Day 163, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): 1Kings 14:1-18; 2Chronicles 11:5-12; 2Chronicles 11:18-23; 1Kings 14:22-28; 2Chronicles 12:1-12; Psalm 89
Our Defense
In what or whom do we trust for protection against outside threats to our strength and security? Do we trust walls or fences, guns, bodyguards, friends, money, connections, or insurance? These protections can be useless unless the LORD is on our side.
At this time of Israel’s history, she is a divided nation. The LORD recently judged and separated her because of the idolatry of King Solomon and the overbearing pride of his son Rehoboam. Ten of her tribes north of Jerusalem are called Israel (or Ephraim, her most prominent tribe). Two of her tribes south of Ephraim are called Judah (her most prominent tribe).
Jeroboam Depends on his Vices, not the LORD
Jeroboam was the first king of the ten northern tribes of Israel. God anointed him, gave him a throne, and a promise of David’s blessings, but King Jeroboam was not faithful or thankful to him. Jeroboam feared his people might revert to their previous loyalties if they returned to observe the required feasts in Jerusalem. To prevent this, he created two golden calves to represent God and set up his own feasts to compete with them (1 Kings 12: 26-33). From then on, God refers this treacherous act as “the sin of Jeroboam,” and God would punish Jeroboam, not bless him.One altar, which Jeroboam set up for worship, was in Bethel. There, a man of God came and pronounced a curse upon it. Jeroboam was angry! As he stretched out his hand and ordered his guards to seize the prophet, it froze in place. Jeroboam’s hardened face fell. He beseeched the prophet to pray the LORD would heal his hand. God was gracious, but Jeroboam’s restored hand brought no change to his behavior—he still led the people to worship the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.
Jeroboam’s Wickedness Brings Judgment, not Help
In today’s Bible reading, Jeroboam is confident and self-assured about his reign until calamity strikes his family. His boy, the assumed heir to the throne, is very sick. Jeroboam doesn’t know where to turn, so he seeks favor from the LORD—secretly. After leading the Israelites astray into idol worship, he doesn’t want others to see him or his wife seeking help from the God of Judah! They might see his actions as weakness and treason.
If we’re not living right before the LORD but need his help, some of us might wish we could go to church in disguise. We don’t want others to know we want God’s help. We might as well be honest with God, however—no one can fool him, for he sees behind any masque or pretense.
God tells Ahijah, his blind prophet, that Jeroboam’s wife will come to him in disguise. The LORD gives him a message for Jeroboam:
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. Because of this, I am going to bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam. I will cut off from Jeroboam every last male in Israel—slave or free. I will burn up the house of Jeroboam as one burns dung, until it is all gone. Dogs will eat those belonging to Jeroboam who die in the city, and the birds of the air will feed on those who die in the country. The LORD has spoken!
As for you, go back home. When you set foot in your city, the boy will die (1 Kings 14:9-12, NIV).
God is angry! If Jeroboam genuinely turned to the LORD from his wickedness and idolatry, God may have helped his son. But Jeroboam is too proud. He won’t admit his sins and openly seek the true God, even to save his son.
Do we live an ungodly life and seek the LORD only when a personal crisis touches us? Will God help us when we refuse to humble ourselves and turn to him from our sins? No. God helps humble people, but hates arrogance and evil. If we humbly and genuinely seek him, God will help.
Insecurity Causes Fear, but Repentance Finds Help
Meanwhile, Rehoboam is reigning over the southern kingdom of Judah. Having lost the northern territory of Israel, he fortifies his defenses. He tries to show he is significant by marrying many women, but that shows his weakness; Rehoboam is insecure. Less than five years into his reign, the king of Judah stops depending on the LORD for his defense. Now he turns to the lifeless idols of the nations around him for help.
God is angry! In response, he sends a military leader, Shishak, from Egypt to conquer the Judah’s cities. Their last stronghold is Jerusalem. Shishak attacks Jerusalem and takes the treasuries of the temple, the royal palace, and even Solomon’s gold shields. Rehoboam replaces them with bronze shields, and, because of the perceived danger, he uses bodyguards for his protection. Now, instead of living in peace, he lives in fear. Do we live in fear? We can live for the LORD and let him be our sure defense.
Knowing God’s angry, Rehoboam’s response is not injurious pride like Jeroboam’s.
The leaders of Israel [meaning Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel] and the king humbled themselves and said, “The LORD is just.”
When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the LORD came to Shemaiah: “Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak. They will, however, become subject to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving me and serving the kings of other lands.” (2 Chronicles 12:6-8, NIV)
Discussion
What are some things people do instead of letting the LORD be their defense?
How can we let the LORD be our defense? Give examples.
Focus Verse
Psalm 28:8, NIV “The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.”
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
Please send your comments to me
Looking Ahead: Today we saw the need to make the LORD our sure defense. What are The Keys to Victory? We discover them in our Next Lesson.
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