Daily Bible Devotionals

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of 2 Chronicles 33. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“Now because of this King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prayed and cried out to heaven. Then the Lord sent an angel who cut down every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned shamefaced to his own land. And when he had gone into the temple of his god, some of his own offspring struck him down with the sword there. Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side. And many brought gifts to the Lord at Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations thereafter.” 2 Chronicles 32:20-23 (NKJV)

I love mixed martial arts (MMA). It is a trendy sport these days, isn’t it? In fact, MMA is the fastest-growing sport in the world, because it encompasses disciplines from various martial arts. That recipe of varied styles makes the fighting more dynamic and match-ups totally unpredictable.  

Remember, before there was MMA, and we only had regular boxing? I recall staying up past my bedtime as a boy to watch the ending of Muhammad Ali’s fights on television, especially in those long drawn-out fights of his later career. Then came my college years, and the boxing world saw the rise of Mike Tyson. Different from the entertaining “rope-a-dope” styles of Ali and the fighters before him, “Iron Mike” Tyson would end fights in the first couple of rounds. Some fights ended in the first few seconds! After a while, though, Tyson fights became boring and predictable. (Although probably not so boring for his opponents!) We got tired of the long, drawn-out promotional build-up of the “fight of the century,” only to see the challenger lying on the canvas before Tyson could break a sweat.

That is kind of how today’s chapter feels. Verses 1-19 are all the build-up of a battle to finally crush God’s people (and His Word, along with them). And we know that if the battle had been against Hezekiah and the Assyrian army, the Vegas odds would have been in Assyria’s favor. But Assyrian king Sennacherib made a huge mistake: He taunted the God of Israel. And that meant picking a fight with an unbeatable opponent. Hezekiah (along with his friend the prophet Isaiah) knew it!

“‘Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.’ And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.” 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 (NKJV)

Sennacherib insulted Hezekiah, specifically his faith in God. Then, he insulted God.  Finally, he insulted the faith of the citizens of Judah. We know that fear and dread fell on the people because it falls on us whenever the World insults our faith in God and His Word. But after all that hype and bluster, YHWH whistled to the bench and summoned one angel, who ended it in the first round! (James 4:7)

“Hezekiah did this throughout all Judah. He did what was good and upright and true before the Lord his God. He was diligent in every deed that he began in the service of God’s temple, in the instruction and the commands, in order to seek his God, and he prospered.” 2 Chronicles 31:20-21 (HCSB)

There is much confusion in the Church at large these days concerning the Old Testament. Some Christians believe there is not much value in reading it, while others place too much emphasis on living out the Law to the letter. We know we are saved by God’s grace, through our faith, whenever we make the object of our faith Jesus and His atoning work (on our behalf) on the cross. Since our salvation is by Grace, through Faith, there is no worth to our “good works” concerning our salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  But is there any merit to living according to God’s Word? Absolutely! The Apostle James (James 2:14-26) had much to say about that. I recall a pastor saying, “We are not saved by faith and works. Rather, we are saved by faith that works!”  If you have genuinely placed your faith in Jesus, you should desire to live according to the Word. He is the “Word made flesh.” (John 1:14)

Hezekiah fully understood that it is not just enough to be God’s “chosen.” You must also choose to live for God. Salvation may be by grace through faith, but blessing follows obedience. Hezekiah followed the command of Deuteronomy 6:1-7, to wholeheartedly seek the Lord.  

“Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the Lord God of your fathers has promised you—‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:1-5 (NKJV - See also: Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

Having begun with exhorting the people to observe the Passover (remember God’s miraculous deliverance and provision in times past), Hezekiah then fast-tracked Biblical literacy, which started the chain reaction of revival. Interestingly, when Jesus was asked about the greatest command, He answered with the same passage:

“‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’  Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Leviticus 19:18) On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’” Matthew 22:36-40 (NKJV)

Is obeying God’s Word important to Christians? Just ask “the Word made flesh”:

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” Luke 6:46 (NKJV)

“Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought the burnt offerings to the house of the Lord.  They stood in their place according to their custom, according to the Law of Moses the man of God; the priests sprinkled the blood received from the hand of the Levites.  For there were many in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves; therefore the Levites had charge of the slaughter of the Passover lambs for everyone who was not clean, to sanctify them to the Lord.  For a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, ‘May the good Lord provide atonement for everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.’  And the Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people. So the children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing to the Lord, accompanied by loud instruments.  And Hezekiah gave encouragement to all the Levites who taught the good knowledge of the Lord; and they ate throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings and making confession to the Lord God of their fathers.” 2 Chronicles 30:15-22 (NKJV)

I was recently discussing a potential business venture with a friend, and as we tried to figure out the logistical details, he wisely said, “A good plan today is better than a great plan tomorrow.” His point was clear: You can’t always have every base covered at the time of launch. Some details have to be worked out as you go, and some opportunities can be lost due to “paralysis-by-analysis.”  Today’s passage is an excellent snapshot of God’s mercy, grace, patience, and longsuffering in the Old Testament. The people chose to worship the Lord, even though they weren’t quite sure how to worship Him.

