His grace.

Next we will take a look at Jehu’s son Jehoahaz’s reign.

Copyright 2008-Refresh My Soul Ministries-Angela Parsley

A Walk with the Kings of Israel Wednesday

Ahaziah, the son of Ahab is now on the throne. Remember, the last week of our study we glimpsed the death of Ahab. Ahab had a moment of repentance but not a complete turnaround. He did not give his whole heart to God. Yet, because of his moment of repentance God delayed judgment. We will see it come to pass as we study the next two sons of Ahab.

Read 1 Kings 22:51-53
“Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, because he walked in the ways of his father and mother and in the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin. He served and worshiped Baal and provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger, just as his father had done.”

Ahaziah had a reign of only two years. Reading more about Ahaziah in 2 Kings chapter one we find out that He had a fall that eventually caused his death. His reign is summed up as doing evil. He walked in the wicked ways of those before him. His Baal worship was apparent because in his moment of crisis, after his fall, he sent servants out to inquire of Baal-Zebub. He went to this false God to inquire of his future. Like a fortune teller in our day.

God is the only one who knows the number of our days. He is the only all-knowing one. God was upset that Ahaziah inquired of false God’s rather than the one true God. Was there no God in Israel, God asked him.

Because of his actions Elijah met the servants on their way to Baal-Zebub and told them what God says the outcome would be for Ahaziah. The future for him was death. He would die in the bed he was resting in from his fall and die.

Ahaziah had no children to take his place so his brother was the next in line to take the throne. It is important to note that Moab, a bordering nation, tries to attack after each king’s death. That is so true of our enemies today. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to “be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Satan knows when we are weak and will hit us at our most vulnerable times. Just like Moab and their attacks. They were strategically planned to hit when it hurt. That is how the enemy works.

Jehoram now takes the throne of Israel in turbulent times. Judgment is coming we know from God’s word to Ahab. The question is when? This is a chance yet again for true repentance on Jehoram’s part. But he didn’t quite hit the mark. He is a little better though then those before him in his family line. He reigned 12 years. Yet he still did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He however, did not sin like his mother and father because he put away the sacred pillar of Baal. He however persisted in the sins of Jeroboam (2 Kings 3:2-3).

Because of their unwillingness to repent, a new king named Jehu will take this families place. We will read about him next week.

1-Like the Moabites, hitting someone hard when they are weak and vulnerable is playing dirty, can you say that you have seen this same kind of hit in your life from our enemy? Explain.

2-God is so patient with us. He waits for us to repent. He will not force us. Jehoram did do less evil in the eyes of the Lord but still didn’t give his full heart to God. Good deeds are not enough to get us right with God. We can never earn it. Coming to accept His free gift of salvation and His invitation to walk with Him is the only way we can become right before His eyes. Can you share a personal testimony about your walk with God?

3-Why do you think Ahaziah inquired of the false god instead of the one true God? Have you even skipped going to God about something first when you really should have? What were the results?

Thank for keeping up with this. You all are doing great. I am loving growing in the word with you!

Copyright 2008-Refresh My Soul Ministries-Angela Parsley

A Walk with the Kings of Israel Wednesday

A Very Wicked King: Ahab

Ahab was the next king in line. He reigned for 22 years. He was the most wicked king yet. This is the word of God describing Ahab, “Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him. He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him (1 Kings 16:30-33).

God looks at our hearts. Whether we outwardly express it or not, God sees all things. Ahab considered it trivial to commit the detestable sins of Jeroboam. It didn’t even make him flinch. Also, he married a very wicked woman, Jezebel. Ahab went as far as setting up an altar for the false God Baal in a temple he built for him. He also made another idol Asherah. Both things were extremely detestable in God’s eyes. Yet the thing that scares me the most is that Ahab considered it trivial.

The Bible is clear about things being black and white. Isaiah 5:20-21 states, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.”

