AM May 1st John 15

May 1^st              John 15                        7 “I am the true vine”

1: I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2: Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3: Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5: I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6: If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7: If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8: Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9: As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10: If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11: These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12: This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14: Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15: Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16: Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17: These things I command you, that ye love one another.

The type of the vine was commonly used in Israel to describe the relation of God to his covenant people. In this part of Christ’s teaching to his disciples he declares himself to be the true vine. He says l am the True Vine and my Father is the husbandman. Christ continues the analogy saying that every branch in him that does not bear fruit. i.e. godly living under the mosaic law the Father will cut off from Israel so that ‘it’ - Israel may produce more fruit. Now that the disciples are clean through the word which Christ had spoken they are to remain ‘in’ the vine. Abide in me, and l in you, Christ says, because the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine. You will not be able to bear fruit of righteousness unless you abide in me says Christ. Then he says, I am the vine and you are the branches. Christ is saying, I am the Messiah and you are my followers and you will not be able to produce righteous deeds unless you abide in me, because without me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me then he is cut off and he withers and like dead branches he is gathered to be burnt in the fire. Now this cannot be said of any of Gods children who are saved. This is describing Jews who are living according to the law. If they do not live righteously they will be cut off from the ministry of Christ and they will face the fire of judgment. However Christ says to his own people, if you abide in me then you will be able to ask anything and it will be done unto you. The glory of the father is seen in the righteousness of the disciples. This is pure law. He says, If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love; in the same way that I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. How very different to the situation that the christian finds himself in. He is accepted in Christ once and for all. His sins are forever forgiven. The disciples are to keep themselves in the fathers love by keeping the commandments of Christ. Christ says that these things are being said to you so that you might have the joy of God in your souls. Then Christ reiterates his commandment. This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. He says, Greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends. And you are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you. Christ is saying you are my friends if you obey my commandments. This is not said to Christians under Grace. Christians under grace do keep the commandments of Christ, but not in order to be Christ’s friend but because they are in a saved relationship with Christ. Christ explains that he is not going to call them servants anymore because servants do not know what their Lord is doing. He says l am going to call you friends; because everything that I have heard from my Father I have made it known to you. Christ says to the Apostles, You did not choose me but I chose you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should be permanent and that whatsoever you will ask of the Father in my name, he will give it you. Its pretty certain that the Apostles didn’t understand what Christ was saying. He was saying that they are to go forth and produce righteous deeds that will bring glory to God. And that they are free to ask for anything and God will do it for them. Lastly he says, I command you - that you love one another. And so we have this amazing balance between All authority to command blessing and the injunction to love toward each other.

PM April 30th 1 Kings 17

April 30^th           1 Kings 17        Elijah warns Ahab of drought

1: And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. 2: And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 3: Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 4: And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. 5: So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 6: And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 7: And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

Elijah - Widow of Zarephath

8: And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 9: Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 10: So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 11: And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. 12: And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 13: And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. 14: For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. 15: And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. 16: And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah. 17: And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. 18: And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son? 19: And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. 20: And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? 21: And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. 22: And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23: And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. 24: And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.

1 Kings 18        Elijah speaks to Ahab again

1: And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. 2: And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria. 3: And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: 4: For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) 5: And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts. 6: So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself. 7: And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah? 8: And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. 9: And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me? 10: As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not. 11: And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. 12: And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth. 13: Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water? 14: And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me. 15: And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day. 16: So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17: And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 18: And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. 19: Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.