Thanks to Hezekiah’s leadership, the call to worship the Lord in Jerusalem went out to not only Judah but also those Israelites living in the idolatrous Northern Kingdom. How were they to worship Him? By remembering the Passover, the miraculous deliverance of God’s people from Egyptian bondage when they obeyed His Word. Everything was against them. The priests and the people were not sanctified. It wasn’t the Biblically prescribed time to observe Passover, and the nation was divided politically. It sounds like the United States today!

But the encouraging message today is how God overlooked all of those factors and decided to honor their faith, by His grace, despite their absence of good works. It is Ephesians 2:8-9 in action, smack in the middle of the Old Testament! (combined with 2 Chronicles 7:13-14)  God weighs the heart, not strictly the actions.   Messiah Jesus cleans His “fish” AFTER He catches them. And that is comforting to those of us whose prayer of salvation consists of, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

“So the service of the house of the Lord was set in order. Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly.”  2 Chronicles 29:35b-36 (NKJV)

When it comes to decisions where faith in God’s Word must be employed, I follow a simple rule: Work as if it all depends on me, knowing that it all depends on God. That seems to be the overriding principle of today’s passage. After all the hard work that Hezekiah, the Levites, priests, and the people put forth, Hezekiah still gave the credit to God. He understood that God’s Spirit works through the diligent efforts of His people but that He doesn’t need our works to accomplish His plan on earth. Suppose we let that idea settle in on our operational theology (how we live out our faith). In that case, we can find joy in the fact that the God of all creation chooses not only to declare us co-inheritors but also co-laborers with Messiah in the outreach & salvation of lost people, Him working through us as we work.

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.  For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.  According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-11 (NKJV)

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  2 Corinthians 5:20-21; 6:1-2 (NKJV)

Notice the progression of Hezekiah’s righteous upbringing, which leads him to make the faithful decision to restore the doors of the Temple. Then Hezekiah recruits faithful men to clean-out the Temple, consecrate themselves, and minister to others on behalf of the Lord. It is the same process concerning our personal salvation. It all begins at the “door” of our hearts and our choice to follow Jesus, followed by our being filled with the Holy Spirit, Who sanctifies our hearts & actions. That leads to co-laboring with other believers in effective evangelism & discipleship.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock….” Revelation 3:20a (NKJV)

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (NKJV)

“Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord, as his father David had done. For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made molded images for the Baals. He burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.  And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree. Therefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They defeated him, and carried away a great multitude of them as captives, and brought them to Damascus. Then he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who defeated him with a great slaughter.”  2 Chronicles 28:1-5 (NKJV)

In today’s chapter, we get to peer under the “hood” of God’s rebuke and see the mechanics of chastening from every angle. We begin with a young king, not quite old enough to buy beer. Age, in & of itself, is not a problem, but Ahaz’s admiration for the sophisticated choices of worship in the Northern kingdom led him to imitate his cousins. A little leaven spoils the whole lump, and King Ahaz’s personal choice to compromise spreads throughout the entire kingdom. Speed of the leader, speed of the team. The problem was that the very culture Ahaz sought to imitate was the one that defeated & took him captive, along with his people, the tribe of Judah.

“And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters; and they also took away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.” 2 Chronicles 28:8 (NKJV)

But all is not lost! God sends His Word to Judah’s Israelite brothers/captors. He lets Israel know that their defeat of Judah is not because of His blessing. They themselves were idolaters. No, God had been using the Northern Kingdom of Israel to teach Judah a lesson: If you worship their idols, you will suffer their fate. It was a forecast, not only to Judah but also to Israel, as to what Assyria would shortly do to them for the same sins. NOTE: Just because the Lord is using you to rebuke someone else does not mean that He condones your sin any more than theirs.

“But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out before the army that came to Samaria, and said to them: ‘Look, because the Lord God of your fathers was angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hand; but you have killed them in a rage that reaches up to heaven.’” 2 Chronicles 28:9 (NKJV)

WHY? The sad truth of today’s chapter is that the rebuke from the Lord was all avoidable. We must commit to seeking God’s Word, obeying & sharing it with others.

