What I Noticed Today (1 Kings 14-15)
Note: Yikes! These two chapters can be a bit confusing because they switch back and forth between kings of the north and the kings of the south. It makes it more difficult to keep track of who is who. To complicate matters even more, in many of the introductions to one king, will be a reference to the king ruling the other part of the country. It is helpful to remember the kingdom of Judah is in the south, Israel is in the north.
1 Kings 14
1 Kings 14 opens with God’s very strong rebuke against Jeroboam.
In verses 1-5, Jeroboam’s son, Abijah, became sick. Jeroboam told his wife to disguise herself and go to Shiloh and ask the prophet Ahijah what would happen to his son. The Lord warned Ahijah in a vision that she would visit him soon, and He told Ahijah what to say to her.
Note: The phrase “at that time” in verse 1 likely means this followed shortly after the events of 1 Kings 13.
In verses 6-18, the Lord issued a strong rebuke against Jeroboam through the prophet Ahijah.
- God had lifted Jeroboam up and made him king over Israel.
- Yet Jeroboam had only done evil in the eyes of the Lord by making graven images and leading people away from God.
- The Lord accused Jeroboam of behaving more wickedly than all those who came before him.
- Because of his rebellion, the Lord said that all Jeroboam’s male descendants would be swept away, and his dynasty would end. The sick boy would die and be buried. No one else in Jeroboam’s family would be buried; dogs would eat anyone who died in the city, and birds would eat anyone who died in the country.
- Ahijah told Jeroboam’s wife the Lord would raise up a king who would cut off Jeroboam’s family.
Note: Baasha fulfilled this prophecy in 1 Kings 15:27-29.
- Jeroboam’s wife returned home, and her son died just as Ahijah had prophesied.
In verses 19-20, Jeroboam reigned 22 years before he died, and his son, Nadab, reigned after him.
In verses 21-30, Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, reigned in Judah for 17 years.
- He was a bad king in that he turned the people away from worshiping God.
- He built high places and Asherim to worship foreign gods. He had male prostitutes and a host of other abominations.
- In Rehoboam’s fifth year, Shishak, king of Egypt, waged war against Judah, plundering the gold from the house of the Lord, and the king’s house.
- Rehoboam and Jeroboam were continually at war until Rehoboam died, and his son Abijam reigned in his place.
1 Kings 15
In verses 1-8, in Jeroboam’s (Israel) 18th year, Abijam, son of Rehoboam, began to rule over Judah. Abijam only ruled three years (913-911 B.C.). He was a bad king, not devoted to God. There was continual war between Abijam and Jeroboam. Abijam died, and his son Asa became king over Judah.
In verses 9-24, in Jeroboam’s 20th year, Asa (Abijam’s son) began to rule over Judah.
- Asa was a good king who ruled for 41 years in Jerusalem.
- His heart was devoted to the Lord.
- He got rid of the prostitutes and idols and even deposed his queen mother because she worshipped foreign gods.
- He began to restore the treasury of the house of the Lord.
- There was a war between Baasha and Asa throughout their reigns.
In verses 25-32, Nadab (son of Jeroboam) began reigning in Israel in Asa’s second year.
- Nadab reigned over Israel for two years (910-909 B.C.).
- He was a bad king who walked in the ways of his father, Jeroboam.
- Then Baasha son of Ahijah killed Nadab and became king of Israel.
- Baasha killed all the surviving members of the house of Jeroboam.
- There was a war between Baasha and Asa throughout their reigns.
- Asa removed the silver and gold from the treasury of the Lord’s temple and the royal treasury. He sent it to Ben-hadad, king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, asking him to break his treaty with Baasha.
- Ben-hadad broke his treaty with Baasha and went and attacked cities in Israel.
- In Asa’s old age, he developed a disease in his feet, died, and was buried in Jerusalem. His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place.
In verses 33-34, in Asa’s third year, Baasha (son of Ahijah) became king over Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah 24 years (909-986 B.C.).
- He was also a bad king, following the example of Jeroboam.
- He became king by killing Nadab and all his household.
- Baasha was at war with Asa all of their days.
Some thoughts for additional consideration:
- Solomon’s great kingdom was decimated. Their nation was divided, and the great riches of their treasuries were gone. This was all part of God’s judgment. Yet these bad kings did not repent of their sins and turn back to God. The only decent king here was Asa in that he tried to restore the worship of God in Judah.
- It is so easy for us to read these words and think ‘you fools’ look what you’ve done to yourselves by turning away from God. Then I read the news and realize our society is doing the very same thing today. We are enjoying God’s blessings but turning away from following Him as faithful children.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
