April 20 - Morning
"Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him:
'Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.'
...King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem.
So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day."
- First Kings 12:1-4; 18-19
'Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.'
...King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem.
So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day."
- First Kings 12:1-4; 18-19
The United Kingdom of Israel Splits in to Two Kingdoms: Israel and Judah
Because Solomon sinned by accepting the gods of his foreign wives and brought these foreign religions and philosophies into Israel the Lord raised up Jeroboam as an adversary. Jeroboam had been Solomon’s superintendent of labor (1 Kings 11:26-28) but when Solomon feared Jeroboam would try to take the throne he attempted to kill him, but Jeroboam fled to Shishak, the new Pharaoh of Egypt who had recently overthrown the 21st dynasty which was the royal house of Solomon’s father-in-law the previous Pharaoh of Egypt.
After Solomon died his son Rehoboam went to Shechem to be anointed king by all of the twelve tribes of Israel, but Jeroboam returned from Egypt to speak for the northern ten tribes concerning the continued rule of the house of David over all of Israel. Solomon had heavily taxed the people of Israel and had forced them to do labor on his public building projects. Meanwhile, Solomon had ran the nation of Israel into debt.
Jeroboam and the northern ten tribes simply asked for a lighter yoke concerning the forced labor and the heavy taxes of Solomon’s day. In his youthful, ignorant arrogance Solomon’s son Rehoboam refused to cooperate, and instead threatened the people with a heavier burden saying,
“My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions!” – 1 Kings 12:14
Of course, this did not go over well with the northern ten tribes who stoned Rehoboam’s superintendent of forced labor Adoniram and would have done the same to Rehoboam if he had not escaped back to Judah in his chariot.
This was the beginning of the divided kingdom of Israel that from now on will be known as two separate kingdoms:
- The southern kingdom of Judah (basically the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin) whose first king would be Jeroboam
- The northern kingdom of Israel (basically the ten other tribes) whose first king would be Solomon’s son Rehoboam
Rapha’ (Hb) – Heal (Eng) – rapha’ is the Hebrew word that means “restoring to normal,” “become fresh,” and “heal.” Rapha’ is used 67x in the Old Testament and translated as “heal,” “healed,” “healing,” etc. 53x. Rapha’ is used 11 x in Jeremiah: 3:22; 6:14; 8:11; 8:22; 19:11; 30:17, 51:8-9.
Rehoboam confused strength with stupidity and mixed up leadership with oppression.
Do I know how to be a strong leader without being stupid and oppressive?
Do I know how to be a strong leader without being stupid and oppressive?
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
To say peaceful words
Church
Experience God's presence
Nation
Environment
World
China, Hong Kong
A view of the graves on the west side of the Mount of Olives as seen from the east side of the Ophel south of the Temple Mount.
(Mount of Olives details)
Someone to Quote
“Whether one chooses to believe biblical Christianity, Islam, Secular Humanism, Marxism-Leninism, Cosmic Humanism, or Postmodernism, we are accepting a worldview that describes the others as hopelessly distorted.”
- David A. Noebel, Understanding the Times
Something to Ponder
God’s Wrath and Divine Judgment – God’s judgment against sin takes place throughout history and at the final judgment.
Imputation – means to “credit over to one” or “to charge to one’s account.” Imputation occurs three times in our salvation:
- Adam’s sin to us
- Our Sin to Christ
- Christ’s righteousness to us
Imputation – means to “credit over to one” or “to charge to one’s account.” Imputation occurs three times in our salvation:
- Adam’s sin to us
- Our Sin to Christ
- Christ’s righteousness to us
Here’s a Fact
Roman historian and Senator Tacitus (56-117 AD) wrote of Jesus and Christians around 100 AD:
“Nero punished with the utmost refinement of cruelty, a class hated for their abominations, who were commonly called Christians. Chrestus (Christ), from whom their name derived, was executed at the hands of the Procurator Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius.”
Proverb
"The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out."
- Proverbs 20: 5
- Proverbs 20: 5
Coach’s Corner
Never expect people or institutions to give you anything other than an opportunity. If they refuse to give you an opportunity then move on without looking back and create your own.
1 Kings 11:26-28
New International Version (NIV)
Jeroboam Rebels Against Solomon
26 Also, Jeroboam son of Nebat rebelled against the king. He was one of Solomon’s officials, an Ephraimite from Zeredah, and his mother was a widow named Zeruah.
27 Here is the account of how he rebelled against the king: Solomon had built the terraces and had filled in the gap in the wall of the city of David his father. 28 Now Jeroboam was a man of standing, and when Solomon saw how well the young man did his work, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the tribes of Joseph.
New International Version (NIV)
Jeroboam Rebels Against Solomon
26 Also, Jeroboam son of Nebat rebelled against the king. He was one of Solomon’s officials, an Ephraimite from Zeredah, and his mother was a widow named Zeruah.
27 Here is the account of how he rebelled against the king: Solomon had built the terraces and had filled in the gap in the wall of the city of David his father. 28 Now Jeroboam was a man of standing, and when Solomon saw how well the young man did his work, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the tribes of Joseph.