“For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had encouraged moral decline in Judah and had been continually unfaithful to the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 28:19 (NKJV)

“Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah had done (although he did not enter the temple of the Lord). But still the people acted corruptly.” 2 Chronicles 27:1-2 (NKJV)

The story of King Jotham is short and relatively straightforward. He honored the Lord, and the Lord responded to Jotham’s faithfulness by securing his kingdom. Perhaps you were wondering (as was I) how a king could be pleasing to God yet not enter the Lord’s temple for the entire duration of his reign. The answer to that question is found in the story of Jotham’s father, King Uzziah, at the end of yesterday’s chapter.  

King Uzziah who also did well in the sight of the Lord, but toward the end of his reign, Uzziah grew proud and began to take his worship of the Lord less seriously (and himself too seriously). Uzziah’s pride culminated in entering the temple and trying to participate in activities that the Lord had set apart exclusively for the priests He had chosen.

“But when he (Uzziah) was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. So Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of the Lord—valiant men. And they withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, ‘It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the Lord God.’ Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar. And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place. Indeed he also hurried to get out, because the Lord had struck him.” 2 Chronicles 26:16-20  (See also: Leviticus 10:1-3) (NKJV)

So, with the memory of how his father’s spotless reputation became spotted with leprosy still fresh on his mind, Jotham decided not to tempt his own fate by standing before the Lord. It was an overreaction. And that’s a shame because God’s Word is clear that children are not to be punished for the sins of their fathers. (Ezekiel 18:20)  Furthermore, God’s testimony of blessing in response to Jotham’s faithfulness was clearly displayed, to the point where Jotham should not have been afraid of Him.  (2 Chronicles 27:6)  Perhaps Jotham’s lack of faithful public worship aided the people’s apostasy and his own son’s idolatry.

Aren’t you thankful that, through Jesus, we may boldly approach the Throne of Grace? (Hebrews 4:16)

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of 2 Chronicles 26. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“Now it was so, after Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up to be his gods, and bowed down before them and burned incense to them. Therefore the anger of the Lord was aroused against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, ‘Why have you sought the gods of the people, which could not rescue their own people from your hand?’ So it was, as he talked with him, that the king said to him, ‘Have we made you the king’s counselor? Cease! Why should you be killed?’ Then the prophet ceased, and said, ‘I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.’” 2 Chronicles 25:14-16 (NKJV)

Smoking is a terrible habit. Not only is it expensive, but it always leads to lung damage, hastening the demise of its victims. Sure, smoking looks cool, everything from how a person holds a cigarette, clips off the tip of a cigar, or lights a pipe, slowly dragging and releasing the smoke. But imagine feeling like you are drowning, 24/7, unable to get a full breath of air. No, not for me.  

Am I the only one who finds it difficult to watch those TV commercials where people who’ve had their voice boxes removed (because of lung cancer surgery) are talking through those vibrating devices pressed against their throats? And what is their message? “THIS is where smoking leads!”  I feel sad to see kids smoking, and I wonder if they have ever considered that “cool” can have tragic consequences.  

Want to know what really confuses me? Every time I visit a hospital, I see nurses and doctors standing outside, smoking!   I can understand kids or foreigners (whose culture may be void of lung cancer awareness), but healthcare professionals?? Unbelievable, and yet, there it is. It is precisely how we feel when we read about a king of Judah who heeds a prophet’s warning to rid his army of idolatrous Israelites, sets out on a quasi-righteous battle against idolatrous Gentiles, yet secretly practices idolatry himself! And it sickens us to the point where we ask, HOW CAN THIS BE? God is showing us what happens to a king (or anyone for that matter) who “kind-of” follows Him, whose devotion is half-hearted.

“Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a loyal heart.” 2 Chronicles 25:1-2 (NKJV)

Just as the man who unwraps a new pack of cigarettes glances at the “Smoking Causes Lung Cancer…” warning, then jokes to his friend, “These things will kill you,” before he sparks up, so many people read the Bible with the same attitude toward sin. There are two things that confound a fool: How slow God is to judge and how quickly He shows up! Learn Amaziah’s lesson, but not how Amaziah learned it. Learn it in the manner God intends for you to learn so that you will seek His Word and obey it wholeheartedly.

“Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem.  His mother’s name also was Zibiah of Beersheba. And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.” 2 Chronicles 24:1-2 (NKJV)

When I was 17 years old, I packed up my ’72 Chevelle convertible, drove out of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and headed for college.  Those post-high school years are so refreshing because you finally get the chance to put all of your theories of life to the test.  That season reminds me of the bumper sticker that reads, “Hire a college student while they still know everything!” Yes, happiness was Ft Smith in my rearview mirror, and I was ready for a fresh start.  I wish I had been more pious as a kid, but I pretty much stopped going to church during my first year of college.  Seriously, up to that point, I had really just gone to church because my parents made me.

