God Speaks
Kingdom of Israel Splits: Rehoboam Rules in the South and Jeroboam in the North
Verse of the Day: [May those of us who claim to believe in God and/or follow Christ be like David, not Jeroboam.] Go, tell Jeroboam that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I raised you up from among the people and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 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. You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made yourself other gods, idols made of metal; you have aroused my anger and turned your back on me.’ (1 Kings 14:7-9 NIV 2011)
Read or listen on BibleGateway.com
Watch TBR Day 174
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding I Kings 12-14:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
I Kings 12
1. God sets up choices for people to choose between right and wrong, obeying Him or disobeying, and serving others or harming (oppressing) them.
2. People, especially leaders or rulers, need to heed wise counsel, not to just listen to what they want to hear.
I Kings 13
1. God expects His people to obey His instructions explicitly. He has a reason for everything He allows.
2. People are to follow the explicit instructions of the LORD explicitly. The man of God in this chapter let the words of man supersede his clear directions from God.
I Kings 14
1. God spares from judgment those with whom He finds favor, like Jeroboam’s son Abijah.
2. People, like Jeroboam and his wife, often use deception to try to get what they want, but people can never deceive God.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding I Kings 12-14?
Dear LORD God, You know and always do what is right. I can always come to You for help in making right decisions. Your Holy Spirit is ready, willing, and able to help me to obey You and/or to serve others instead of harming or oppressing them. Help me to heed wise counsel, not to just listen to what I want to hear. Only Jesus followed Your instructions without fail, but as I listen to and heed the Holy Spirit I will be enabled to as well. As I am led by the Spirit, I will not let the words or actions of human beings supersede the clear directions from God. May You spare from judgment all those who truly live to please You. Please keep us from deceiving or being deceived. May all of those who belong to You bring You glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to I Kings 12-14? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will make a concerted effort to follow God’s instructions explicitly.
- I will weigh the advice of godly people I know well more than that of strangers or inexperienced people.
- I will pray and seek God’s input about whatever decisions I have to make.
- I will investigate the reasoning behind the decisions of the public officials who are asking for my vote. Then I will vote for those who are seeking to follow God and His ways.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.