It is dangerous ground to call those things God calls bad good. That is why when appointing a leader we MUST know where they stand on moral issues. They will lead our nation down a slippery slope if they do not agree with God’s law. As we have been reading these past few weeks about these kings it is important to note that each one went a little further away from God. We cannot allow that to happen in our country.

There is so much wickedness to cover that is recorded about Ahab’s reign. Most of the accounts are listed in 1 Kings 16 to 1 Kings 22. It is a good read if you have the time. The great prophet Elijah enters the scene here as well. Since there is so much I wanted to point out another thing about God.

Although Ahab was the most wicked king, God still wanted to reach him. Is it possible to reach those who seem unreachable? Even the most wicked? You bet! That is why Jesus desired to come and die. That is why He defeated sin and death to reach us sinners. A free gift that we just have to accept and receive. His love is amazing. 2 Peter 3:9 states it like this, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Ahab had his moment of repentance. I want us to take a look at it. Elijah is told by God to go and deliver a message of judgment to Ahab. Pay very close attention to Ahab’s response.

“Ahab said to Elijah, "So you have found me, my enemy!"

"I have found you," he answered, "because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD. 'I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have caused Israel to sin.' "And also concerning Jezebel the LORD says: 'Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.' "Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds of the air will feed on those who die in the country."

(There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife. He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the LORD drove out before Israel.)

When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.

Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: "Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son" (1 Kings 21:20-28).

Though Ahab repented on this occasion which I believe was sincere because God sees the heart. God delayed the judgment. What a patient God we serve. But again, Ahab’s behavior quickly returned to following his own way instead of God’s. Because of this his life was ended in a battle.

1-History repeats itself. A leader will only lead a nation morally by his belief system. How does that make you feel as a nation going through a tough election year? Does it influence how you vote?

2-Is anyone on this earth beyond the hope of Christ? Why or why not?

3-List a few ways we can be sure our repentance is true and not temporary
Copyright 2008-Refresh My Soul Ministries-Angela Parsley

A Walk with the Kings of Israel Wednesday

Baasha
King Baasha reigned over Israel for 24 years. He also did evil in the eyes of the Lord like the kings before him. He took the throne by force. You see a pattern of decline here? It is so obvious that when God is taken out of the center of a place it goes downhill. Evil prevails. That is not what God desires for us. John 10:10 states, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Again, God raises up a prophet to speak against this evil. The prophet Jehu declared the word of the Lord saying, "I lifted you up from the dust and made you leader of my people Israel, but you walked in the ways of Jeroboam and caused my people Israel to sin and to provoke me to anger by their sins. So I am about to consume Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat. Dogs will eat those belonging to Baasha who die in the city, and the birds of the air will feed on those who die in the country" (1 Kings 16:2-4).

We have to understand. We serve a God who is compassionate and slow to anger (Psalm 145:8). God is good. God is also just. He is the perfect balance. In these times of the kings there was a huge amount of sin. Generation after generation of decline in morality. It makes me stand in awe of God who is so patient with His children. He desires that all will come to Him in repentance but it is our choice (2 Peter 3:9).

As the prophet stated, Baasha’s family will fall like Jeroboam’s did. Again, he had a chance at making a difference. A chance for turning the people back to God but he failed. Consequences follow disobedience.

Elah
Baasha’s son takes the throne. His name is Elah. He is a man who also lacked judgment. He was killed by a commander of some of his chariots. His killer was named Zimri. Zimri comes into a situation where he finds Elah drunk and murders him. He then takes the throne by force.

Zimri
Zimri was also a man who lacked judgment. As soon as he took the throne read what he did.

“As soon as he [Zimri] began to reign and was seated on the throne, he killed off Baasha's whole family. He did not spare a single male, whether relative or friend. So Zimri destroyed the whole family of Baasha, in accordance with the word of the LORD spoken against Baasha through the prophet Jehu- because of all the sins Baasha and his son Elah had committed and had caused Israel to commit, so that they provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger by their worthless idols” (1 Kings 16:11-13).