If you can relate to that story, you can understand what was going on in Joash’s head once Jehoiada, the priest, died.  

“But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died; he was one hundred and thirty years old when he died. And they buried him in the City of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God and His house.  Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king.  And the king listened to them. Therefore they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass. Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the Lord; and they testified against them, but they would not listen.  Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, ‘Thus says God: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper?  Because you have forsaken the Lord, He also has forsaken you.’ So they conspired against him, and at the command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord. Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son; and as he died, he said, ‘The Lord look on it, and repay!’” 2 Chronicles 24:15-22 (NKJV)

In today’s chapter, we find an important lesson for the Church today.  You can mandate that people act like fully devoted disciples of Jesus, but how will they act when nobody is looking?  (Of course, God is always watching.)  

What happens when the charismatic authority figure is removed from the scene?   More importantly, what is the difference between acting like a disciple and being a real one?  It is the same difference between your reputation and your character.  Your reputation is the side of you that everyone sees, but your character is the side of you that only God may see.  Keep seeking Him in His Word, determined to live as He requires, and share His Word with others so they can live for Jesus, too!

“Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king, that they should be the Lord’s people. And all the people went to the temple of Baal, and tore it down. They broke in pieces its altars and images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. Also Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of the Lord to the hand of the priests, the Levites, whom David had assigned in the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was established by David. And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord, so that no one who was in any way unclean should enter. Then he took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the Lord; and they went through the Upper Gate to the king’s house, and set the king on the throne of the kingdom. So all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet, for they had slain Athaliah with the sword.”  2 Chronicles 23:16-21 (NKJV)

Yesterday, it looked as if the spirit of the antichrist would prevail in its attempt to utterly destroy the kingly line of Judah. And why is that a terrifying notion? Because the royal line of David was to be the birth line through which Messiah (the “Son of David” – Matthew 1:1) would come.  

“Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs of the house of Judah. But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being murdered, and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah so that she did not kill him. And he was hidden with them in the house of God for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.”  2 Chronicles 22:10-12 (NKJV)

While we may be terrorized by people and world systems that operate (often unaware) under the influence of the spirit of the antichrist, it is important to remember that for every “Athaliah,” the world throws at you, God has reserved a “Jehoshabeath” to harbor you. There is no panic in heaven, only planning.

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 (NKJV)

Today’s narrative reminds us of a similar plot to kill God’s “anointed” when God proved that His deliverance could reach even beyond the grave to rescue His people.

“Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!”  Luke 24:5-6a (NKJV)

“Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs of the house of Judah.  But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being murdered, and put him and his nurse in a bedroom.  So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah so that she did not kill him.  And he was hidden with them in the house of God for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.” 2 Chronicles 22:10-12 (NKJV)

Let’s turn our focus to the future for a moment.  The Bible tells of a time forthcoming when a world ruler will arise and persecute God’s people.  The Bible calls him the “antichrist.” This will be an era immediately following the rapture of the Church yet before the second coming of Messiah Jesus.  During that time, there would be a revival among the remnants of those left behind.  That group of believers would be annihilated by the antichrist and his army were it not for the intervention of the second coming of Messiah.  It is easy to think of the “antichrist” as someone who will arrive in the distant future.  But did you know that the “spirit of the antichrist” is present in the world today?  

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.  And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming and is now already in the world.” 1 John 4:1-3 (NKJV)

Yes, the spirit of the antichrist has been present throughout history.  It destroyed ¼ of the world’s population when Cain killed Abel; it attempted to irreparably pollute the human gene pool in the days of Noah; it sought to kill all the Hebrew males around the time that baby Moses floated into the arms of the pharaoh’s daughter; it almost eliminated the Hebrews (and the Messianic hope for the world) during the Egyptian exodus, until the Red Sea closed-in; it tried to destroy the Jewish people in the days of king Ahasuerus before Esther & Mordecai intervened; it almost killed all, the babies in Bethlehem in the days of Herod’s rule, yet baby Jesus was allowed to escape...and so forth.  Must we mention Hitler, Stalin, Arafat, and a host of others who sought to destroy the Jewish people, along with Christians?

“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.” 1 John 2:18 (NKJV)

Today’s chapter deals with the spirit of the antichrist, operating through Athaliah to eliminate the Messianic line, yet the Lord prevails!  We praise God, Who preserves His people despite the spirit of the antichrist, which seems to prevail in our culture!