Elijah on Mt Carmel

20: So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. 21: And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. 22: Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23: Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: 24: And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. 25: And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. 26: And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. 27: And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. 28: And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. 29: And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. 30: And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 31: And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: 32: And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. 33: And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. 34: And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. 35: And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. 36: And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37: Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 38: Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39: And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. 40: And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

The drought ends

41: And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. 42: So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43: And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. 44: And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. 45: And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. 46: And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

1 Kings 19        Elijah flees to Mt Horeb

1: And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 2: Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. 3: And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. 4: But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. 5: And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 6: And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 7: And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. 8: And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

The Lord speaks to Elijah again

9: And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 10: And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 11: And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13: And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? 14: And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 15: And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: 16: And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. 17: And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. 18: Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Elijah calls Elisha

19: So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. 20: And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? 21: And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

This brings us to the life and ministry of Elijah. We see that Elijah first warns Ahab of a drought which is the judgment of God on the northern kingdom because of their backslidings. Then we have the interesting case of the widow of Zarephath. Then we read of the encounter of Elijah with Ahab and the contest on Mt Carmel. Elijah then brings the drought to an end and flees at the threats of Jezebel. Then we read of the word of the Lord coming again to Elijah and finally Elisha is raised up by the Lord to replace Elijah. It’s interesting that Elijah raises no army nor is e a king but he is the Prophet of the Lord who brings a special word from the Lord to the wayward king and he leads a massive revival that is all cantered on one showdown on Mt Carmel. So how did Elijah achieve so much? He achieved so much by prayer in private and a public demonstration of the power of God in a very public place. It all starts with Elijah coming to Ahab to warn him of the coming drought. This drought was no ordinary drought it was an act of God in judgment. In the Law we saw that the Lord promised rain and fruitful harvest to Israel if they were faithful to the LORD but he also warned of drought and failed crops if they forsook the LORD. Now Elijah will call upon the name of the LORD to shut up the heavens to rain. He tells Ahab that the LORD has said that it will not rain for three years. And then he prays fervently that it will not rain. Then the LORD told Elijah to go and hide himself. He went and hid on the eastern banks of the Jordan in the rocky cliffs where a little brook would give him water. And he was fed morning and evening by ravens. (This is interesting because ravens were unclean) They brought him bread and flesh and so God who told him to be there provided for all his needs. After a while the brook dried up and then the LORD told him to go to Zarephath. (A seaside village on the coast in the far north of Palestine.)  