50.32 Judah And Israel Split / Jeroboam's False Religion - 2 Chronicles ch. 10-11

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[00:00:00]Welcome to Smyrna Christian Church, where the entire word of God is taught straight [music] from the Bible.

[00:00:05]>> Good evening. Welcome back to Smyrna Christian Church. Back in 2 Chronicles, picking up in chapter 10 this evening.

[00:00:11]We've come to the reign of Solomon's son, Rehoboam. And we got something new going on now. We've had We saw We began with Chronicles. We had the end of the reign of Saul, who was the first man king of Israel. Then we saw David's reign. Then we saw Solomon's reign. But as we read about yesterday in 1 Kings chapter 11, the 10 northern tribes of Israel are about to become split from the house of Judah. And why did that happen? Because Solomon worshipped false gods.

[00:00:46]And the 10 northern tribes are separate from the house of Judah even today. And it's going to stay that way until Jesus Christ returns, like you learn about in Ezekiel chapter 37. But Jeroboam, a prophet came to Jeroboam in 1 Kings chapter 11 and told him, "You're going to become king of the 10 northern tribes." And Jeroboam, he lifted his hand up against Solomon, and Solomon wanted to kill him. So, Jeroboam, he fled to Egypt. But today we're going to see Jeroboam come back. We're going to see those 12 We're going to see those 10 northern tribes get officially split.

[00:01:26]And we've talked about several times about Deuteronomy chapter 17 about how it tells what the king is supposed to do and what he's not supposed to do. Not supposed to multiply wives to himself.

[00:01:40]Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Completely went against that. They were not supposed to multiply horses or go get horses from Egypt.

[00:01:50]Solomon did those things, too.

[00:01:53]So, some things that might seem like they're not a big deal, it is a big deal if God said not to do it and it leads to a downward spiral and that goes for any situation. If you just choose to go against God but you think it's not a big deal. No, it is a big deal. So we all have to repent of our sins and turn to God's ways. And one other thing it said to do among others that it said to do in Deuteronomy 17 that the king is supposed to read the Bible daily.

[00:02:25]Imagine how much better off countries would be if the ruler, the king, president, whatever studied the word of God every day. See, that's what's supposed to happen. And so let's go ahead and get into it. Let's see what's going to happen with the split of the tribes. Let's ask a word of wisdom from our father.

[00:02:43]Yahweh, heavenly father, we thank you so much for your word in this place you've given us we can teach your word. We ask you to guide us through this study with your Holy Spirit. We ask you to give us eyes to see and ears to hear, to understand and teach your word. We ask that your words be spoken and your will be done during this study. Thank you and we love you so much, father. In Yeshua Jesus Christ precious name. Amen.

[00:03:07]So all right, we'll pick it up in second king or second Chronicles chapter 10.

[00:03:13]Pick it up in verse 1 and it reads.

[00:03:17]And Rehoboam went to Shechem. Shechem, that's a very fruitful place, nearly like a paradise in the bounds of the land of the tribal allotment of Ephraim.

[00:03:30]For to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king. So at this moment it's still set up for or it seems like it's set up that all 12 tribes are going to serve Rehoboam. But no, it was God that made the decision that the 10 northern tribes are going to be split. So of course, that's what's going to happen.

[00:03:52]Verse two, And it came to pass when Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. So, he's coming back and of course he wants to be the king. It was told to him that he's going to be the king over the 10 northern tribes, so he realized that it's time to come get things done for that to happen.

[00:04:21]Verse three, And they sent and called him. So, Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam saying, verse four, "Thy father made our yoke grievous." First Kings chapter 5 verse 13 and 14, Solomon put out a levy, that's forced labor, for 30,000 men that they would spend one month at Lebanon doing the work and then two months at home. And so, his work was grievous. Now, one thing Solomon, that was completely God told him to do it, was to build the house of the Lord, of course. That was like the number one thing that Solomon did. So, yes, he had to have many laborers to do that, but Solomon made a lot of other buildings also. The house of the Lord took seven years to build, but Solomon took 13 years to build his own house, his own palace.

[00:05:17]I'd be a little nervous about making my house take double the time of the house of the Lord. I think I'd say, "Hey, let's make sure we make this small enough to where it definitely does not take even as long as it took to build the house of the Lord." But, and he built the the house of the forest of Lebanon and he he built many things. So, the yoke was grievous. And uh so, continuing, So, now this is Jeroboam and all Israel still speaking to Rehoboam. "Now therefore, ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee. And that is certainly a reasonable request. They just They just said, "Somewhat. Ease it up a little bit." Now, you remember what it says about the King of kings, Jesus Christ, in Matthew chapter 11, verses 28 through 30. He says, "All you that are labor and are heavy burden, it says, "Come to Jesus Christ. Take my yoke upon Take your yoke upon Jesus Christ, and he says, "You will find rest for your soul.

