1 Kings Chapter 14
This chapter records the end of the first kings of post-division Israel and Judah.
One chapter ago, we have seen how a man of God was sent to speak against Jeroboam and his altar.
Despite the sign given by the man of God, Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way (13:33). Consequently, judgment was pronounced through the sickness and death of his son Abijah, even though Jeroboam sought Ahijah, God’s prophet. God made it clear why Abijah would not be healed: Jeroboam had done “more evil than all who were before (him)”, provoking God and casting Him behind.
Based on the few chapters in the Bible mentioning Jeroboam, the only other time he did anything remotely resembling praying to the True God was in 13:6; even then, he asked “the LORD your God” to restore his hand to him – not God of Jeroboam, but God of the man of God.
This is the true mark of one who treats God as a genie lamp – his help in times of need, but not the Master of his life.
Let us avoid Jeroboam’s end; let us truly worship and obey God from the bottom of our hearts.
The focus then shifts to Rehoboam, the identity of whose mother, interestingly, was mentioned twice – once when he was introduced (v21), and another once when the passage records his death (v31).
While the first mention happens somewhat frequently with other kings, a quick browse of the rest of 1-2 Kings by this writer seems to indicate that the second mention happened only with Rehoboam, emphasizing once again that Solomon’s unions with multiple foreign women was the cause of Israel’s division.
While none of us today would be married to multiple persons simultaneously, some of us would, unfortunately, view marrying persons of a different religious conviction as a neutral and personal choice.
This is but one of many instances found throughout the Bible of God’s displeasure towards such unions. Therefore, for the unmarried among us, let us strive to marry in the Lord, so that our faith can be passed on for generations to come.
