1 Kings 121 Kings 12

1 Kings 12:1 And Rehoboam went to 1 Kings 12:1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king. 2 So it Shechem to make him king. 2 So it happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard heard it it (he was still in Egypt, for he had (he was still in Egypt, for he had fled from the presence of King Solomon and fled from the presence of King Solomon and had been dwelling in Egypt), 3 that they had been dwelling in Egypt), 3 that they sent and called him. Then Jeroboam and the sent and called him. Then Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel came and spoke to whole assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4 "Your father made our Rehoboam, saying, 4 "Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you." 5 So he said to them, "Depart serve you." 5 So he said to them, "Depart for for three days, then come back to me." And three days, then come back to me." And the people departed.the people departed.

1 Kings 12:6 Then King Rehoboam consulted 1 Kings 12:6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, and he said, Solomon while he still lived, and he said, "How do you advise "How do you advise me me to answer these to answer these people?" 7 And they spoke to him, saying, people?" 7 And they spoke to him, saying, "If you will be a servant to these people "If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever." 8 But he will be your servants forever." 8 But he rejected the advice which the elders had rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood who had grown up with him, who stood before him. 9 And he said to them, "What before him. 9 And he said to them, "What advice do you give? How should weadvice do you give? How should we

answer this people who have spoken to me, answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, 'Lighten the yoke which your father saying, 'Lighten the yoke which your father put on us'?" 10 Then the young men who put on us'?" 10 Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus you should speak to this saying, "Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you, saying, people who have spoken to you, saying, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but you 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make make it it lighter on us' -- thus you shall say lighter on us' -- thus you shall say to them: 'My little to them: 'My little finger finger shall be thicker shall be thicker than my father's waist! 11 'And now, than my father's waist! 11 'And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!'scourges!'

1 Kings 12:12 So Jeroboam and all the 1 Kings 12:12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had directed, saying, "Come back the king had directed, saying, "Come back to me the third day." 13 Then the king to me the third day." 13 Then the king answered the people roughly, and rejected answered the people roughly, and rejected the advice which the elders had given him; the advice which the elders had given him; 14 and he spoke to them according to the 14 and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, "My father advice of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!" 15 So the king did not listen to scourges!" 15 So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn the people; for the turn of events of events was from was from the LORD, that He might fulfill His word, the LORD, that He might fulfill His word, which the LORD had spoken by Ahijah the which the LORD had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

Roughly - hard, cruel, severe, obstinate, Roughly - hard, cruel, severe, obstinate, fierce, intense, vehement, stubborn, stiff-fierce, intense, vehement, stubborn, stiff-necked or rigorous (of battle)necked or rigorous (of battle)

1 Kings 12:16 Now when all Israel saw that 1 Kings 12:16 Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying: "What share answered the king, saying: "What share have we in David? have we in David? We have We have no inheritance no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Now, see to your own house, O David!" So Now, see to your own house, O David!" So Israel departed to their tents. 17 But Israel departed to their tents. 17 But Rehoboam reigned over the children of Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah. 18 Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah. 18 Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was was in charge ofin charge of

the revenue; but all Israel stoned him with the revenue; but all Israel stoned him with stones, and he died. Therefore King stones, and he died. Therefore King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste to Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this rebellion against the house of David to this day. 20 Now it came to pass when all Israel day. 20 Now it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back, they heard that Jeroboam had come back, they sent for him and called him to the sent for him and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all congregation, and made him king over all Israel. There was none who followed the Israel. There was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.

1 Kings 12:21 And when Rehoboam came to 1 Kings 12:21 And when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of all the house of Judah with the tribe of BenjaminJudah with the tribe of Benjamin, one , one hundred and eighty thousand chosen hundred and eighty thousand chosen men men who were warriors, to fight against the who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, that he might restore the house of Israel, that he might restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.

1 Kings 12:22 But the word of God came to 1 Kings 12:22 But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 23 Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 23 "Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, "Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, to all the house of Judah and king of Judah, to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying, 24 'Thus says the LORD: "You shall saying, 24 'Thus says the LORD: "You shall not go up nor fight against your brethren not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel. Let every man return the children of Israel. Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me." ' " to his house, for this thing is from Me." ' " Therefore they obeyed the word of the Therefore they obeyed the word of the LORD, and turned back, according to the LORD, and turned back, according to the word of the LORD.word of the LORD.