[00:06:24]For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." The words of Jesus Christ.

[00:06:30]Verse five. What a blessing it is to have rest for your soul.

[00:06:35]Verse five.

[00:06:37]And he, Rehoboam, said unto them, "Come again unto me after 3 days, and the people departed." So, come back in 3 days, let me think about this, and I'll have an answer.

[00:06:48]Verse six.

[00:06:50]And King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that stood before Solomon, his father, while he yet lived, saying, "What counsel give you me to return answer to this people?"

[00:07:02]Good idea. Ask these elders, the counselors, who certainly probably learned a great deal from the wisdom of Solomon. Asking their counsel.

[00:07:11]Verse seven. And they spake unto him, saying, "If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants forever." Sounds like pretty good advice.

[00:07:26]Verse Verse eight.

[00:07:28]But, he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him that stood before him. Now, he's asking the older men, he's asking the younger men. Did you notice who he did not ask? He did not ask almighty God, which is the number one person to ask.

[00:07:47]That's the only counsel that truly matters.

[00:07:50]And anytime that you're in a situation you don't know how to handle it, ask the Lord. Go to him in prayer. And then on things you're really having a tough time knowing what the Lord wants to do, just ask him that if he wants you to do it this way, then ask him to give you perfect peace with it. But if he doesn't want you to do that, then ask him, "Give me no peace with it, if that's not what you want, Father." And he will do it.

[00:08:17]He's never let me down in my entire life, and he'll never let you down, either. And just make sure that you are truly sincere, that you're asking his will, and that you've repented of all your sins, and he will always give you the guidance from the Holy Spirit that you do know what to do.

[00:08:38]Verse 9.

[00:08:40]And he said unto them, So, this is the Rehoboam's now asking the young men, "What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people which have spoken to me saying, 'Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put up on us.'"

[00:08:56]Verse 10. And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him saying, "Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee saying, 'Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us.' Thus shalt thou say unto them, This is what you need to say to them, Rehoboam, the advice of the young men.

[00:09:15]"My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. 11. For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to you yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." Now, does that sound like a good way to handle things when you got people on the fence that they are don't know if they want to follow you or not? No, of course that doesn't sound like a good idea. Remember what it says in Proverbs chapter 15 verse 1, a soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.

[00:09:51]And those are certainly not soft It's not a soft answer. It's going to come from Rehoboam. But never ever forget as we're just about to read in a second that God is in control of this. God already made the decision because of the idolatry, the apostasy that the 10 tribes are going to be split. So, God is in control and it says in Proverbs chapter 21 verse 1, the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord. He turneth it whithersoever he will.

[00:10:22]Verse 12.

[00:10:24]So, Jeroboam So, remember Jeroboam is the one that's going to be king over the 10 northern tribes. The two names sound kind of close to the same, but remember Jeroboam, king of the 10 northern tribes, Rehoboam, the king of the house of Judah.

[00:10:38]So, verse 12. So, Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king bade saying, "Come in again to me on the third day."

[00:10:48]13. And the king answered them roughly.

[00:10:51]And King Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men.

[00:10:55]14.

[00:10:56]And answered them after the advice of the young men saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto.

[00:11:04]My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions."

[00:11:10]15. So, the king hearkened not unto the people.

[00:11:14]For the cause for the cause was of God.

[00:11:17]Never forget that. God is the one that made this happen.

[00:11:22]Nothing can ever go against the counsel of the Lord. If God decides it's going to go a certain way, it's going to go that way.

[00:11:31]That the Lord might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

[00:11:39]And that's what we read yesterday in 1 Kings chapter 11. The prophet came to Jeroboam where he rent the garment in 12 pieces. He said, "10 of these are going to you, Jeroboam, 10 tribes. House of Judah is going to remain with Rehoboam."

[00:11:57]Verse 16.

[00:11:59]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 in David, they're talking about the house of Judah. So, the 10 northern tribes are saying, "We don't want to have anything to do with the house of Judah.

[00:12:16]And we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse." And David is the son of Jesse, so same thing. They're saying, "We don't want anything to do with the house of Judah.

[00:12:24]Every man dear tents, O Israel. And now David, or the house of Judah, see to thine own house." So, all Israel went to their tents.