1 Kings 15:25-34
New International Version (NIV)
Nadab King of Israel
25 Nadab son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. 26 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of his father and committing the same sin his father had caused Israel to commit.
27 Baasha son of Ahijah from the tribe of Issachar plotted against him, and he struck him down at Gibbethon, a Philistine town, while Nadab and all Israel were besieging it. 28 Baasha killed Nadab in the third year of Asa king of Judah and succeeded him as king.
29 As soon as he began to reign, he killed Jeroboam’s whole family. He did not leave Jeroboam anyone that breathed, but destroyed them all, according to the word of the Lord given through his servant Ahijah the Shilonite. 30 This happened because of the sins Jeroboam had committed and had caused Israel to commit, and because he aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel.
31 As for the other events of Nadab’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 32 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their reigns.
Baasha King of Israel
33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king of all Israel in Tirzah, and he reigned twenty-four years. 34 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of Jeroboam and committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.
New International Version (NIV)
Nadab King of Israel
25 Nadab son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. 26 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of his father and committing the same sin his father had caused Israel to commit.
27 Baasha son of Ahijah from the tribe of Issachar plotted against him, and he struck him down at Gibbethon, a Philistine town, while Nadab and all Israel were besieging it. 28 Baasha killed Nadab in the third year of Asa king of Judah and succeeded him as king.
29 As soon as he began to reign, he killed Jeroboam’s whole family. He did not leave Jeroboam anyone that breathed, but destroyed them all, according to the word of the Lord given through his servant Ahijah the Shilonite. 30 This happened because of the sins Jeroboam had committed and had caused Israel to commit, and because he aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel.
31 As for the other events of Nadab’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 32 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their reigns.
Baasha King of Israel
33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king of all Israel in Tirzah, and he reigned twenty-four years. 34 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of Jeroboam and committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.
Joshua 7
New International Version (NIV)
Achan’s Sin
7 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel.
2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.
3 When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” 4 So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, 5 who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water.
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! 8 Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? 9 The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?”
10 The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.
13 “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.
14 “‘In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe the Lord chooses shall come forward clan by clan; the clan the Lord chooses shall come forward family by family; and the family the Lord chooses shall come forward man by man. 15 Whoever is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the Lord and has done an outrageous thing in Israel!’”
16 Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was chosen. 17 The clans of Judah came forward, and the Zerahites were chosen. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was chosen. 18 Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was chosen.
19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”
20 Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 21 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23 They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the Lord.
24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. 25 Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.”
Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. 26 Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.
New International Version (NIV)
Achan’s Sin
7 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel.
2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.
3 When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” 4 So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, 5 who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water.
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! 8 Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? 9 The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?”
10 The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.
13 “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.
14 “‘In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe the Lord chooses shall come forward clan by clan; the clan the Lord chooses shall come forward family by family; and the family the Lord chooses shall come forward man by man. 15 Whoever is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the Lord and has done an outrageous thing in Israel!’”
16 Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was chosen. 17 The clans of Judah came forward, and the Zerahites were chosen. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was chosen. 18 Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was chosen.
19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”
20 Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 21 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23 They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the Lord.
24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. 25 Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.”
Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. 26 Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.
Psalm 3
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 3
A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.
1
Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!
2
Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.”
3
But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
4
I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.
5
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
6
I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.
7
Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.
8
From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 3
A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.
1
Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!
2
Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.”
3
But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
4
I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.
5
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
6
I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.
7
Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.
8
From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.
Psalm 121
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 121
A song of ascents.
1
I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?
2
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3
He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;
4
indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5
The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7
The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;
8
the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
____
Psalm 123-125
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 123
A song of ascents.
1
I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven.
2
As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy.
3
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured no end of contempt.
4
We have endured no end of ridicule from the arrogant, of contempt from the proud.
Psalm 124
A song of ascents. Of David.
1
If the Lord had not been on our side— let Israel say—
2
if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us,
3
they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us;
4
the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us,
5
the raging waters would have swept us away.
6
Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7
We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.
8
Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 125
A song of ascents.
1
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
2
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.
3
The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil.
4
Lord, do good to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart.
5
But those who turn to crooked ways the Lord will banish with the evildoers.
Peace be on Israel.
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 121
A song of ascents.
1
I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?
2
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3
He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;
4
indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5
The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7
The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;
8
the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
____
Psalm 123-125
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 123
A song of ascents.
1
I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven.
2
As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy.
3
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured no end of contempt.
4
We have endured no end of ridicule from the arrogant, of contempt from the proud.
Psalm 124
A song of ascents. Of David.
1
If the Lord had not been on our side— let Israel say—
2
if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us,
3
they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us;
4
the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us,
5
the raging waters would have swept us away.
6
Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7
We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.
8
Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 125
A song of ascents.
1
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
2
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.
3
The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil.
4
Lord, do good to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart.
5
But those who turn to crooked ways the Lord will banish with the evildoers.
Peace be on Israel.