There the LORD commanded a widow to shelter him. It’s interesting that God was working in the life of other people in Israel and their obedience was as much an instrument of God as the man of God himself. This was a gentile village outside of Israel. We cannot fail to notice that first ravens and now a gentile woman? God often does what seems strange to us. When Elijah arrived she was gathering sticks to commit suicide with her son. Now God will move in her life to save her life and to provide for his servant. Elijah asks for a drink of water and a little bread. She answered that she had just a small among of flour and a little oil and it will be her last meal. He says to her don’t be afraid. Bring me a little cake and make one for yourself and your son. The barrel of flour will not run out and the cruise of oil will not run out until the day that the LORD sends rain. The LORD provided every day all that they all needed for the day. But after many days the boy became sick. She spoke to him saying have you come to slay my son? So he carried him up into the loft where he slept and he laid him o his bed and then prayed to the LORD for the boy he laid beside him three times. And Elijah pleaded with the Lord for the dead boy. Everything in Elijah’s life would be accomplished by prayer. Then the Lord heard his prayer and the child was revived. Then he brought him to his mother. She said, now l know that you are a man of God. This was a sign from heaven which confirmed Elijah’s prophetic message. Then after three years the LORD told Elijah to go to speak to Ahab again because he was going to send rain again. There was a very bad famine in Samaria and Ahab had called for Obadiah who was his house steward. Obadiah feared the LORD a great deal. When Jezebel had tried to kill all the prophets in Israel Obadiah had taken 100 prophets and hid them in a cave. And he had given them bread and water. Ahab sent Obadiah to find grass for the flocks. Ahab and Obadiah searched for green grass. Obadiah met Elijah and he fell on his face. Elijah told him to go and fetch is master Ahab. Obadiah told Elijah all that he had done and said he was afraid to go because Ahab might be cross with him and kill him. Elijah reassured him that he would see Ahab this day. When Ahab came he said to Elijah you are the one who has brought all this trouble on Israel. But he answered no l have not troubled Israel but you and your fathers house have forsaken the LORD and followed Baalim. He said l will meet you at My Carmel, bring the priests of Baalim 450 and bring the prophets of the grove 400. When they met on Mt Carmel Elijah spoke to Israel calling on Israel to make a choice between following the LORD or Baal. Then he called for a public demonstration of the power of God to enable Israel to know who was right and who they should follow. He said bring two bullocks and let the priests of Baal make an offering to their God and if he answers by fire then he will be the Lord of Israel. The people liked the idea so the Baal worshippers made an altar and called on their god but there was no answer and no fire. From morning to noon they danced and pleaded but no fire came. Elijah mocked them saying maybe he is asleep or maybe he has gone for walk! Then after they had injured themselves and done all they could Elijah said to the people come near and he rebuilt the altar of the LORD out of twelve stones. He also made a trench around it and filled it with water he arranged the bullock on the wood and he poured water onto the altar and it ran into the trench. And then he told them to do it again. And then do it a third time. And then at 3pm he called on the name of the LORD and the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood and the stones and the dust and the water in the trench. Then the people fell on their faces saying only the LORD is God. They took the prophets of Baal and Elijah executed them all. Then Elijah told Ahab that it was gong to rain. Elijah went and called on the name of the LORD and the rain came again. Ahab told Jezebel his wife what Elijah had done and Jezebel sent a message to Elijah says l will kill you before tomorrow. Elijah ran to Beer-sheba where he left his servant and he went another day’s journey and sat under a juniper tree and asked the LORD to take his life. Elijah was exhausted so the Lord provided regular food and drink and sleep for two days and then on the strength of this food he went for 40 days he went to Horeb. Then the Lord spoke to him, saying why are you here Elijah? He said l have done everything and yet my life is now in danger. He said l am the only prophet left alive. The LORD told him to go and stand before him. And a great wing came and smashed the rocks in pieces. But the Lord was not in the wind. Then the LORD sent an earthquake. But the LORD was not in the earthquake. Then the LORD sent a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. When everything was finished there was still a quite voice from the LORD. Then the LORD spoke to him again, what are you doing here Elijah? And he repeated l have done everything for you and now they want to kill me. The Lord said go to Damascus and anoint Hazael king over Syria. And anoint Jehu king of Israel. And by the way l have still got 7,000 in Israel that are faithful to me. Elijah found Elisha ploughing with twelve oxen and Elijah passed by him he threw his overcoat on him. Elisha stopped and ran after Elijah and he said let me go and say farewell to my parents and then l will follow you. Elisha went back and killed the oxen and gave the meat to the people and then he went back a followed Elijah. We see in this passage that God was doing two things in the life of Elijah he was doing and work of God through him and he was doing a work of God in him.