“Moreover the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabians who were near the Ethiopians.  And they came up into Judah and invaded it, and carried away all the possessions that were found in the king’s house, and also his sons and his wives, so that there was not a son left to him except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.  After all this the Lord struck him in his intestines with an incurable disease.  Then it happened in the course of time, after the end of two years, that his intestines came out because of his sickness; so he died in severe pain.  And his people made no burning for him, like the burning for his fathers.  He was thirty-two years old when he became king.  He reigned in Jerusalem eight years and, to no one’s sorrow, departed.  However they buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.” 2 Chronicles 21:16-20 (NKJV)

The book of Lamentations, found directly after the book of Jeremiah in Christian Bibles, is named “Echah” in the Hebrew Bible.  While the book is genuinely a lamentation over the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of its people, the word “echah” does not translate as “lament  .”Echah means “how” in Hebrew; more specifically, it is a question: “How?”  Therefore, the Hebrew mindset (in approaching the book of Lamentations) is not focused on mourning the loss but rather on how the loss happened, how it can be reversed, and how it can be avoided in the future.

We approach today’s chapter with the same question.  How could other nations ransack the king of Judah’s house and take away all his possessions?  Jesus addressed that exact issue.

“Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man?  And then he will plunder his house.” Matthew 12:29 (NKJV)

How was the king of Judah bound?  He was bound by his promotion of idolatry.

“Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit harlotry, and led Judah astray.” 2 Chronicles 21:11(NKJV)

How could a king of Judah promote idolatry?  Because his father allowed it to fester.

“And he (Jehoshaphat) walked in the way of his father Asa and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for as yet the people had not directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.” 2 Chronicles 20:32-33 (NKJV)

How will our nation return to the Lord’s favor, where we could sing, “God shed His grace on thee” with conviction?  We must first tear down the “high places” in our hearts, by repenting & receiving the grace of Messiah Jesus.  Then, we must seek God’s Word, obey it, and share it with others, so they, too, will repent.  That’s how!

“So Jehoshaphat was king over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. And he walked in the way of his father Asa, and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for as yet the people had not directed their hearts to the God of their fathers. Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, indeed they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel. After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted very wickedly. And he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion Geber. But Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, ‘Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the Lord has destroyed your works.’ Then the ships were wrecked, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.” 2 Chronicles 20:31-37 (NKJV)

This is how this chapter ends. Weren’t you expecting a “Well done, good and faithful servant?”  When I first read this years ago, I felt like Jehoshaphat got the raw deal, especially after he sought the Lord and rallied the people. But God’s standard is not fickle. He does not change his mind or show favorites, and this chapter is a good example of how we should be thankful that our salvation comes from God’s grace (through our faithful belief) and is not the byproduct of our works.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)

Governments can legislate morality and tear down idolatrous “high places” in their communities, but they cannot tear down the high places in people’s hearts. After all the beseeching and tearful sacrificing, once the Lord’s deliverance was experienced, the people went right back to the party. As the old hymn pleas, have you “decided to follow Jesus? No turning back, no turning back”?

“The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live? But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.”  Ezekiel 18:20-24 (NKJV)

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of 2 Chronicles 19. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and by marriage he allied himself with Ahab. After some years he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria; and Ahab killed sheep and oxen in abundance for him and the people who were with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth Gilead. So Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, ‘Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?’ And he answered him, ‘I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will be with you in the war.’ Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, ‘Please inquire for the word of the Lord today.’” 2 Chronicles 18:1-4 (NKJV)

There is a tendency in our culture to compartmentalize our faith. Our actions and ideas say to God that He is welcome to speak into religious aspects of our lives, but there are other areas where we feel that we know better and where the Bible seems out-of-step with the “real world.” The Bible warns us against such a notion.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV)

Jehoshaphat obviously felt that God had His place, but when it came to politics, he chose to strengthen Judah by marrying into the pagan Israelite royal family. His statement of allegiance to his pagan relatives was exactly the opposite of Ruth’s words when she left her Moabite culture and gods to follow Naomi back to Bethlehem, saying, “Your people are my people; your God is my God.” (Ruth 1:16)

Jehoshaphat’s decision is akin to the type of compromise we should avoid; in seeking to develop friendships with the world, we pit ourselves against God. Jehoshaphat’s “family planning” led him to the verge of war. Interestingly, he did not seek the Lord concerning marrying into a pagan family, but when the stakes rose to warfare, he felt that decision should fall into the compartment where he had stuffed the Lord. When you are hanging out with carnal Christians, your definition of “prophet” falls tragically short of the Bible’s standard.

“Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, ‘Shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?’ So they said, ‘Go up, for God will deliver it into the king’s hand.’ But Jehoshaphat said, ‘Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?’ So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla.’ And Jehoshaphat said, ‘Let not the king say such things!’”  2 Chronicles 18:5-7 (NKJV)

In all things, we must seek God’s Word and live according to it.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:5-7 (NKJV)

“Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father, and walked in His commandments and not according to the acts of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance. And his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord; moreover he removed the high places and wooden images from Judah.” 2 Chronicles 17:3-6 (NKJV)

I have been in the music business all of my adult life—specifically, the Christian music business.  “Christian” music is the only style of music that is defined exclusively by its lyric content.  In Christian music, what is being said is more important than how it is delivered musically.  That is why Christian music comes in the forms of Praise, Worship, Rock, Choir & Orchestra, Country, Rap, etc.  What makes it “Christian” is not the style of music; it is the subject matter of its lyrics, namely, God’s Word.

Because Christian music albums are marketed products just like any other genre of music, Christian music sales follow the same basic principles of marketing and promotion as secular music: supply & demand.  Christian music marketing departments focus their efforts on raising demand among the population for Christian music and supplying products (specifically, the music of artists on their label roster) that tailor-fit the demand they have raised (or identified through market research).  Seems simple?  Well, it is, in principle.  

But what happens when God’s Word commands us to proclaim His Word boldly, but potential consumers may be offended by the message of God’s Word?  Then tension arises between two competing value systems: the principles of sales and the great commission!  Sadly, sales often win that battle, so much of what could (and most certainly should) be boldly proclaimed through Christian music becomes watered-down to meet the limited spiritual demands of a broader-market Christian consumer.  

Why do I mention all of that?  Jehoshaphat faced a similar dilemma.  As the king of a people (Judah) who were mingling idolatry with their worship of YHWH, Jehoshaphat had to choose whether to give the people what they wanted or what they needed, as commanded by God.  He could have sought popularity, which would have surely meant taking a more liberal stance on idols.  Or, Jehoshaphat could have risked popularity by choosing to trust God and rule according to His Word.  Jehoshaphat chose wisely.  He tore down places of idolatry and sent righteous men throughout the land to teach God’s Word.  And he got both revival AND prosperity.  Oh, that such boldness would overtake Christians today!  

“So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people. And the fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.”  2 Chronicles 17:9-10 (NKJV)

“And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: ‘Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.’ Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time.”  2 Chronicles 16:7-10 (NKJV)

We live in an era where the growing sentiment among the general population is to rely on the government to provide for us. More & more, people believe it is the government’s responsibility to ensure our healthcare, college education, wages, and overall well-being. This idea of entitlement is very attractive because it takes the responsibility off us to be individually accountable. We would rather be corporate consumers than individual contributors. But a problem arises whenever we place our trust in politicians to be our providers. And that problem is that we need politicians who seek the Lord. Shouldn’t we skip the middleman and seek the Lord as our provider? Should we not labor with integrity as we search God’s Word? Judah had that exact problem. Their king just decided to quit seeking God. Perhaps it was because the people stopped seeking God. (2 Chronicles 15:17)  

Today’s chapter shows the exact scenario as yesterday (2 Chronicles 15). Judah was in distress and on the verge of being wiped out by war.   In chapter 15, the prophet exhorts the king with God’s Word, reminding Asa of God’s promise and strengthening him by remembering God’s abiding presence and love for His people. It is the same idea conveyed by David, running for his life from King Saul.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”  Psalm 23:4 (NKJV)

It was the same message that King David exhorted the people of Israel with whenever they were threatened by foreign armies.

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” Psalm 20:7 (NKJV)

King Asa chose wisely in chapter 15, but by chapter 16, he figured he did not need to consult God, choosing to trust in a foreign army. He should have listened to David.

“And David said to Gad, ‘I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.’” 2 Samuel 24:14 (NKJV)

“Then the Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded, and he went out to meet King Asa as he was returning from the battle.  ‘Listen to me, Asa!’ he shouted.  ‘Listen, all you people of Judah and Benjamin!  The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with Him!  Whenever you seek Him, you will find Him. But if you abandon Him, He will abandon you. For a long time, Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach them, and without the Law to instruct them. But whenever they were in trouble and turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought Him out, they found Him.  During those dark times, it was not safe to travel.  Problems troubled the people of every land. Nation fought against nation, and city against city, for God was troubling them with every kind of problem. But as for you, be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded.’” 2 Chronicles 15:1-7 (NLT)

