2 Chronicles 10-12

 

Moving thru 2 Chronicles – Focus is on the Kings of Judah – 1 Chronicles David

2 Chronicles 1-19 Solomon

 

Under David and Solomon the nation was United – One nation 12 tribes – Capital in JudahJerusalem

 

Under David and Solomon – Israel rose to world Prominence!

A) God blessed them – hand on them – Nation prospered

 

B) We left off with the end of the reign of Solomon – Man blessed with great wisdom –

1) The wisest man who every lived – yet he forsook the Lord –

 

C) Married pagan wives – turned to idolatry.

1) Wealthy – comfortable – Carnal / worldly

 

As we come to Ch.10 His Son Rehoboam begins to reign in his place.

And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king. 2 So it happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it (he was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon), that Jeroboam returned from Egypt.

 

Pause here for a minute to discuss who Jeroboam is

A) We are first introduced to Jeroboam in 1 Kings 11

B) He is kind of an obscure guy – who is a part of Solomon’s kingdom { toward the end of his reign

1) Good worker who was put in charge of the labor force.

 

 

C) Jeroboam- is walking thru the field one day and the prophet Ahijah meets him wearing a new coat

1) Takes the NEW coat and starts ripping it into 12 pieces

 

D) He gives 10 to Jeroboam - 1 Kings 11:31

See, I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon's hand and give you ten tribes.

 

1 Kings 11:38

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.

 

Now this is Powerful to me – Solomon is the greatest most Powerful King that has ever lived

A) God says Look – I can pluck a guy up from the side of the road and make him King

 

B) Not looking for someone special – He can cause anyone to be used in a great way.

1) Walk in His ways You will be BLESSED !

 

                             Rd v.3-5

Solomon’s Kingdom we read was so blessed that silver was available like stones – {might not pick up

A) Solomon became greedy – thirst for more – so he turned the pp he was called to serve into his servants

 

B) He made their life a burden – the pp existed for him instead of him for the pp.

 

C) People were burdened by taxes and heavy labor.

 

D) That is what happens when we take our eyes off the Lord – Use pp / instead of SERVING THEM

 

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29 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.  30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." 

 

Matthew 20:28

Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

 

That is the heart of the Lord and the heart he wants for his shepherds – Burden lifters –

A) Servants – Serve His pp

 

B) Solomon had completely gotten away from that – the pp were his means to an end – accomplish his goals

C) Now they are wondering what his son was going to be like? -     Give me THREE DAYS

                                                          RD V.6-11

 

So first Rehoboam meets with Solomon’s elders

A) Think about that for a minute – Solomon was the wisest man in the world – these were the men who gave him advice { WOW !!!!

 

B) Rehoboam was 41 – so they were older – than that and had served with Solomon

1) Imagine what they gleaned from him –

 

C) Perhaps all those yrs of service were for this moment right here.

1) And they give Rehoboam excellent counsel

 

One chance to gain the confidence of the pp – this is a potentially volatile situation

A) Serve them instead of using them – be kind to them and they will serve you forever.

 

B) Great work environment – Pp work harder

 

C) Great counsel: Not just for the immediate situation but – plan for the future.

1) You will be set

 

Rehoboam doesn’t listen – Instead he seeks the counsel of his peers –

A) Young men who had grown up with him / like him

B) Rehoboam grew up with a Silver spoon in his mouth – never worked –

1) Didn’t know what the pp were going thru didn’t know what it was like for them

 

C) His peers probably grew up much the same way – sons of Leaders etc

 

D) Here is what we learn from this: Don’t despise the counsel of those who are older – their wisdom

1) Mom & Dad

 

Seek counsel from someone whose situation is different from yours

A) Pastor friends who are peers / some who have been doing this a lot longer than I have – Help

 

B) Single – Married – Teenager – someone been there

1) Seek Godly counsel from those who have been there – lived a little.