AM April 30th John 14

April 30^th           John 14                        6 “I am the way, the truth & the life”

1: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2: In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4: And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5: Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7: If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8: Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9: Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10: Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11: Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13: And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14: If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

(The Witness to the Witnesses)              The Lord’s private last words

15: If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16: And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17: Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18: I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19: Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20: At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21: He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22: Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23: Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24: He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 25: These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28: Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 29: And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30: Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31: But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

All of the teaching of the following chapters was missed by Judas. Christ is giving his last words to the disciples before his betrayal and trials. In the previous chapter Christ has said, that he was going away for a little while and you will seek me but you will no find me. This had raised the boast of Peter that he would follow the Lord to the end but Christ had revealed to Peter his weakness, telling him that he would deny him three times before the night was over. Then Christ says, Do not let your heart be troubled. You believe in God. Now believe also in me. Christ says, you believe in God now believe also in me. Christ is calling on the disciples to become believers in him. Previously they had been believers in God but now they are to become believers in Christ. And what are they to believe about Christ? That he was going away but that he was going away to prepare a place for them and that he was coming back to take them to the place that he will prepare. Christ was not speaking about the resurrection he was talking about his return in Glory at the end of the age. His ultimate purpose is that they might be with him where he is. Then he said where l am going you know and the way to that place you know. Thomas spoke for the rest. He said, Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way? Jesus answered in the famous words; I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, except by me. If you had known me, then you should have known my Father also and from now onward you will know him, and you will have seen him. Philip answered, Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied. Jesus answered to Thomas, Have I been with you so long and yet you do not know me, Philip? Then he said, He that has seen me has seen the Father; so how can you say, Show us the Father? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? And the words that I speak to you do not come from me but from my father who lives in me, he does the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me because of my works. Then Jesus said, truly, truly, I am telling you the ultimate truth. He that believes on me, will do the works that l do and he will do greater works than l have done, because I go am going to my Father. And whatsoever you will ask in my name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, one who will abide with you for ever; He will be the Spirit of truth; who the world cannot receive, because it does not see him or know him. but you will know him because he will live with  you and he will be in you. I am not going to leave you without a protector. For a little while the world will see me no more but you will see me (in the resurrection) and because l live, you will live also. On that day (the day of resurrection) you will know that I am in my Father and you in me, and I in you. And He that has my commandments, and keepeth them, he is the one who loves me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.  Judas (the other Judas not Judas Iscariot) said, Lord, how is it that thou wilt reveal yourself to us and not to the world? Jesus said to him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our abode with him. He that loves me not does not keep my sayings: and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me. The Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, who the Father will send in my name, he will teach you everything, and help you to remember everything that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not like the peace of the world. Do not let not your heart be troubled, do let it be afraid. You have heard that l said, I am going away and will come again to you. If you did love me you would rejoice, because I said, I am going to go to the Father: because my Father is greater than I. So Now I have told you before it happens so that when it happens you will believe in me. From now on l will not talk much about this with you because Satan has come and yet he has found nothing in me. (That is he has found no means whereby he can tempt me to sin) I am doing the commandments of my Father that the world will know that l love my Father. Now let us get up and go on further. This long involved conversation was a preparation by Christ for his disciples for the days ahead. Christ was concerned for them that they do not allow themselves to become too downcast when the cross comes. They are to realise that Christ’s going will be so that the Holy Spirit might be given and that Christ’s return will be glorious. Christ says; if you love me keep my commandments. Christ also encourages the disciples to pray in faith and to go on from faith in God to faith in himself.  

PM April 29th 1 Kings 14

April 29^th           1 Kings 14        Ahijah warns Jeroboam

1: At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. 2: And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, which told me that I should be king over this people. 3: And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he shall tell thee what shall become of the child. 4: And Jeroboam's wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age. 5: And the LORD said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to ask a thing of thee for her son; for he is sick: thus and thus shalt thou say unto her: for it shall be, when she cometh in, that she shall feign herself to be another woman. 6: And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam; why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings. 7: Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel, 8: And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes; 9: But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back: 10: Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone. 11: Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the LORD hath spoken it. 12: Arise thou therefore, get thee to thine own house: and when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die. 13: And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam. 14: Moreover the LORD shall raise him up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day: but what? even now. 15: For the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger. 16: And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin. 17: And Jeroboam's wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah: and when she came to the threshold of the door, the child died; 18: And they buried him; and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by the hand of his servant Ahijah the prophet.

Jeroboam dies

19: And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 20: And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with this fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead.

Rehoboam king of Judah

21: And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess. 22: And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done. 23: For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree. 24: And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 25: And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem: 26: And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made. 27: And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king's house. 28: And it was so, when the king went into the house of the LORD, that the guard bare them, and brought them back into the guard chamber. 29: Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 30: And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days. 31: And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess. And Abijam his son reigned in his stead.

1 Kings 15        Abijam King of Judah

1: Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah. 2: Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. 3: And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. 4: Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem: 5: Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 6: And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. 7: Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. 8: And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.

