The Results of Disobedience

I Kings 14.21-28

In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. He carried off the treasures of the temple of the LORD and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including all the gold shields Solomon had made. So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned these to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. Whenever the king went to the LORD's temple, the guards bore the shields, and afterward they returned them to the guardroom.

Things had begun to deteriorate. With the nation split the military was cut down too. This made Jerusalem a target for other nations. Jeroboam and Israel were being judged dramatically by God in the northern kingdom. 

Shishak was aligned with Jeroboam. He had fled to him in Egypt as a boy when Solomon ruled. Now that Solomon is dead he returns and  after a showdown with Rehoboam he becomes the king of the new northern kingdom. Shishak sees the weakness in Judah under Rehoboam. He goes right for the gold and gets it.

The morale of the nation is dropping, as its reputation around the world. People who once feared this super power now look at it as very vulnerable.

The temple service is disrupted. The accomplishment of Solomon in furnishing it is carried off to Egypt. I am sure God used Egypt at this point because He had warned Solomon about her and what would happen if he failed to be fully committed to the LORD as his father, David, had been.

Deuteronomy 17.16

The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” 

Solomon, now Rehoboam, his son, both sinned against the LORD. As we shared last week, Rehoboam rejected the wise counsel of the elders and went with the inexperienced and arrogant advice of his contemporaries.  Rehoboam was confident in himself. it was overconfidence. Moving without the support of the elders, those who knew the people best, he pushed the people into rebellion. The people of Judah continued with the worship of the false gods Solomon had introduced through his 700 marriages to women of foreign origin. only things grew worse. They did more evil under Rehoboam than under Solomon.  The hills around Jerusalem were filled with idol worship. Under every spreading tree idols were set up. They even brought male prostitutes into Jerusalem. The wickedness was beyond imagination. The city the LORD had chose for His Name to be honored had become a very wicked city.  As people came up to Jerusalem for the feasts they saw all this idolatry. They left the LORD choice but to judge them. God worked out His judgement, His purpose through the results of Rehoboam's sin.

Consequences of Disobedience:

1. Enemies Making Inroads and Gaining Victory.

There are so many promises associated with protection from our enemies if we obey the LORD.

Psalm 6:10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish; they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame. 

Psalm 18:3 I called to the LORD,  Who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies. 

Psalm 7:6 Arise, LORD, in Your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice. 

Psalm 18:47-48 He is the God Who avenges me, Who subdues nations under me, Who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man You rescued me. 

Psalm 56:9 Then my enemies will turn backwhen I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me. 

Psalm 118:7 The Lord is with me; He is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. 

If a person or a nation disobeys the LORD and does not take the warnings of the LORD to heart the protection of God is lifted. This is what happened on 

9-11

Psalm 44:9-10 But now You have rejected and humbled us; You no longer go out with our armies. You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us. 

The enemies of Israel and Jerusalem were making inroads into the nation and city because of sin. The leaders had led the people in sin. This went back to the seeds planted by Solomon as he got old.

Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation,

                                     But sin is a reproach to any people. 

The nation is now living with the consequences of disobedience. It is a sad day.

This once powerful nation, a nation under God, a nation which became a super power and very wealthy, because its leaders did not  listen to the Word of God, because they trusted in the military strength and the accumulated weath,  because they sinned against the LORD, had to watch as the nation went down the tubes.

2.The Loss of National Treasures

The carrying away of the temple and palace treasures must have been such a sad time in Jerusalem. 

Notice they are going to the land of Egypt where God brought His people out of!

The land they once plundered is now plundering them.

The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians. Exodus 12.35-36

Obeying the LORD they plundered the Egyptians.

Disobeying the LORD the Egyptians plundered them.

Their loss was not only out of the royal palace but out of the temple. God was saying by this, "If you are not going to be fully committed to Me, I will take away the items with which you worship Me." He doesn't share His glory with another.

Their gold shields were now replaced with bronze ones... A sign of economic decline.  A sign of the loss of the glory. Still they didn't realize it was the beginning of judgement. 

Every time King Rehobaom made his way up to the temple the people would be reminded of this atrocious act of the Egyptians. Each time he would march out in pride of his replacements, the nation would be humbled. It was humiliating to see the once proud gold shields replaced by bronze ones. God was speaking through this. The people did not understand. They did not see or hear. They lacked true spiritual discernment. 

Rehoboam looked at this as national pride. Pride becomes before a fall. Proud people embarrass themselves but they are unaware that they are doing so. What they think looks like a show of strength is really a sign of weakness, what they think is a display of pomp is really showing the nakedness and wretchedness of their souls. 

The spiritually desensitized person is unable to detect God's quiet voice. They don't hear the "speech" of the heavens in 

Psalm 19:1-4 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His  hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. 

1 Corinthians 2:14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 

This is why so often we ask ourselves, "How come they are not getting it?! Its so plain to see." We forget II Corinthians 4.4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 

3. The Loss of Spiritual Treasures

Worse than the loss of wealth and its material treasures was the loss of the spiritual riches. 