 

C) PP who have Made some mistakes 

 

D) So Rehoboam is going to ignore the counsel of the Older wiser men – Accepts it from his peers

                             RD V. 12-15

 

Interesting Phrase here For the turn of events was from God:

What does that mean: God managed this whole series of events, but He did not make Rehoboam take this unwise and sinful action.

A) God simply left Rehoboam alone and allowed him to make the critical errors his sinful heart wanted to make.

 

B) God in his Sovereignty knew that would be the case and He used it for His Purposes

 

C) CHS insights

 “Notice also, dear friends, that God is in events which are produced by the sin and the stupidity of men. This breaking up of the kingdom of Solomon into two parts was the result of Solomon’s sin and Rehoboam’s folly; yet God was in it: God had nothing to do with the sin or the folly, but in some way which we can never explain, in a mysterious way in which we are to believe without hesitation, God was in it all.” (Spurgeon)

 

                            RD V.16-18

 

So here is this young King who is wanting to Strut his stuff who ends up running away like a little sissy.

A) Played the tough guy and ends up running away like a little wimp

 

B) Not the first weak in office that he had hoped for!

 

C) App for us – If you only want to hear what you want to hear – don’t ask for advice.

1) Just go do your thing – Don’t waste anyone’s time

CH 11:1    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.

A) So here we see the beginnings of a Civil War – Rehoboam gathered 180,000 troops

 

B) God’s Chosen pp going to battle against each other

 

2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

 

C) I love the description that is given of Shemaiah

Man of God – only a few with that title

 

He is God’s man with God’s word

 

D) That is what I desire to be God’s man with God’s word - My opinions means nothing

1) My ideas – my experience – not that important

 

E) The world says: You need my experience -  Wrong

1) EXAMPE High School counselors older – Love them and share the word { His word endures…..

 

F) What matters is God’s word! – I have nothing to offer anyone here apart from Jesus / His Word

 1) But if my life doesn’t back up the words that I share – it doesn’t mean much at all.

*Shemaiah was God’s man w/ God’s word – that is what we should all strive to be

  2 Chronicles 11:3-4

3 "Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, 4'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.

 

I commend Rehoboam for listening here – Obeyed

 

                             RD V.5-12

 

This is great thing to see – us to learn: He takes all of his frustration and puts it to positive use

A) He Built cities and fortified what He had

 

B) Great lesson: Instead of worrying about the 10 tribes that he didn’t possess

1) Instead he set his energy and focus on fortifying what he did have.

 

C) Instead of fighting – Build up what you have

 

*D) Don’t worry about what you don’t have – strengthen what you do have! 

                                                     RD v.13-17

 

Now this is interesting to me – Here Rehoboam is getting what he wanted – w/out having to strive /fight

A) Priest and Levites in Israel – 10 northern tribes defect – because of the idolatry of Jeroboam

 

B) They come to Jerusalem to be under Rehoboam

 

C) Why? V.17 Because they walked in the way of the Lord

1) They is all inclusive – King Rehoboam – and these Priestly leaders

 

D) Beautiful Union – they were walking with the Lord – they joined themselves to a king who was walking with the Lord

 

E) Result was they were STRENGTHENED  

 

Great lesson for us: You want your marriage Strengthened – Husband and wife walking  in the way of the Lord

 

Strong Friendships: Walk in the ways of the Lord

 

Not so much about having the same likes and dislikes

 

Some of my closest friends have been with guys that we had little in common but Jesus

 

Iron Sharpening Iron – Great picture here

 

V.18-23 His family: Summarize  18 wives / 60 concubines / Light weight compared to dad 700/ 300

20 sons and 60 daughters – a lot of hairspray –

 

For 3 yrs Rehoboam conducted himself in a way that honored God and He was blessed

 

CH.12:1

Now it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, that he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel along with him.

 

Notice several things here:

1st – When this happened – When he was established

A) It happened when he reached a point where he was feeling pretty comfortable.

 

B) When things are going great –that is when you and I are the most vulnerable.

1) Easy to drop our guards

 

C) David with Bathsheba – ease – not at war!