[00:12:35]The tribe split, exactly as God said.

[00:12:39]Verse 17.

[00:12:41]But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. And we've talked about this before that yes, the 10 northern tribes are split from the house of Judah, but there are still people of the 10 northern tribes that do go over to be among the house of Judah.

[00:13:01]So, it's not like there's not even one person of the other tribes that are with Judah. You have people of many different tribes that are over there with Judah even. But the majority of the 10 tribes, they are split.

[00:13:15]Verse 18.

[00:13:17]Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute. That's the taxes. And the children of Israel stoned him with stones that he died. But King Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot and flee to Jerusalem. Rehoboam got out of there. Now, again, does that seem like a wise idea after you just told these people, "Oh, I'm going to chastise you with scorpions and my yoke's going to be super grievous on you." You just did that, then you're going to go try to take their money? Does that sound like a good choice? No, of course not. And here we had You heard the phrase, "Don't shoot the messenger." Well, that's exactly what happened to the Hadoram here. Not literally being shot, but they stoned him to death.

[00:14:00]19. And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. And even today that we're in now, 2026, the house of Judah is still split from the house of Israel. But, it will be brought back together when Christ returns, Ezekiel 37. You also read about it in Isaiah chapter 11 verse 13. And this is what that verse says.

[00:14:27]This is referring to when Jesus Christ returns. The envy also of Ephraim, and many times you see Ephraim is only one tribe, but many times in God's word when it does say Ephraim, it's talking about all 10 of the northern tribes. And that's the case here. So, the envy also of Ephraim or the 10 tribes shall depart. And the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off. Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.

[00:14:57]What an amazing time that's going to be.

[00:15:00]Now, let's go chapter 11 verse 1.

[00:15:03]And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin 180,000.

[00:15:11]So, a score is 20. So, we have 180,000 chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam. Now, that is not what God wants, civil war, brother fighting against brother. God does not like that at all. And here we have one of the verses that shows you it it it's kind of maybe hard to understand at first how you got the 10 northern tribes are separate from Judah, but then it's like, "Well, wait a second, that's only 11 tribes. What about the other tribe?" We see here that Benjamin is with Judah.

[00:15:49]So, Benjamin just becomes basically a part of the house of Judah. So, you got the two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, separate from the other 10 tribes.

[00:15:58]Verse two.

[00:16:00]But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, the man of God. This is a prophet, one of the few that in the Bible are specifically called man of God.

[00:16:10]So, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, the man of God, saying, verse three, "Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, verse four, 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. God is the one that caused the tribes to be split, so don't go trying to war against your brethren so you have all 12 tribes, Rehoboam. It's not going to happen."

[00:16:45]And they obeyed the words of the Lord.

[00:16:48]Wise decision. And returned from going against Jeroboam. Always obey the words of the Lord.

[00:16:56]Verse five.

[00:16:57]And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem and built cities for defense in Judah. So, he's fortifying these cities. And because of the locations of these cities we're about to read in the next several verses, it seems like it's very possible that Rehoboam was specifically trying to protect against Egypt and the Philistines.

[00:17:20]Verse six. Remember you got Egypt is below Israel, south of Israel, and you got where the Philistines are at to the west on the border of the Mediterranean Sea.

[00:17:32]So, verse six.

[00:17:34]He built even Bethlehem, or he fortified it. Of course, Bethlehem already existed. It's not like he built Bethlehem from nothing, but it's saying he fortified these places. And of course, you know Bethlehem, that's where our savior Lord and savior Jesus Christ was even born. So, he built even Bethlehem and Etham and Tekoa. Tekoa reminds you of Amos chapter 1 verse 1.

[00:17:58]Verse seven. And Beth-zur, if you were to translate it, that means house of the rock. Beth is house, zur is rock, and Shoco, and Adullam. Remember David was escaped from Saul at one point when Saul was trying to kill him, and David was in the cave at Adullam.

[00:18:18]Verse eight. And Gath, many Philistines were in Gath such as That's where Goliath was of Gath.

[00:18:26]And Mareshah, and Ziph.

[00:18:29]Verse nine. And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah. Now, Lachish and Azekah, they are both mentioned in Jeremiah chapter 34 verse 7. This is what that verse says. And of course, what what Let's just read it. When the king of Babylon's army fought against Jerusalem and against all the cities of Judah that were left that were left against Lachish and against Azekah.