This act, though evil, fulfilled the prophecy spoken over Baasha’s family. A very sad ending. Remember these are choices that wicked men make. God is sovereign and knows what choices will be made. God does not make this evil happen. God cannot tolerate wrong (Habakkuk 1:13).

The people did not like what Zimri did. So they appointed Omri, the commander of the army, king and went after Zimri. Zimri then locked himself in the citadel of the palace and set it on fire all around him. This was his end. He also did evil in the Lord’s eyes.

Omri
Now Omri has a chance to do right in the eyes of the Lord. Let’s see what happens during his reign.

Unfortunately the northern kingdom was split over a new leader. Half of them wanted Omri and the other half wanted a man named Tibni to reign. Because Omri’s group was stronger than Tibni’s, Omri became king and Tibni died.

The things Omri did are listed here:

“He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver and built a city on the hill, calling it Samaria, after Shemer, the name of the former owner of the hill.

But Omri did evil in the eyes of the LORD and sinned more than all those before him. He walked in all the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit, so that they provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger by their worthless idols” (1 Kings 16:24-26).

So we see a horrible cycle of sin. It seems that each generation gets worse. Each king falls further away from God. It is such a sad thing to watch. Next week we will look at Omri’s son, Ahab. He will turn out to be the wicked king of all.

1-Looking at our nation, do you see a pattern of decline? Yes or No. Explain.

2-If we chose leaders who morally disagree with what God’s law states we are setting ourselves up for judgment. Just like the people of Israel. Remember Romans 15:4 tells us that the things from the past were written to teach us. What can we learn from their patterns and apply to our lives today?

3-Like father-like son. Generational patterns are showing here. The things we do will greatly affect our kids and the next generation. Are we making choices with this in mind?

4-Like the times during Omri’s reign the nation was divided. Does that sound familiar? We are called the United States of America yet we are far from united with this election coming up in three weeks. Any thoughts about this?

5-When men make choices separate from God they are wrong choices. Can you testify to any decisions you have made without consulting with God and the outcome?

Copyright 2008-Refresh My Soul Ministries-Angela Parsley

A Walk with the Kings of Israel Wednesday

A New Reign

Jeroboam reigned 22 years in the northern kingdom. God sent a prophet to cry out against the corrupt altar that Jeroboam built, instead of repentance anger filled Jeroboam. He did not turn back to God.

Jeroboam’s son gets ill at this time and he sends his wife in disguise to inquire of the prophet Ahijah about his son’s outcome. This is the same prophet who brought the first word from God to Jeroboam. The very word that told him that God hand-picked him to be king of most of Israel. I imagine he probably sent his wife in disguise because his pride left him unable to humble himself. That is what it seems anyway. Jeroboam had a great opportunity but because of his failure to follow God, he lost his chance. Instead he used his influence to lead the people away from God. He knew the consequences because God told Jeroboam what He expected from him in the beginning of this assignment. Jeroboam did not prove faithful.

Ahijah has bad news for Jeroboam. His wife goes back to tell him this is what the Lord says:

“7 Go, tell Jeroboam that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I raised you up from among the people and made you a leader over my people Israel. 8 I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, but you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commands and followed me with all his heart, doing only what was right in my eyes. 9 You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods, idols made of metal; you have provoked me to anger and thrust me behind your back.”
-1 Kings 14:7-9

Now Jeroboam was deemed the one who did more evil than all before him. I shudder to think of what that means? Remember God wiped out the world because of all the evil in Noah’s days. Was Jeroboam even more evil than all of them? Those people in Sodom and Gomorrah where there were none righteous but Lot and his family. Was Jeroboam more evil than all of them? There was great evil in the world yet Jeroboam surpassed it.

