Journal Through the Bible: Week 94 Wednesday

"Old Fortress"
Image courtesy of  prozac1 at Freedigitalphotos.net

II Chronicles 11:1-12:16

In spite of the fact that the kingdom had divided into two separate kingdoms Rehoboam had a few good years of success. Things changed when he also turned his back on the law of the LORD. Sadly, his final epitaph says that he did evil because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.

Does God issue any commands?

• Through the prophet Shemaiah God told Rehoboam not to fight against the Israelites of the northern kingdom of Israel because the country division had happened at the word of the Lord.

Does God make any promises?

• When they failed to follow His laws God punished Rehoboam and his sons with an invasion led by Pharaoh Shishak of Egypt. But when they repented God promised not to destroy them but to grant a measure of deliverance. Jerusalem would be spared but the coffers would be ransacked. Shishak took the golden treasures from the Temple and from Solomon's palace. The prophet Shemaiah delivered two messages to Rehoboam accordingly.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Rehoboam made several of the border cities in the south to be defensive cities. He equipped these strongholds with weapons, food supplies, and military captains. The Bible often calls God our stronghold or fortress. (See Nahum 1:7; Psalm 27:1; Joel 3:16; Psalm 9:9; Psalm 46:1; John 10:28-29; Philippians 4:7; Psalm 62:2; Psalm 71:3; Matthew 23:37; Proverbs 18:10; ) Ephesians 6:12-13 also says that we do not battle against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness in high place so God has properly equipped us with weapons of warfare but we are always safe within His refuge.
• All of the priests and Levites left the northern kingdom of Israel and resettled in the southern kingdom of Judah where Rehoboam ruled because Jeroboam had stopped them from executing their offices when he instituted the worship of the calves. Jesus is our High Priest. The world does not want Him as their intercessor and substitutes their own form of worship for the Way, the Truth, and the Life but those who trust in Him as their Savior know that He is the only mediator between God and man.
• Rehoboam is an antitype of Jesus. Rehoboam inherited all the glory of his father and was proud because of it. He did not seek God in humility. Jesus, on the other hand, left the glory of His Father and became a man of humble birth. He then sought to do only God's will in all humility.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• The glory of the kingdom in Jerusalem was lost under Rehoboam but one day its glory will not only be restored but surpassed when Jesus rules there.
• The final spiritual evaluation of Rehoboam said that he did evil because he did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD. One day everyone reading this will meet the LORD. Prepare your heart now to seek Him so that your final evaluation (and the most important one of all!) will not read like that of Rehoboam!

Journal Through the Bible: Week 94 Tuesday

source

II Chronicles chapter 10

This chapter recounts the events leading to the divided kingdoms of Judah and Israel under Rehoboam and Jeroboam. The chains tying the nation together were broken.

This chapter and part of the next are basically the same as the first 24 verses of I Kings chapter 12.

Does God issue any commands?
God does not speak in this chapter.

Does God make any promises?

• Rehoboam consulted old counselors and young counselors but he did not consult the LORD. The kingdom was split when Rehoboam took the advice of the young men. Verse 15 says that this was in fulfillment of God's promise given through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Rehoboam was not a wise man, nor did he desire to speak kindly to the people therefore he was not a type of Christ. The old men counseled him to be kind to the people, speak good words to them, and please them with the understanding that then the people would be his servants forever out of hearts of love. This symbolizes the relationship between Jesus and believers. He came to earth the first time in kindness to humanity, speaking good words (He was the Word!), and pleasing the common people with His acts of physical and spiritual restoration. He is God of the universe and yet He came as a humble servant. Those of His Kingdom will gladly serve Him forever because they are motivated by love and thanksgiving.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?
Not that I identified.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 94 Monday

sourec

II Chronicles chapter 9

This is the retelling of Solomon's visit by the Queen of Sheba as previously recorded in I Kings chapter 10. "Half of the greatness of they wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard."

Does God issue any commands?
God does not speak in this chapter.

Does God make any promises?
God does not speak in this chapter.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• The Queen of Sheba had many hard questions for Solomon and with his wisdom he was able to answer them all. Jesus is wisdom personified. (As in Proverbs chapter 8.)
• She also saw all of his wealth and the contentment of his servants and this impressed her. Solomon is a type of Christ in this passage and his riches and finery is but a foreshadow of the glories of Jesus' Kingdom. The queen was amazed that Solomon's kingdom was even more glorious than what she had imagined. Eye has not seen nor ear heard all that Jesus has in store for those who love Him. (My paraphrase of I Corinthians 2:9). There is just no way we can imagine the majesty of His Kingdom.
• When the Queen of Sheba heard Solomon's wisdom and saw the glories of his kingdom she glorified God who delighted in Solomon. This is what Jesus said is supposed to happen when God blesses us and others see our work. They are to glorify our Father in Heaven. (See Matthew 5:16, part of the Sermon on the Mount.)
• The Queen regales Solomon by telling him that God loved Israel so He made Solomon king over them to do judgment and justice. This is exactly why God establishes Jesus as the King of Israel so Solomon is again a type of Christ.
• Solomon gave the Queen of Sheba all that she desired, all that she requested of him. This is a picture of the prayer relationship Christians have with Jesus. If we ask anything in His name within the will of God He delights to grant our petitions.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• The Queen of Sheba made the journey from a far country to view the glories of Solomon's kingdom. One day we will make the journey from this world to view the glories of God's Kingdom. We will be amazed!
• Even the Queen of Sheba prophesied that God loved Israel and establishes them forever. (See verse 8.)

TAKE TIME: March 2- 7 Assignment

Introduction:  We will finish reading about Solomon's glorious empire and transition into the time of the divided kingdom. II Chronicles deals only with the southern kingdom, the nation of Judah, that was ruled by the royal descendants of David.

 Assignment:

• Monday - II Chronicles chapter 9
• Tuesday - II Chronicles chapter 10
• Wednesday -  II Chronicles 11:1-12:16
• Thursday - II Chronicles chapter 13
• Friday - II Chronicles 14:1-15:7
• Saturday - II Chronicles 15:8-16:14

Memory Verse

 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in they name we go against this multitude O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.  II Chronicles 14;11


Prayer Journal (ACTS)

• Adoration - Praise God that He is the God that cannot lie!
• Confession - Ask God to reveal hidden sin in your life and then confess it.
• Thanksgiving - Thank God for any answers to your prayers.
• Supplication - What are your prayer requests this week? List them for future reference so that you can see how God answers.

Search the Scriptures

Look for references for each of the following:

• Promises that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?
• References that either refer to or infer something about future events.
• What does this passage teach about Jesus?
• Commandments that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?

Putting the Word into Action
While the northern kingdom of Israel passed from dynasty to dynasty, the southern kingdom of Judah remained under the rule of the family of David as long as the nation served the LORD thus fulfilling one of God's promises to David. God's promises often follow family lines but we do not have the guarantee that our posterity will walk in the faith that we hold dear. This week, take time to share your testimony with the younger generations in your family. Perhaps you could record your testimony on a CD-ROM for them or you could write it down and make a copy for each person. Not only is this a great way to share your love for the Lord with your family it is also a way to preserve a memory that may become a cherished keepsake for generations to come.