Asa King of Judah

9: And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah. 10: And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. 11: And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father. 12: And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 13: And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron. 14: But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days. 15: And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of the LORD, silver, and gold, and vessels. 16: And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 17: And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 18: Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Ben-hadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, 19: There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. 20: So Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-beth-maachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. 21: And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah. 22: Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah. 23: The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. 24: And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead.

Nadab King of Judah

25: And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years. 26: And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin. 27: And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon. 28: Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead. 29: And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite: 30: Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger. 31: Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 32: And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

Baasha King of Israel

33: In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years. 34: And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.

 

1 Kings 16

1: Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, 2: Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins; 3: Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 4: Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat. 5: Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 6: So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead. 7: And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him.

Elah King of Israel

8: In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years. 9: And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah. 10: And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead. 11: And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends. 12: Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, 13: For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities. 14: Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Zimri King of Israel

15: In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. 16: And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp. 17: And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. 18: And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died, 19: For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin. 20: Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Omri King of Israel

21: Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri. 22: But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned. 23: In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah. 24: And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria. 25: But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him. 26: For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities. 27: Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he shewed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 28: So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.

Ahab King of Israel

29: And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. 30: And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. 31: And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. 32: And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33: And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. 34: In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.

In today’s Bible reading we have the warning of Ahijah and the death of Jeroboam and then we have brief descriptions of four kings of Judah and five kings of Israel. But first we read of the interesting account of the warning of Ahijah to Jeroboams wife. She was sent by her husband because his son was sick and he sent her to ask what would happen to his son. She disguised herself but she could not disguise herself to the Lord. Ahijah was blind but the Lord told Ahijah who she was. The message from the Lord was going to be sad. The Lord said l exalted you and made you prince over Israel and took the kingdom from David and gave it to you, but you have not been like David – you have done evil in my sight - you have served other gods. So l will bring evil on your house and all male sons will be destroyed. He that dies of your family in the city will be eaten of dogs and in the fields by the birds. So go back to the city because when you enter the city your son will die and only he will be buried because there was something good in him. When she returned the child died and was buried and all Israel mourned for him. Then Jeroboam died, he had reigned for 22 years. Nadab reigned in his place. Rehoboam reigned in Judah as king from 41 yrs of age and he reigned for 17 years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He allowed false religion and he also allowed sodomites to continue their evil practise in the land. In Rehoboam’s 6^th year, the king of Egypt, Shishak came and took the treasures of the House of the Lord. And he took the gold shields of Solomon. Rehoboam made brass replicas to replace them. Then he died. In his place Abijah reigned over Judah. He reigned for 3 yrs in Jerusalem. He did the same evils as his father. When he died Asa reigned in Judah in his place. He reigned for 41 yrs in Jerusalem. Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. He kicked out the sodomites from the land and removed all the idols of his father. He prevented his mother from being queen because she had made a grove for idol worship. He destroyed her idol and burnt it by the brook Kidron. Asa did not manage to destroy all the groves to idol worship but he did serve the Lord all his days. In his old age his feet were bad and he died leaving a reformed Judah. Nadab took the throne of Israel in the second year of Asa, but he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He reigned for one year. Baasha took the throne of Israel. He also did evil in the sight of the LORD. The nation was getting worse and worse. Jehu was sent by the Lord to him yet he took no notice of the word of the Lord and died.  Next we have Elah he reined over Israel in the 26^th year of Asa. He was raised up by the Lord to execute all the male offspring of Baasha. Zimri then took the throne of Israel he was also an evil king and he committed suicide by burning his house down when he was in it. Omri then took charge. At this time Israel itself was divided into two. Half followed Timri and half Omri, but war broke out and Timri was killed. He reigned for 6 yrs. He did worse than all the kings before him. He died and Ahab reigned in his place. Ahab did evil in the sight of the Lord. His wife was Jezebel who taught him to serve Baal. He did more to provoke the Lord to anger than any king before him. Elijah was sent by the Lord to confront Ahab, but how will he do it? We will see tomorrow.