Jeroboam looked like he had a great start but the end was disastrous all because He did not seek the One who established his rule. Is there anything we can learn from this for today? Our country will not prosper until we humble ourselves before our holy God and turn back to Him. The economic crisis, energy crisis, and the other devastation is a way to get our attention. Will we turn back to our King? Oh I hope so with all my heart.

Here are just some of the consequences of Jeroboam’s disobedience as listed in the rest of chapter fourteen. If you have the time I encourage you to read it all. The consequences are very serious. We must take our God and obedience to Him seriously. He is good but He is also just. His ways never change.

Consequences:
1-Because of Jeroboam’s sin, the kingdom will be torn away from his family line.
2-The ill boy will die when his mom steps into town.
3-Disaster will come to Jeroboam and his family.
4-No one in Jeroboam’s family will have proper burial except the young son who dies because he is the only one God found any good in.

Now those are some serious consequences. But Jeroboam did some pretty bad things. I think the key to understanding God in regards to his treatment of Jeroboam is knowing and remembering that God sees our hearts. Not one of us is perfect. We all sin. God sees the intentions of our hearts. David committed sins as well but God knew his heart. God also knew Jeroboam’s heart. God is the only righteous one to judge because He does see straight into our hearts.

The next in line for the kingdom is Nadab, the son of Jeroboam. We know the kingdom is torn from this family though so it will not surprise us that he only reigned for two years. He persisted in the evil his father did in the Lord’s eyes.

During a siege against the Philistines, one of Nadab’s brother Israelites from the tribe of Issachar struck him down. His name was Baasha and he becomes the next king of Israel. He also killed all of the rest of Jeroboam’s family fulfilling the prophecy given through the prophet Ahijah. Next week we will take a look at Baasha’s reign.

1-We have a great influence in the world around us. Do we use our influence on it or does it influence us?

2-Above all else my heart’s desire is to prove faithful to God. What about you? Is there anything you can say you have not been faithful to do up to this point? If so why not do it now?

3-Any thoughts you want to share about our country, our distance from our God, and the state we are in?

4-What is the condition of your heart? Will you spend some time asking God about what He sees? Remember there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Listen to the Holy Spirit and His guiding. If there is sin then confess it and move on. If it is clean then hear God say well done, my faithful one.

Copyright 2008-Refresh My Soul Ministries-Angela Parsley

A Walk with the Kings of Israel Wednesday

A Look at Jeroboam-Part Two

Now Jeroboam makes the worst decision of his career. He is still living in fear and does not realize he is God’s appointed servant. He doesn’t realize that he can make a great kingdom for the people of Israel if he does it God’s way. God hand-picked him for an amazing task, he should have known whose he was.

Maybe deep down he did realize this but his actions tell us differently. Jeroboam chooses to turn from God’s way and establish his own way. This is where any one of us could so easily fall. This is why we must always be on guard. Jeroboam will end up making one of the worst decisions of Israel’s history. These decisions have an impact that causes generations to follow the way of sin by moving away from the one true God.

The people of Israel were required to make regular pilgrimages to the house of God. God established this sanctuary in the city of David. In Jerusalem was where God wanted this place to be. This was His holy place. The only place to go to God’s house.

Read 1 Kings 12:26-27
“26 Jeroboam thought to himself, "The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. 27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam."

Jeroboam should have known better. Remember what God spoke to him, “37 However, as for you, I will take you, and you will rule over all that your heart desires; you will be king over Israel. 38 If you do whatever I command you and walk in my ways and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you. 39 I will humble David's descendants because of this, but not forever"(1 Kings 11:37-39).

How easy it is to forget the promises that God gives us. That is why it is so important to read the word of God daily. God’s promises are in His word. We must live by those in complete confidence or we will go our own way. God’s ways are best. Jeroboam was told to keep God’s statutes and commands. He was told God would be with him.