If you wanted a secure job in the Bible, “prophet” was probably not high on your list.  Prophets are like Navy SEALs.  Nobody calls a Navy SEAL to clean toilets or work in the lunchroom.  When a Navy SEAL gets called, the SEAL team member knows his job will involve a life-or-death scenario.  Prophets carry life-or-death messages.  When God calls a prophet, it always involves taking His Word into a hostile environment.  And so often in the Bible, the recipient of a prophet’s message responds by seeking to kill the prophet.  Jesus reminded Jerusalem of its historical past and unwillingness to receive the prophets’ messages.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!  She who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!  How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!” Luke 13:33 (HCSB)

Yet, we are called to act as prophets in our generation.  New Testament “prophecy” does not involve “special” or “new” revelation, as if we are writing new books of the Bible in our day.  Prophecy in our day involves seeking God’s Word and sharing what the Spirit reveals to us with the people with whom He wants us to share it.  The Apostle Paul exhorts us to seek that type of prophecy above all things:

“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” 1 Corinthians 14:1 (HCSB)

In today’s chapter, not only did the prophet boldly proclaim God’s Word at an inconvenient time, but the king received God’s Word!  In our culture of “political correctness,” remember that we follow the God of the great “perhaps.” Perhaps men will seek to kill us, and maybe they will thank us for being forthright.  Still, we should not live in fear of offending men.  We should fear offending God!  

“When Asa heard this message from Azariah the prophet, he took courage and removed all the detestable idols from the land of Judah and Benjamin and in the towns he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim.  And he repaired the altar of the Lord, which stood in front of the entry room of the Lord’s Temple.”  2 Chronicles 15:8 (NLT)

“So Abijah rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David.  Then Asa his son reigned in his place.  In his days the land was quiet for ten years. Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God, for he removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places, and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment. He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom was quiet under him.” 2 Chronicles 14:1-5 (NKJV)

I must confess that I do not know much about the stock market.  When I was a child, I recall sitting at my grandparent’s kitchen table and my grandfather being very interested in the stock pages, but he never turned to me and explained what all those numbers and plusses & minuses meant.  Sure, I get the basic concept of the stock market, but my greatest understanding comes from the idea of “trends.” You cannot look at a snapshot of a particular stock and simply focus on its value today.  It may spike upward today, only to fall sharply tomorrow.  If you buy high today, but it goes low tomorrow, you lose money!  You must focus on the stock’s trend, the broader view, to understand whether a company is gaining (or losing) value as it moves into the future.

That attitude of “trending” is how we must view the southern kingdom of Judah to adequately understand whether we want to buy into their brand of YHWH worship.  We already know that the northern kingdom of Israel is a losing stock!  (A laughing stock, were it not so tragic.)  They have forsaken YHWH altogether and went with the diversified portfolio of two golden calves.  Consequently, they are trending sharply DOWNWARD.  It will not be long before Assyria defeats the destabilized kingdom of Israel in a hostile takeover, toting the Israelites into exiled captivity.

Now, let’s look at the southern kingdom of Judah.  If we take a snapshot of Judah’s stock performance today, they are up and to the right, exactly where you want to be.  Kings are seeking the Lord, reforms are being made, and mandated anti-idolatry measures are employed by the king.  But before we declare a “bull market,” is there still a market for golden bulls in Judah?  Perhaps, and one sentence bothers us.

“He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment.” 2 Chronicles 14:4 (NKJV – Compare with Jeremiah 31:34; Heb. 8:11)

Morality cannot be legislated.  Sure, you can make sin illegal, but has that ever transferred into a value system that people adopt?  Tear down the “high places” on the hills, but does that remove the high places in people’s hearts?  While we are glad to see a snapshot of a moment of revival, we can predict the morality trend of Judah is moving downward.  Idolatry still lives in people’s hearts; you just can’t see it because morality is being thrust upon them.  But what if the next king advocates idols?  Will they oust or embrace him?  Time will tell the trend.