AM April 29th John 13

April 29^th           The Lord predicts Peter’s denial

31: Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32: If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. 33: Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. 34: A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35: By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 36: Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. 37: Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. 38: Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

Only when Judas left did Jesus reveal certain truths. First he said NOW is the Son of man glorified. God was going to reveal himself to mankind in a manner that mankind has never known before. Here is love vast as an ocean. Christ was going to be revealed to the world in a way that is unsurpassed. And God was going to be revealed in it too. The Second thing he said was that he was going away for a little while and you will seek me but you will no find me. Then the Third thing, he said, l want to give you a new commandment, that you love one another; as I have loved you. This goes way beyond the commandments of the Law. They are to love one another in the same way that Christ loves them. How was this going to be possible? The love of God was going to be shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Spirit. This was going to be the sign of who is a disciple – if they have love one to another. The Disciples did not understand what all these things meant but later they would know the Holy Spirit would remind them and open their eyes. Then Peter replied to the second thing Christ had said, he said where are you going? I will follow you and lay down my life for you. Peter had good intensions yet he didn’t have the courage and the empowering of the Spirit of God to back it up. Jesus replied, Peter, will you? I am telling you the absolute truth before the cock crows you will deny me three times. How heart breaking.   

PM April 28th 1 Kings 11

April 28^th           1 Kings 11        Solomon’s sins

1: But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; 2: Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 3: And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 4: For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5: For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6: And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. 7: Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 8: And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

Solomon’s troubles

9: And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, 10: And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. 11: Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. 12: Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. 13: Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen. 14: And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom. 15: For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom; 16: (For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:) 17: That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a little child. 18: And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran: and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; which gave him an house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land. 19: And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen. 20: And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh. 21: And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country. 22: Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise. 23: And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah: 24: And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.

Jeroboam is to be the Northern King

25: And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria. 26: And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king. 27: And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father. 28: And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph. 29: And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field: 30: And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: 31: And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: 32: (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) 33: Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father. 34: Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes: 35: But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes. 36: And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. 37: And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel. 38: And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee. 39: And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever. 40: Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

Solomon’s death

41: And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon? 42: And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. 43: And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

1 Kings 12        C. The Division of the Kingdom The Northern tribes revolt

1: And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. 2: And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) 3: That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, 4: Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee. 5: And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed. 6: And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? 7: And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. 8: But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: 9: And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? 10: And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. 11: And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 12: So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. 13: And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; 14: And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 15: Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 16: So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. 17: But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18: Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. 19: So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. 20: And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.

War is averted

21: And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. 22: But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 23: Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying, 24: Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.

Jeroboam’s false religion

25: Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel. 26: And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: 27: If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. 28: Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 29: And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. 30: And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. 31: And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. 32: And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made. 33: So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.

1 Kings 13        A Prophet warns Jeroboam

1: And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. 2: And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee. 3: And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out. 4: And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him. 5: The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. 6: And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before. 7: And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward. 8: And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: 9: For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest. 10: So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.

The Prophet killed

11: Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father. 12: And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah. 13: And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon, 14: And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am. 15: Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. 16: And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: 17: For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest. 18: He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him. 19: So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water. 20: And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back: 21: And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee, 22: But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the LORD did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers. 23: And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back. 24: And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase. 25: And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt. 26: And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the LORD: therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake unto him. 27: And he spake to his sons, saying, Saddle me the ass. And they saddled him. 28: And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass. 29: And the prophet took up the carcase of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back: and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury him. 30: And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother! 31: And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones: 32: For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass. 33: After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places. 34: And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.