 

Key never seek to get comfortable- A new Challenge

A) Build a building / start something new

 

B) Go on a mission trip { Get involved in a ministry

1) Don’t slow down – Continue to put yourself in a place where you feel overwhelmed

 

C) Seeing that is really a good thing{ dependent

2nd He strengthened himself- Points to a degree of self centeredness

A) Started thinking about his own needs – Natural tendency getting older

 

B) Self Centeredness will always lead you away from God

 

C) Forsook the Lord – Deliberately walked away

 

3rd The nation followed all Israel along with him– Our rebellion always affects others

 

1 Kings 14:22-24    gives us the culmination of their rebellion 1 Kings

 23 For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and wooden images on every high hill and under every green tree. 24 And there were also perverted persons in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.

 

RD V.2-5

 

Note this if you rebel against the Lord there will always be a Shishak in your life that God will use to correct you.

A) Whom God loves He chastens – He will bring someone along as an instrument of Chastening

 

RD V.6,7

Leaders and the King: The King didn’t initiate this

A) They humbled themselves – said the Lord is righteous – other words we deserve this thing

 

B) Note: God saw their Humility!

 

C) God always sees our Humility: God is drawn to the Humble heart

 

D) Tonight God looks down on this gathering – Sees the humble hearts

1) He isn’t looking for success/ experience/ potential

He looks for Humility

 

E) He is drawn to humility

 

1 Peter 5:5

Be clothed with humility , for

"God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble."  

 

Psalm 9:12 God does not forget the cry of the Humble!

 

Psalm 18:27 Saves the Humble!

 

Psalm 25:9 The Humble He guides in Justice and teaches His way.

 

Psalm 147:6 The Humble He lifts up!

 

Psalm 149:4 The Humble He will beautify with salvation.

Proverbs 29:23 The Humble are kept in honor.

Isaiah 29:19 The Humble shall increase their Joy.

 

James 4:10

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

 

Great Promises to the Humble: Being humble is so hard for us – so full of Pride –

A) Seven things the Lord hates – Pride is #1

 

B) Humble ourselves before Him – He will lift us up

 

C) They humbled themselves and God responded with Grace and mercy –

 

D) Lesson God rewards Humility

2 Chronicles 12:8

8 Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may distinguish My service from the service of the kingdoms of the nations."

 

So God isn’t going to allow them to be destroyed but He will allow them to be taken captive – Learn a lesson – it is better to serve me!

 

Listen anyone here who is backslidden or contemplating – rebellion right now

A) God wants you to serve him – You might think that is constrictive – No fun !

 

B) Bob Dillon was right – Serve somebody

 

C) Don’t serve the Lord you will serve sin

 

D) Sin is pleasurable for a season – but the end of it is Death!

 

E) I know pp that have walked away from the Lord – now they are serving sin – Miserable – aged

1) Lives once vibrant – now shell – { Sad / lonely

 

F) They are blind – can’t even see how far they have slipped

 

                          Watch what Happens Rd v.9-11

 

The Gold Shields are taken away – so he makes Bronze ones – This is heavy – because every time he looks at those bronze shields it is a reminder of what He forfeited because of Sin

 

Consequences to sin are Large! Huge !

A) Now I am not saying this at all to condemn those of you who have sinned and lost something

 

B) Reminded of the consequences – My heart breaks for you – Remind you – God is able restore the yrs that the locust have eaten – seen him do that

 

C) So not saying this to condemn anyone here – but rather to warn those who are contemplating rebelling

1) Never worth it – Always Lose

2 Chronicles 12:12

12 When he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so as not to destroy him completely; and things also went well in Judah.

 

This is merely a summation of what we just read

 

RD v.13-16

 

V.14 Summed up Rehoboam’s problem – He did not set his heart o seek the Lord –

 

Heart was not fixed on God

 

Tonight: 

 

Humble ourselves

 

Strong Marriage/ Friendships – Walk together in the way of the Lord

 

Don’t worry about what you don’t have strengthen what you do have

 

Seek to be God’ man / woman with God’s word !