“Have you not cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests, like the peoples of other lands, so that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may be a priest of things that are not gods? But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken Him; and the priests who minister to the Lord are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites attend to their duties. And they burn to the Lord every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense; they also set the showbread in order on the pure gold table, and the lampstand of gold with its lamps to burn every evening; for we keep the command of the Lord our God, but you have forsaken Him. Now look, God Himself is with us as our head, and His priests with sounding trumpets to sound the alarm against you.  O children of Israel, do not fight against the Lord God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper!”  2 Chronicles 13:9-12 (NKJV)

Jeroboam was in big trouble, although I am confident nobody in his army thought so at the beginning of today’s chapter.  Jeroboam had sought worldly counsel, adopted the values of the pagan nations he aspired to be like, and now was scornful toward pious Judah to the point where he wanted to annihilate them!  In following after idols (and enticing others to follow him), Jeroboam literally followed the pattern of cursing that King David had described in Psalm 1.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2 (NKJV)

Judah’s king Abijah, on the other hand, had kept the Lord’s Word with its priesthood intact.  Unlike Jeroboam, who walked by sight and not by faith, Abijah walked by faith, believing God’s promises to all who seek Him as He prescribes.  Notice how Abijah’s warning to Jeroboam has nothing to do with how large his army was.  (He was outnumbered.) Instead, his warning to Jeroboam consisted of knowing he had the most important plot of land on any battlefield: The Moral High Ground.  He did not have a made-up priesthood.  He had the legit one!

“The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and these shall be to you as an ordinance forever throughout your generations.  When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.” Numbers 10:8-9 (NKJV)

Did you know that all followers of Jesus have legitimately entered His priesthood?

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NKJV)

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of 2 Chronicles 12. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“Now when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled from the house of Judah and Benjamin one hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.  but the Word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, ‘Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, “Thus says the Lord: You shall not go up or fight against your brethren!  Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me.”’ Therefore they obeyed the words of the Lord, and turned back from attacking Jeroboam.” 2 Chronicles 11:1-4 (NKJV)

God is not a pacifist.  God is a perfectionist.  But He is not a perfectionist in the obsessive “can’t see the big picture” sort of dysfunctional meaning that our culture has attached to perfectionism.  He is perfect in that while His process of drawing glory out of every circumstance seems chaotic and random, all things eventually work together for good, according to His purpose.  (Romans 8:28)  He is both Author and Perfector.  (Hebrews 12:2)

That being said, there are times when followers of Jesus may assume they know God’s will, so they will set forth to accomplish something for His glory that He never wanted to be done.  They literally, for seemingly well-meaning reasons, begin moving in the opposite direction of His will!  That’s why it’s so important to seek the Lord in prayer and faithfully obey His leading, which may make no human sense!

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 (HCSB)

Modern Christianity carries this notion that God is always against war or physical violence of any kind.  But that notion is ignorant of God’s Word.  God is SOMETIMES against war and SOMETIMES for it.  We must trust His wisdom, that He knows the appropriate times for both peace and warfare.  There is a time forthcoming when His judgment will eclipse His Grace, and it will happen in His perfect timing.

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up…A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1-3; 8 (HCSB)

“Then the children of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until evening, and asked counsel of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I again draw near for battle against the children of my brother Benjamin?’ And the Lord said, ‘Go up against him.’” Judges 20:23  (NKJV)

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained.  He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”  Acts 17:30-31 (NKJV)

“Then the king answered them roughly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders, and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!” So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from God, that the Lord might fulfill His word, which He had spoken by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.” 2 Chronicles 10:13-15 (NKJV)

Jeroboam was an evil king. He was the one who instituted the worship of two golden calves in Bethel and Dan to keep Israel from worshipping in Jerusalem. His rational? Jeroboam believed that the people’s hearts would turn back to the Lord if they worshipped God as He prescribed, in the place where He caused His Name to dwell. (1 Kings 12:35-33)  When you worship together in the temple Solomon built, it is difficult to hate Solomon’s son (along with your own Judean and Benjamite Jewish cousins). Question: If Jeroboam was so evil, why would the Lord give Jeroboam His word that he would rule Israel? First, let’s look at a portion of the Lord’s declaration to Jeroboam.

“‘But I will take the kingdom out of his [Solomon] son’s [Rehoboam] hand and give it to you—ten tribes. And to his son I will give one tribe, that My servant David may always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for Myself, to put My name there. So I will take you, and you shall reign over all your heart desires, and you shall be king over Israel. Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you.  And I will afflict the descendants of David because of this, but not forever.’ Solomon therefore sought to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.” 1 Kings 11:35-40 (NKJV)

Because of his righteousness, Jeroboam did not rule the ten tribes of Israel (aka the Northern Kingdom). He ruled because God punished the House of David for its idolatry and the people of Israel for their rebellious hearts. Both sides of the conflict underwent God’s punishment, so neither lived victoriously. Jeroboam could have followed God’s Word; God promised him success if he would. But in the end, Jeroboam chose idolatry, which led Israel into a burden far greater than Rehoboam threatened: Assyrian captivity! Rehoboam’s harsh response to Israel’s request for a lightened burden is in direct opposition to Jesus’ promise.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)