The Right God

King James Bible Study Daily Devotional

Message Title: The Right God
Date: Tuesday May 24, 2011
Chapters: II Chronicles 10-13
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-may-24
Details of Today's Chapters: The accession and folly of Rehoboam, the division of the kingdom, the accession of Jeroboam over Israel, Rehoboam returns to Jerusalem and reigns over Judah, Jeroboam rejects the worship of God, Rehoboam is defeated by Shishak, the death of Rehoboam, War between Abijah and Jeroboam, and the death of Jeroboam.

Hello My Friend/Guest,

“And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven...Even all nations shall say, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger? Then men shall say, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt: For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them:” - Deuteronomy 29:19,20,24-26.

You do not have to be a Jew to realize that not only Jerusalem, but all of the world is under God's judgment right now. People always ask the question, “If God is so loving why does He allow all this to happen?” The answer to every question is right in the Bible. God's answer, “Because they rebelled against My covenant, served, and worshiped other gods.” There is only One God, One Way, and One Truth, yet millions of people choose to create God in their own imaginations, which is forsaking God and serving the false god they created.

After Solomon died, his son Rehoboam became the next king, not long after his being ordained he made the most foolish decision that would cause the nation to be divided, which is still present today. The leaders of Israel met with Rehoboam with a reasonable request that he ease the excessive taxes his father had imposed upon them. They also asked that he discontinue the forced labor which had persisted since Solomon first began building the luxurious palaces and other spectacular structures within his famous kingdom. Rehoboam sought advice from Solomon's advisers and his friends. Foolishly he chose the advice of his friends, which caused ten of the twelve tribes to rebel against him.

“And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men, And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.” - II Chronicles 10:13-16.

God, who permitted the rebellion of the northern tribes, intended it as a punishment of the house of David for Solomon’s apostasy, which was foretold to Solomon before he died. (Explained further in I Kings 12). This event marks a great importance in the history of the nation as it is today. It is "a kingdom divided against itself." However, the two kingdoms are to be reunited in the future kingdom when Jesus will reign over all.

“And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” - Isaiah 11:10-12.

Now, Rehoboam is fuming, he wants to show Israel who is in charge, he gathers up an army to fight against them, just as the battle began God sends a prophet to Rehoboam.

“And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam. But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.” - II Chronicles 11:1-4.

God says,”Stop this fight, you are not going to fight against your own brethren. Go back home, I allowed this division to take place.” Sometimes God allows a division of our families. Why? God knew where the Northern Kingdom was headed and did not want His faithful to get corrupted as well. We all have to admit that we have family members that are not good for us, while we all want to see them saved, God just does not want us be corrupted by them nor fight with them so, He will separate us from them to protect us. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” - II Corinthians 6:17,18.

For the first three years of Rehoboam's reign royal influence was exerted in the encouragement of the true religion. However, when Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to fear from Jeroboam he took his eyes off God and so did Judah, resulting in a war between Judah and Egypt.

“Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak. Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous. And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.” - II Chronicles 12:5-7.

Amazingly when the people humbled themselves before God He heard them and stopped the destruction. God does not want to see anyone hurt, the main reason for allowing suffering is that all come to Him in repentance. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” - II Peter 3:9.

Just as always God's way is the best way, if we truly want to follow the Only God, Only Way, and Only Truth, we need to let Jesus Christ be the Lord of our lives. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.“ - John 14:6. Seek and accept Christ, read all of His Word and follow all of His commands and we will be following the right God.

Of course, it takes time to grow in our walk with Christ, but as we continue there is nothing God will not do for us. No matter what happens, no matter how many times we fall, God will get us back on track. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. “ - John 10:28-30.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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