SCRIPTURE – 1 KINGS 14
AHIJAH’S PROPHESY AGAINST JEROBOAM (vs. 1-20)
Abijah, the son of Jeroboam became ill. Jeroboam told his wife to disguise herself and go to prophet Ahijah in Shiloh to tell her what will happen to his son. Ahijah was blind but God told him that Jeroboam’s wife was coming and to tell her that because Jeroboam did not keep His command and did evil by making idols and worshiping them, God will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam. Every male in the house of Jeroboam will be cut off. His house will be burned and dogs will eat the belongings of Jeroboam while the birds will feed on those who died in the country. His son will die and a king over Israel will raise up and cut off the family of Jeroboam. The Israelites will be scattered because of the sin of idolatry.
Jeroboam’s wife returned to Tirzah and as she stepped over the threshold of the house, the boy died. They buried him and mourned for him. Jeroboam reigned for 22 years and rested with his father. Nadab his son succeeded him as king.
REHOBOAM, KING OF JUDAH (vs. 21-31)
Rehoboam was 41 years old when he became king and he reigned for 17 years in Jerusalem. Judah did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hills and under every spreading trees. There were male shrine prostitutes in the land. The people engaged in all the detestable practices of the pagan nations.
In the 5th year of King Rehoboam, Shishak, king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. All the treasures of the temple of God and royal palace including all the gold shield Solomon had made were carried off. There was continual warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. Rehoboam rested with his father and was buried in the city of David. And Abijah, his son succeeded him as king.
THOUGHTS:
Just five years after Solomon died, the temples and palaces were ransacked by foreign invaders. The glory, power and money quickly disappeared because wealth, diol worship and immorality had been more important to them than God. When God is gone in our lives, everything becomes useless no matter how valuable it seems.