Fear creeps in again or maybe it is pride. Either way he does not want to lose his kingdom to Rehoboam. He thinks that when the people make their pilgrimages to the temple in Jerusalem that God requires in His law they will turn against him and return their allegiance to king Rehoboam. Yet, he had a promise from God. How is it that we so easily forget? God is forever with us. He establishes our works. He is in control. Yet, we like to intervene and help God where He clearly does not need help. When we step in for God we create problems.

Read 1 Kings 12:28-30
“28 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." 29 One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. 30 And this thing became a sin; the people went even as far as Dan to worship the one there.”

Now I would like you to look at a map here-http://www.bible.ca/maps/maps-divided-kingdom.htm

Make a note of where Dan, Bethel, and Jerusalem are in comparison to one another.

Jeroboam took it on himself to make gods and place them in two cities in the Northern Territory to make it “easier” for the people to worship “God”.

What in the world? He was not seeking advice from God even though it was God who established His kingdom. He did not trust God to protect his kingdom though God promised this as well. He decided to rule his way instead of God’s. He made the kingdom his own instead of God’s. He lost sight of God. This was a very dangerous place to be.

Jeroboam’s influence leads God’s people to sin. Though we are each personally responsible and accountable for our own decisions, it is important we have a leader who leads us in the right direction. This situation is very similar to when Aaron made a golden calf for the people to worship in Moses time. Jeroboam had to have known the stories. Yet he did not learn from the past. Instead, he did what seemed right to him. Even though the stuff that Jeroboam did to this point was against God, he did things far worst.

Read 1 Kings 12:31-33
31 “Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites. 32 He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. This he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. And at Bethel he also installed priests at the high places he had made. 33 On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel. So he instituted the festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to make offerings.”

Now Jeroboam has fallen way out of line. He is now “helping” the people worship even more conveniently by establishing shrines on various high places. He starts appointing priests from whoever he wants which God only reserved for the Levites. He also appoints a festival different from the ones that God has already appointed. It seems that Jeroboam is playing God.

It is important to note that all of these things spiraled from the emotions of fear and pride. Things are now completely out of control. These events lead the people of Israel into great sin. God’s appointed went bad. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. How grieved this must make God yet God is sovereign and patient with us. He never gives up on us as far gone as we get.

Though sin abounds in the northern kingdom, there were still some God-fearing people. Some people who believed God and took a stand.

Read 2 Chronicles 11:13-17
13 The priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel sided with him. 14 The Levites even abandoned their pasturelands and property, and came to Judah and Jerusalem because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD. 15 And he appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat and calf idols he had made. 16 Those from every tribe of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the LORD, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the LORD, the God of their fathers. 17 They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon three years, walking in the ways of David and Solomon during this time.

Now I want you to note the importance of these events. The priests and Levites took a stand. They refused to stay in the place where true worship of God did not exist. They left everything they had to come and stay in the southern kingdom. The lay people who had their hearts set on God followed the Levites and priests example. They too came down to the southern kingdom. Land was a big deal during these times. God gave this land of promise to each tribe. These tribes willingly left their God-appointed land to be in the place where true worship of God was happening. This is a big deal.
It makes me ask myself, how much am I willing to give up in order to truly worship God? I admire their stand.

1-Have you ever tried to “help” God in a situation but your “help” just made the situation worse?

2-Name one promise from the Bible that you need to cling to this week. Write it on a note card and carry it with you this week as a reminder.

3-Are you easily influenced to follow people even if they are leading you in the wrong direction? Why or why not?

4-Has God given you a responsibility to lead anyone? Perhaps it is a family or children or workers? If God has given you this position then it is important you are aware of your influence and how you use it.

5-Like the godly left in Israel, have you ever had to leave something dear for the sake of following Christ?

Copyright 2008-Refresh My Soul Ministries-Angela Parsley

A Walk with the Kings of Israel Wednesday

A Look At Jeroboam Part 1

We get our first glimpse at Jeroboam’s character in what we read last week. When he was given words of God from the prophet about being king of most of Israel the prophet also spoke this, “37 However, as for you, I will take you, and you will rule over all that your heart desires; you will be king over Israel. 38 If you do whatever I command you and walk in my ways and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you. 39 I will humble David's descendants because of this, but not forever"(1 Kings 11:37-39).