[00:18:56]For for these defense cities remained of the cities of Judah. And that's what we're we're going to end up coming when we get around the end of 2 Chronicles, the house of Judah is going to be taken captive by the king of Babylon. But that's still many years down the road from the point that we're at here where Rehoboam is the king of Judah.

[00:19:19]Verse 10.

[00:19:21]And Zorah and Aijalon and Hebron, which are in Judah and Benjamin, fenced cities.

[00:19:29]Verse 11.

[00:19:31]And he fortified the strongholds and put captains in them and store of victual victual is food and of oil and wine.

[00:19:41]Verse 12. And in every several city he put shields and spears and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side. So, things are going pretty good. That's These are wise choices. And always remember, we do everything that we can do and then God will take care of the rest. But, you don't put your trust in armies and things like that. You put your trust in God. But, that doesn't mean, "Oh, just don't have an army."

[00:20:09]We do everything we can do and then God will take care of the rest. The oil and the wine that may remind you of the seals in Revelation chapter 6.

[00:20:22]Is it the third seal, I believe it is.

[00:20:25]Verse 13.

[00:20:27]So, now we're going to switch gears a little bit here. These next couple verses, we're going to be seeing what Jeroboam is going to do. So, he's king over the 10 northern tribes. Let's see how he's going to handle it. 13.

[00:20:40]And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him, but this him is talking about Rehoboam. They resorted to Rehoboam out of all their coasts. Well, why did they do that?

[00:20:53]Verse 14.

[00:20:54]>> [snorts] >> For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession and came to Judah and Jerusalem. For Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the Lord. He just made you see in the book of Kings, he just made men of the lowest degree made them priests. Put put away the actual priests of the Lord and was just making his own religion.

[00:21:21]He made his Jeroboam made his own feast day on the eighth month which he just made it up, making up his own religion.

[00:21:30]You know, many churches today make up their own religious ways, traditions of men. But traditions of men make the word of God of none effect is what Christ taught in Mark chapter 7. So, you be real careful. Never do something when it comes to serving the Lord if God didn't say to do it in his word. If someone tries to tell you something, preach you something and you can't prove it in the Bible, don't believe it. So, the Levites here, they're leaving they're leaving the 10 northern tribes.

[00:22:01]They're going over to Judah.

[00:22:04]Verse 15.

[00:22:05]And he ordained him priests for the high places which there's not even supposed to be high places in the first place.

[00:22:11]What did God say? He said, you go to Jerusalem to the house of the Lord that they just spent 7 years building not all that long ago. That that is where they were supposed to go and make sacrifice.

[00:22:23]Not all these random places that they just made up. But Jeroboam put in high places. So, he ordained him priests for the high places and for the devils and for the calves which he made. Just unbelievable.

[00:22:38]Worshipping devils, worshipping golden calves. You see, you also read in Kings, Jeroboam was worried that when the people went to sacrifice to and to worship the Lord at Jerusalem, he thought that they would just want to kill Jeroboam and that they would just want to go be with Rehoboam. And so, he said, "Oh, it's too much for you guys to have to go all on to Jerusalem." He put a golden calf in Bethel and a golden calf in Dan. He said, "Here, these are thy gods. Worship this. Worship them."

[00:23:10]Absolutely evil, idolatrous. All Jeroboam apparently cared about was himself. He certainly wasn't thinking about how God would feel or he didn't care how God would feel when he was doing these things.

[00:23:22]>> [snorts] >> So, what a mistake.

[00:23:24]So, again, no wonder the Levites were leaving. They didn't want to have anything to do with any of this wickedness.

[00:23:31]16 And after them out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice unto the Lord God of their fathers. Thank the Lord there were many that they didn't just follow the wicked ways of Jeroboam. People of all different tribes, they did go to Jerusalem to do things God's way. Always make sure you're worshipping the Lord how God said to do it in his word. He told us exactly how to be pleasing to him. Don't forsake the word of God.

[00:24:07]Verse 17 So, they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, strong 3 years. For 3 years they walked in the way of David and Solomon when Solomon was doing things God's way as he was doing at first. So, for 3 years the house of Judah is doing well.

[00:24:30]Worshipping the Lord, following God's ways.

[00:24:34]Verse 18 And Rehoboam took him Mahalath, the daughter of Jeremoth, the son of David, to wife and Abihail, the daughter of Eliab, the son of Jesse. You see in 1 Samuel 17, which is that chapter of David and Goliath, that Eliab is the oldest brother of David. So, um and when you see the daughter and there's no word in the Hebrew for granddaughter or grandson. So, sometimes in the Bible when it says just daughter it could be a grand a granddaughter even a great granddaughter at times.