1 Kings 12:25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in 1 Kings 12:25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and dwelt there. Also the mountains of Ephraim, and dwelt there. Also he went out from there and built Penuel. 26 And he went out from there and built Penuel. 26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now the kingdom Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now the kingdom may return to the house of David: 27 "If these may return to the house of David: 27 "If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah." 28 Therefore the king Rehoboam king of Judah." 28 Therefore the king asked advice, made two calves of gold, and said asked advice, made two calves of gold, and said to the people, "It is too much for you to go up to to the people, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!"brought you up from the land of Egypt!"

29 And he set up one in Bethel, and the other he 29 And he set up one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. 30 Now this thing became a sin, for put in Dan. 30 Now this thing became a sin, for the people went the people went to worship to worship before the one as far before the one as far as Dan. 31 He made shrines on the high places, as Dan. 31 He made shrines on the high places, and made priests from every class of people, who and made priests from every class of people, who were not of the sons of Levi. 32 Jeroboam were not of the sons of Levi. 32 Jeroboam ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of the ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the feast that eighth month, like the feast that was was in Judah, in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did at and offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did at Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made. And at Bethel he installed the priests of made. And at Bethel he installed the priests of the high places which he had made. 33 So he the high places which he had made. 33 So he made offerings on the altar which he had made at made offerings on the altar which he had made at Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month which he had devised in his own in the month which he had devised in his own heart. And he ordained a feast for the children of heart. And he ordained a feast for the children of Israel, and offered sacrifices on the altar and Israel, and offered sacrifices on the altar and burned incense.burned incense.

Lessons learned:Lessons learned:

• Unfaithfulness will be dealt with sooner or Unfaithfulness will be dealt with sooner or laterlater

• It is good to listen to experienced adviceIt is good to listen to experienced advice

• Only true worship according to God’s Only true worship according to God’s Word is acceptable to HimWord is acceptable to Him

There is only one church mentioned in the There is only one church mentioned in the BibleBible

Matthew 16:17 Jesus answered and said to Matthew 16:17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed flesh and blood has not revealed this this to to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock and on this rock I will build My churchI will build My church, and , and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.it.

Singular not plural

Acts 20:28 … to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

The word “body” and “church” are interchangeable

At the point of baptism a person enters into that one body

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free -- and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

Ephesians 4:4 Ephesians 4:4 There is There is one bodyone body and one and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is is above all, and through all, and in you all.above all, and through all, and in you all.

John 4:24 "God John 4:24 "God is is Spirit, and those who Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."truth."

Philippians 1:27 Only let your conduct be Philippians 1:27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in in one spiritone spirit, with , with one mindone mind striving striving together for the faith of the gospeltogether for the faith of the gospel,,

2 John 1:9 Whoever transgresses and 2 John 1:9 Whoever transgresses and does does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have Godhave God. He who . He who abides in the doctrine of abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.Christ has both the Father and the Son.

Abiding or remaining in the Word of God = having God.

Abiding or remaining in the Word of God = having God.

NOT abiding or remaining in the Word of God = NOT having God.

NOT abiding or remaining in the Word of God = NOT having God.

What some denominations have done:What some denominations have done:

• Added musical instrumentsAdded musical instruments

• Teach tithingTeach tithing

• Allow women to preach over men and Allow women to preach over men and serve as deacons and eldersserve as deacons and elders

• Change the Lord’s Supper into a quarterly Change the Lord’s Supper into a quarterly or yearly eventor yearly event

• They ignore the autonomy of each They ignore the autonomy of each congregation and have earthly congregation and have earthly headquartersheadquarters

• They don’t teach the truth on what is They don’t teach the truth on what is required to become a child Godrequired to become a child God

Denominations are condemned by the Bible Denominations are condemned by the Bible

1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I plead with you, 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all Christ, that you all speak the same thingspeak the same thing, , and and that that there be there be no divisions among youno divisions among you, , but but that that you be perfectly joined together in you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's Chloe's household, household, that there are that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." 13 of Christ." 13 Is Christ divided?Is Christ divided? Was Paul Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?the name of Paul?

Matthew 7:13" Enter by Matthew 7:13" Enter by the narrow gatethe narrow gate; for ; for wide wide is is the gate and broad the gate and broad is is the way that the way that leads to destruction, and there are many leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 "Because who go in by it. 14 "Because narrow narrow is is the the gategate and difficult and difficult is is the way which leads to the way which leads to life, and life, and there are few who find it.there are few who find it.