What an amazing message to receive. But there was a conditional clause here. See it in verse 38? If Jeroboam does whatever God commands and if you walk in my ways and do right in God’s eyes. If is the big word here. If he does right and rules for God not himself he will be bestowed with many blessings that are listed. This is a chance at a big future to make things right.

When you are placed in a position of leadership there will be testing. Shortly after this in verse 40 from last week we see that Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam. So, Jeroboam fled to Egypt. How often do we know that God has given us something to do yet we run in fear and hide? At Solomon’s first attempt (as far as we know) to kill Jeroboam he runs. Not only does he run to another part of Israel but he runs to Egypt of all places. The place of bondage. This is interesting to me. When God entrusts something to us, testing will come. Will we endure it or run and hide?

When we walk in faith we know who we belong to. Jeroboam was told that God will be with him. Wouldn’t that mean at all times especially when someone is trying to kill you? Yet instead of trusting God, he ran. Now don’t hate on him this is what most anyone would do in a weak moment. He did not realize He was protected by the hand of God. How often do we fail to realize this in our own lives? If God has called us to do something then He will equip us to do that work and He will finish that work. We need to walk that out in faith.

Now if you read 1 Kings 12 you will find out that after Solomon’s death Jeroboam returns to Israel. Pride took over in Rehoboam’s (son of Solomon) life. He was not willing to be kind to the people because he was king. He listened to some unwise advice. But it is very interesting to see in verse 15 it states,”the turn of events was from the Lord to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam.” Because of this the people of Israel rebelled against him and made Jeroboam their king. So now we have Rehoboam ruling the tribe of Judah and Jeroboam the rest of the kingdom.

Doesn’t it amaze you that God truly does appoint all authority. Romans 13:1 states it like this, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” It is so important that we pay attention to this at this election. God appoints authority for various reasons. It is our job to pray for them and our country. It is our responsibility to vote for who we believe lines up best with the leader God desires.

Rehoboam did not like his kingdom being taken away. I would think he would have had to known it would happen because word like this must get around. Perhaps he didn’t know Jeroboam was supposed to have the rest of the kingdom. Either way, he takes matters into his own hands and gathers the people in his area of rule with the intention of going to war against Jeroboam and Israel. Rehoboam wanted the rest of the kingdom back.

God has his prophets intervene again (don’t you just love this about God). The prophet said this, “23 "Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, to the whole house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, 24 'This is what the LORD says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing"(1 Kings 12:23-24).

This is so important. God does not want us to fight against our brothers and sisters in Christ. Please know that the very heart of God is for us to be united. He needs a united body. How crazy is it to operate as one unit when one foot wants to go one way and the other the other way? You just don’t get that far that way. As one body of believers we need to learn to walk in unity. Especially encouraging one another. It is imperative we do not tear one another apart. It grieves my heart deeply when people call themselves Christians yet will not make the effort to get along with their brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Rehoboam and his troop listen to God and head back to their own places. They do not proceed in the war.

1-What about you? Have you ever let fear rule your life? How?

2-Do you really know who you belong to? Are you secure in Him and the works that He has given you to do? How and why?

3-How do you respond to authority? Is it easy for you to accept that all authority is appointed by God?

4-How are you voting? Do you pray about who to vote for and what God’s will is before you vote? Do you just vote for a party? Discuss.

5-Unity is at the very heart of God. Jesus prayed for it in one of his last prayers before the crucifixion in the book of John. What are some ways we can help with unity of the body?

Copyright 2008-Refresh My Soul Ministries-Angela Parsley

A Walk with the Kings of Israel Wednesday-A Kingdom Divided

Rehoboam was Solomon's son. Naturally in the normal kingly order of things, he should be the one to inherit the throne to the kingdom of Israel. Yet this is not what actually happened.