[00:25:13]Verse 19.

[00:25:15]Which bare him children, Jeush and Shemariah and Zaham. Verse 20.

[00:25:23]And after her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom. Absalom is David's son. He's unfortunately the one who rebelled against David as you see and you have about four or five chapters about that starting at the end of 2 Samuel chapter 14 going all the way about up to the chapter 18 of 2 Samuel and that's one of the most specific prophecies of the false Christ is that rebellion of Absalom.

[00:25:52]So, after her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom which bare him Abijah and Attai and Ziza and Shelomith.

[00:26:01]Shelomith means peaceable. You can see it how at the end shalom shalom means peace. Close to That's where Solomon's name even comes from is from that Hebrew word. Now, what did you notice here that is different from what Solomon did?

[00:26:18]Rehoboam is here is taking He's not taking strange wives like Solomon did.

[00:26:25]So, he's trying to do things right here.

[00:26:29]21.

[00:26:30]And Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines. For he took 18 wives and three score concubines so that's 60 concubines and he begat 20 and eight sons and three score that's 60 daughters. So, now unfortunately he's starting to go the wrong way that Solomon did. Deuteronomy chapter 17, it says you will not multiply wives to yourself. But he's multiplying wives to himself here.

[00:27:02]>> [snorts] >> Not God's way, but even this doesn't even begin to compare to Solomon, who had 700 wives and 300 concubines. And even worse, Solomon took strange wives and they were leading him to and he they did lead him to worship false gods.

[00:27:20]22, but still no excuse for completely going against what God said to do by multiplying his wives here.

[00:27:29]22, and Rehoboam made Abijah, the son of Maacah, the chief, to be ruler among his brethren, for he thought to make him king. Now, so this seems like he's putting Abijah that he's um What What's the word? Showing um preference. That's not the word I'm thinking of, but you know what I mean?

[00:27:49]That he's showing partiality. I'm really trying to think of a different word.

[00:27:53]Favoritism. It all means the same. But so he's showing this favoritism, it seems, to Abijah here. But do you remember what it says in Deuteronomy chapter 21 verses 15 through 17? It says [snorts] that if if you have um two different wives and that you love the one wife more than the other, but the firstborn is of the wife that you love less, you still are to make that the firstborn. You can't say, "Oh, well, I love this wife more, so I'm actually going to make this person the firstborn and give them the inheritance." No, you can't do that.

[00:28:30]And um so let's go ahead and finish the chapter, verse 23.

[00:28:35]And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city.

[00:28:44]And he gave them victual in abundance.

[00:28:47]and he desired many wives. That was a certainly a downfall of Rehoboam. He desired those many wives, and like father, like son. So, how important is it to set the example for your children?

[00:29:02]Set that a Christian example every day.

[00:29:04]Now, how he dispersed his children like that? Probably he did that so they would be away from each other, and they wouldn't get together and try to conspire against Abijah and say, "Hey, I don't really like that he just made him the heir to the throne." And who knows what type of conspiracy would have happened. Remember Solomon's brother Adonijah, he conspired against Solomon and tried to get the throne. And so, and we've already talked about Absalom, he tried to take the throne from David. So, it wouldn't be a new thing for someone to try to rise up and take the throne.

[00:29:41]So, Rehoboam was doing some wise things in the first 3 years. Not everything was perfect, but none of us are perfect. We all make mistakes, but you never just want to blatantly go against the commandments of God like like Rehoboam did with multiplying the wives. But Jeroboam of the 10 northern tribes was just doing pure evil.

[00:30:05]Setting up to worship devils and worship these golden calves and making his own feast days and appointing false priests.

[00:30:12]Just so evil what Jeroboam was doing.

[00:30:16]And we begin to see that things are really going to start going downhill really for the house of Judah and for the house of Israel. There are many kings that we're going to see, and very few of them ended up being righteous kings. We still have more to learn about Rehoboam and Jeroboam, but just always make sure stick to God's word, do things God's way, and you will be blessed. Let's go to our Father's throne. Yahweh heavenly Father, we thank you so much for your word in this place you've given us we can teach your word.

[00:30:52]We just ask you to continue to give us understanding not just for ourselves but so we can share them with others. Thank you and we love you so much Father in Yeshua Jesus Christ the precious name.

[00:31:02]Amen.

[00:31:13]>> [music] >> This was recorded in the year 2026 [music] at Smyrna Christian Church in Kokomo, Indiana by Pastor [music] Jesse Sisk. God bless.

[00:31:34]>> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music]