God had desired to bless all nations on thee earth through them (and He did fulfill part of that with the early church which were Jewish)

Deuteronomy 7:6 “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. "

His Promise to Abraham was:

“I will make you into a great nationand I will bless you;I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 12.2-3

They had failed in spiritual matters now the spiritual responsibilities were being taken away. God allowed the Egyptians to come and loot the temple to show His displeasure with them. Soon he would send prophets, finally He would send His Son, Jesus, Whom they would crucify.

I think when people are disobedient and rebel against God they do not realize how grave the consequences would be.

Some of the things going on today as we "play" around with what a family is, are going to have tragic and grave consequences. There is an insanity brewing among churches in America and God will not be mocked. What we sow we will reap.

4. Fear of Attacks

 Now in Israel and Judah there was fear of attack. The safety and security they once took for granted was gone. There would be sneak attacks. There would be attacks where the city would be held inside the walls. There would be a final blow where they were removed from the land and taken to another country just like Solomon had warned them in his dedicatory prayer of the temple.

1 Kings 8:46 “When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to their enemies, who take them captive to their own lands, far away or near; 

The LORD wants us to take the warnings about the results of disobedience and let them motivate us to obey Him. He wants us to think about our actions and words. He loves us and desires the best for us.

 

I wish we had time today to speak of the benefits of obedience. Peace, great peace, contentment, joy, God given us things, heaven....

Trust and Obey

Listening to the People God Speaks To You Through

I Kings 12.1-19

Wise counsel needs to be heeded. Those older than us with more experience can give a different perspective and help us see things we are not seeing. Many times they have a grip on history we do not have.

At first Rehoboam went to the right people, the elders. They gave him good sound advice. It meant that he was going to have to humble himself. He was going to have to not blame his father's administration for it blunders and sins.

This takes a measure of maturity.  He would have to put Himself in the place of a servant of the people, a thing which people love in their leader.

It is difficult for us to humble ourselves. It is very difficult for a leader to do so. There are always some people advising against it. "You will look weak. It will look like you are not in control."

All this due to his father's mistakes. He was going to have to humble himself and he was not even at fault. It takes a man of great statue to do such a thing, to keep his mouth shut, to bear the sins of others, to make himself a servant... 

So he went to the young men.

Notice that the young men he went to served with him.

They were young.

They were in experienced.

They had not shepherded flocks.

They were pandering to Rehoboam's ego.

He foolishly went with their advice and rejected the wise counsel of the elders.

The elders knew the people. They had experience governing. They understood the complaint and gave Rehoboam the proper way to answer them and gain their favor.

It is always appropriate for us as followers of Jesus to walk in humility of spirit.

We are exhorted to in God's Word. Hard to do but so much better than if we do not.  Jesus is our example. I am continually  blown away by Him and His humble lowly spirit.

If we do not humble ourselves, the LORD will see that we are humbled. Rehoboam's life gives us that lesson.

1. In difficult times it is important to get advice and counsel on situations. 

Proverbs 11:14 For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers. 

Good counsel  from godly men is hard to find.

Proverbs 20:6 Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find? 

When it is found...

It needs to followed.

It needs to obeyed.

It needs to be honored.

Notice that not only were they young. They had grown up with him. The elders were the men who had served with Solomon. Two different perspectives.

Years ago God put it in my heart to learn from the older pastors. I would meet them for lunch, hang out with them at meetings, invite them to speak to the church and to this day I am still in touch with a number (Although as I get older that number is thinning out!)

It is amazing how someone older can give us such a different perspective. They can help us see things we would miss. 

After graduating from Bible College I attempted to go on to Seminary for a Masters degree. It didn't workout. So I sought to learn from my elders. They helped me a lot. God spoke through them to me. He still does.

When I was very young in the ministry and pastoring in a remote area in upstate NY I corresponded with a pastor I knew as a boy. I still have those letters. He gave me gems of wise counsel. When I lived in that South western New York I would travel miles to meet up with the older men. I even went over into Pennsylvania at times to be with some.

You have heard me speak of the relationship I had with Brother Hazard. The man was a jewel in my life. Many times I would jump in my car and ride over to his home in Wyandanch to talk to him. I was not alone. Many young pastors would do this. From time to time he would have us to his house for breakfast. I would always seek to listen attentively.

2. God speaks through people to our hearts.

Encouragement -We like this. We need this. Hebrews 10.25

Rebuke- We don't like this but we need it.

Instruction- keep a teachable spirit. Humility is a key to it.

Exhortation - We all need this from time to time. Hebrews 10.24

Warning- Pay attention. We need the most when we think we need  it the least.

Satan can speak through snakes and people who behave like snakes.

We need to test the spirits.

1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 

Watch out for people who have a hidden agenda or who have not been steady in certain areas of their lives. Don't follow a bouncing ball. I would not listen to someone who lives far above the people off ministry funds.

Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.  It is not just good sounding words, it is their lifestyle.

3. Tests for the Words People speak to you.

* Does it sound like something Jesus would say?

* Is it scriptural?

* Has this person been known to give bad advice?

* Are they projecting their own issues?

* Does the person giving advice have elders in their lives, living or dead?

We need to seek wise counsel, seek godly experienced people out.

We need to seek the LORD. As we do He will see we get people to help us.

We need to listen  to those who come with good wise counsel.

Rehoboam's failure at this point was his demise. Foolishly rejecting the counsel of his elders, those who knew what he should do,  who were on his side and embracing and following the bad advice of his peers, he turned Israel against himself and split the nation.

My body, soul and spirit were crying out for rest the past month. I ignored them. It was all good stuff I was involved with. Two weeks into this insane marathon a close friend asked me, "Have you taken a Sabbath this week?" I said , "No, not for the past two weeks." He didn't say anything else. His silence was enough. But I kept going and going, until yesterday.

Yesterday I did nothing. I didn't even leave my yard. I think the thing that tipped the scales were the two folks who told me Friday, "You look tired." The LORD spoke through them. That was enough.

Listen to the people of God who love you and care about your soul. Those who have your best interests at heart, who are concerned about your life, they are the people to listen to. God speaks through them.

This takes humility. Be like Samuel, who when he realized the LORD was calling him and not Eli.

1 Samuel 3:8-10 A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”Then Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” 

Listening to The LORD

I Kings 10:26

Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 

In Deuteronomy 17.16

The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” 

I Kings 10.28-29

Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue–the royal merchants purchased them from Kue. They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.

Why is it that something the LORD has told us plainly in His Word, ends up being the very thing people who profess to follow the LORD end up doing?

Add to that how can a man filled with all kinds of wisdom so that leaders from all over the world come to hear him end up missing some written right to him as a king? Something he was to read each day in his own handwriting?! 

These are questions that trouble the soul.

A closer look at this account will help us in our endeavor to listen to the LORD.

We can learn from Solomon's failures. 

1 Corinthians 10:11-13 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 

1. When This Command Was Given.

Before they entered the land.

The thought of horses at that point would have been foolish. They would have to care for them. These people were shepherds going down to Egypt, shepherds coming out of Egypt, led by a shepherd (Moses) and by the Shepherd of our Souls in heaven. David said, "The LORD is my Shepherd." We know that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, that Great Shepherd of the Sheep.

The LORD never intended for His people, Israel, to be horsemen. 

First and foremost, He has his own heavenly band.

2 Kings 2:11-12  As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two. 

Kings 6:17And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 

The people tend to trust in what they can see.

Psalm 33:16-18 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.

As we said before the way the LORD relates to us is as a Shepherd and His sheep, not a rancher and his horses. His people are to be led not driven.

Sheep listen to the Shepherd's voice. They know his voice. Horses need to be herded, corralled, broken.

Sheep need loving care, that of a Shepherd. In building up the cavalry, Solomon was moving the people away from the heart of God, the man after God's won heart, the forever shepherd, David.

The image of the sheep under the care of a faithful shepherd is what the LORD wanted to portray to Israel and to the church. It permeates God's Word.

This command regarding horse was given:

Before they asked for a king.

God knew they would.

Samuel took it personally even though it was foretold and he had the Word.

Why do not expect what God's Word tells us? We will suffer persecution. 

We will reap what we sow. 

Not everyone is healed.

During Moses' Farewell Speech.

Warned far in advance

For the king to read.

No excuses on the part of Solomon or Israel for this broken commandment.

2. Why This Command was Given.

Because they would want a king.

This would be a partial rejection of God.

Beware of wanting things that those around you have. 

Contentment is so valuable.

1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 

Philippians 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 

That is Glorious Freedom!!!

Because  if he built up the cavalry the people would put their hope in it.

Their hope to be in the LORD.

Psalm 33:17-19 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, to deliver them from deathand keep them alive in famine. 

We must be on our guard for what we put our trust in. 

Paul write to Timothy

1 Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 

Psalm 121:1-2 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. 

Written as one of the Psalms of Ascents or the Psalms of the Goings Up

Jerusalem is fortified by the mountains which surround it. But the trust is to be in the LORD.

3.The Results of Disobedience on the Part of a Leader.

People follow his example.

Under Solomon the people strayed from God.

1 Kings 11:4-8 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done. On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods. 

People lose their trust in God.

It is interesting that this sin was committed in the best times economically Israel had ever seen. Silver was not worth much because there was such an abundance of gold.

Beware of the good times. Many stray from the LORD when they are experiencing the greatest abundance in their lives.

We need to listen carefully.

Hebrews 2:1 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 

Satan knows his time is short, the sands of time in the hour glass are falling. Soon Christ will come.

Since  his time is short he is doing everything he can to take out God's men and women. He has been successful with some. 

Don't let that happen to you!

Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.