Solomon sinned. God said in the law we read last week that "the king must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray" (Deuteronomy 17:17). Unfortunately this was Solomon's weakness. He obtained many wives from surrounding people groups and as God states they lead his heart astray. Solomon left his first love, God. He started to worship other false gods. This act did not please God.

This is how the Lord handled this situation, "Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. 12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen" (1 Kings11:11-13).

God is so patient, Solomon had 1000 wives. These women led him astray over time. 1000 wives could be punishment enough! But, he didn't learn because he started worshiping their gods. Because Solomon refused to repent of these actions he lost the large kingdom that was to be passed down to his son. Now a nation that was suppose to be united has divided. All because of self-focus instead of God-focus.

Jeroboam enters into the picture. He is given a big promotion because his work is noticed by the king. He is most likely just faithfully doing his work going about his own business when something HUGE happens to him. A conversation that will change his life. A huge opportunity to do something great. He is chosen by God for a huge task at hand.

Read 1 Kings 11:28-40 below.

28 Now Jeroboam was a man of standing, and when Solomon saw how well the young man did his work, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the house of Joseph.

29 About that time Jeroboam was going out of Jerusalem, and Ahijah the prophet of Shiloh met him on the way, wearing a new cloak. The two of them were alone out in the country, 30 and Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces.

31 Then he said to Jeroboam, "Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'See, I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon's hand and give you ten tribes. 32 But for the sake of my servant David and the city of Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, he will have one tribe. 33 I will do this because they have forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Molech the god of the Ammonites, and have not walked in my ways, nor done what is right in my eyes, nor kept my statutes and laws as David, Solomon's father, did.

34 " 'But I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon's hand; I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David my servant, whom I chose and who observed my commands and statutes. 35 I will take the kingdom from his son's hands and give you ten tribes. 36 I will give one tribe to his son so that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put my Name. 37 However, as for you, I will take you, and you will rule over all that your heart desires; you will be king over Israel. 38 If you do whatever I command you and walk in my ways and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you. 39 I will humble David's descendants because of this, but not forever.' "

40 Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but Jeroboam fled to Egypt, to Shishak the king, and stayed there until Solomon's death.

What astonishing news! He is told he will get a huge part of the kingdom from his boss. We also see in verse 33 the reason why the kingdom is taken from Solomon. This is an important point to take note of and remember as we go along.

In verse 38 we see a condition to his family having the kingdom. List what that condition is.

Solomon must have caught wind of Jeroboam's future because he tries to kill him. But Jeroboam flees. It is funny because Saul tried this with David. Like we could really kill God's appointed ruler. It just cannot happen until God's appointed time.

1-Jeroboam is just out on an ordinary day and just finds out God is going to build him a dynasty if he does things God's way. Can you imagine? Just going out to Walmart to get the weekly groceries and you run into God's spokesman who hands you the keys to a mansion and the power to rule a nation. How would you handle news like that?

2-Never think that anyone gets away with living in sin. The sin could seem to hurt no one for awhile but eventually it will catch up with you. There are always consequences to our sins. We must confess sin to God as soon as we realize it is there and He will not hold it against us, He wipes us clean. That lifts such a burden. However, because God is just there are always consequences to sin. God loves us too much to let us get away with these things. Think of your own children and their transgressions. As parents should we just say oh well and not put any consequences on them for their behavior? I think not. If we live like that then we truly do not love our children because we don't care enough to teach them the right way to go. We learn through consequences. Love gives consequences and discipline. See Hebrews 12:5-11.

3-We can only worship one God. We have to make a choice. Who do you worship? If you worship God you follow Him. Where your going proves who you worship. Share your thoughts.

4-List the reasons God took the kingdom out of Solomon's hands. List why God allowed some to remain. God is so patient with us. He has such great love for us. What are your thoughts about this?