In the next few chapters we see the sad decline of Solomon – his sins and his troubles. During the closing days of his life Jeroboam revolts against his reign and faces the spectre of a divided kingdom. But after Solomon’s death the northern tribes revolt against the south. A prophet of the LORD speaks to Jeroboam but looses his life in the process. From the glories of the previous passages this is a sad comedown. From the beginning of these chapters we see that Solomon loved many strange women. Solomon sin was outright idolatry and this came from the wives that he married from nations which were not allowed to the Jews. He had Pharaohs daughter and then wives from the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites. Solomon’s heart (mind) was turned away from the LORD by wives that were not godly. He had 700 wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines and they distracted him from complete devotion to the LORD. Ever Christian man should take note and pray that he marries the right woman and that her heart is faithful to the Lord. Solomon was a great influence on his wives but when he was old they were a great influence on him. He was not like his father who always remained faithful to the LORD. In the end Solomon sought after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And so the epitaph reads that Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD. Solomon even went so far as to build a place of worship to Chemosh, the abomination of Moab and it was in full view of Jerusalem, and he did the same for the god Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. The LORD was angry with Solomon and commanded him to not go after idols yet he refused to hear the LORD. The LORD told him that he would tear away the kingdom from him and give the kingdom to his servant. Solomon must have been shocked; however in respect to your father David l will do this when you are dead. The LORD stirred up an enemy to Solomon Hadad the Edomite. In the days of David Joab had gone down to Edom and killed every male except one – Hadad. Hadad had run away to Egypt he was just a child. Hadad was very much liked by the Egyptian king who gave him food and a house with land. He married the sister of Pharaohs wife. When David heard that David and Joab were dead he asked for permission to go to his home country. Pharaoh asked why he wanted to leave but Hadad said l want to go home. The Lord also stirred up another enemy called Rezon who ran away when David killed his King Zobah. He gathered a band of men and was a sort of king over them in Damascus. He was an enemy to Solomon all his days like Hadad was. Also a man called Jeroboam started to rebel against Solomon. He hated Solomon because he had met a prophet of the Lord called Ahijah, who took hold of Jeroboam and ripped his cloak into 12 pieces and told him to take 10 of them because the Lord says he will take away the kingdom from Solomon and give the 10 tribes to you. This was because Solomon had worshipped Ashtoreth, Chemosh and Milcom. Then the Lord promised the same blessing if he will serve the Lord his God as David had done. The Lord promised to be with him and to build up his house as he did with David. Solomon sought opportunity to kill Jeroboam so Jeroboam ran away to Egypt and lived there until the death of Solomon. Solomon reigned for 40 yrs and then he died and Rehoboam reigned in his place. The kingdom was now ripe for division. Rehoboam went to Shechem and the whole of Israel gathered to make him king and they advised him to be kind and lenient with his people but to take a very hard line and this split his kingdom. The old men counselled wisdom and the young men foolishness. (No wander the rulers were elders) The northern tribes rebelled and Judah gathered for war 180,000 chosen men. But a man of God Shemaiah told Rehoboam not to go to war against the northern tribes. Jeroboam had to build a rival religion in the north to prevent the people going to Jerusalem. So Jeroboam turned the people away from worshipping the Lord in the south because they had forsaken the Lord however he then set up a religion based on two golden calves, one in Bethel and the other in Dan. He also set up a false priesthood and false feasts. Then a prophet of the Lord came to warn Jeroboam of his sin to prophesy that a child would be born called Josiah who would offer burnt offerings with human sacrifice. When Jeroboam heard this he put out his hand and when he withdrew it was dried up so he pleaded with the Lord and his hand was restored. But the altar was broken and the ash fell to the earth. The prophet was offered food and drink but it was refused. Then an old prophet lied to him saying that the Lord had told him to eat. Then the word of the Lord came to him and he left on an ass but a lion met him and killed him and the ass and lion stood by his body. The old prophet when he heard of it went and took his body and brought it back and mourned over him and buried him in his own grave but he left instructions to be buried with him.