5-God's love is never conditional but blessings usually are. God shows us ways to live our lives. If we live in obedience to His ways blessings follow. If we rebel against God then no blessings but consequences follow. These things are conditional. God clearly states those guidelines to Jeroboam through his prophet Ahijah in verses 37-39. Can you list some consequences you have had to bear because of your actions?

6-It is interesting that we see over and over how God establishes leadership. He uses these things to teach us. Solomon's line needed humbling so God took the majority of the kingdom from them in order to accomplish that but it was only for a time. God said it would not be forever. This came to pass when Jesus came as King of the entire universe. Ultimate rule was given back to that family line because it was the line of Christ. Share your thoughts on this.

Copyright 2008-Refresh My Soul Ministries-Angela Parsley

A Walk with the Kings of Israel Wednesday

If you did the Abundant Grace Bible Study with me you took a walk with the kings of Judah. We learned some really neat things from them about our own walks with God. If you would like a free copy of this Bible Study feel free to contact me and I will send it to you.

Starting on Wednesdays we will take a walk with the kings of Israel. God never desired that His people would have a king rule over them. He wanted to be that King and Ruler but in God's all knowing power He knew the people would appoint a man anyway. The people desired to be like those people around them instead. Back in Deuteronomy God lists requirements for the king .

14 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 the king the LORD your God chooses. He must be from among your own brothers. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not a brother 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 priests, who are Levites. 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 brothers 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).

1-First we see God knows his people will say, "Appoint a king over us." God knows our hearts and everything in them before we even know ourselves. God knows what is best for us. It was not until many years later, the time of David and Saul, that the people said these words. How does it effect you that God knows our actions before they even happen?

2-We should never compare ourselves to others around us looking for a better way. God has made each person unique and to serve Him with the gifts they have. We are each unique creations. The only person we can appropriately compare ourselves to is Jesus Christ and that is humbling! When was the last time you compared yourself to someone else and why?

3-We MUST appoint the leader God chooses for us. This is to be taken very seriously. God is the one in control. He wants us to live for Him. He desires a government that rules within His guidelines. This election is vital and we MUST vote for the president that best represents that. If the ruler is appointed that is not for God's ways then that means judgment for us. That should make us tremble. We will see as we go how this judgment was handed down to Israel.
Do you pray for our future leaders? If not then how about starting now?

4-"Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not a brother Israelite." What this verse means is for us to not appoint anyone who is not a Christ follower. God opened salvation up to all of His creation. He desires all of us to come to know Him.
I am so thankful that we are no longer foreigners to God's kingdom. We are His children. Express your thoughts on this.

5-The king must not acquire wealth for himself or be a womanizer. A true leader will be for country and the peoples best interest before self-interest. The leader will be sacrificial and lead like Jesus. Temptations come. Money and sex are at the top of the list of these. They both are good things that God provides for the proper purposes. Unfortunately satan tries to get them twisted for evil. Avoid the temptation of evil. Avoid anything that distracts your heart from a whole-hearted focus on God.
What distractions are keeping your heart from being fully devoted to God?

6-This is the best part! What the king must do as he leads the people.
a-He is write the Bible! Great way to memorize it, huh?
b-He is to keep this Bible with him all his days and read it.
c-Doing this he will learn to revere God, carefully follow His laws, and humility.
Are you doing these things in your walk with God? Do you realize you are part of His royal family? We are His children after all. He requires none less from us. Thoughts on this? How has this helped you?

Now I ask you, as we ponder how to vote-which candidate best reflects these requirements?
Think about it and start praying about the future of our nation-are we heading for blessing or judgment?

Join me next Wednesday as we start this journey. To read ahead check out 1 Kings 11-14. We will see how all these kings started and why the kingdom of Israel split in two starting with Rehaboam.

Copyright 2008-Refresh My Soul Ministries-Angela Parsley