One Year Bible, June 14

1 KINGS 12:20-13:34                                                                                                    

JEROBOAM: "THE MAN WHO MADE ISRAEL TO SIN" (14:16): This industrious young man is a type of the MAN WHO WALKS IN WICKEDNESS. He had fled to Egypt to escape Solomon, but returned for Rehoboam's coronation. When the kingdom divided, he ruled the North for 22 years. To keep people from returning south, to Jerusalem to worship, he made TWO GOLDEN CALVES and substitute altars and put them in BETHEL and DAN. He took men (the off scouring) from the lowest ranks of society and made them the substitute heathen priests. For these rebellious deeds, Jeroboam was "cut off" and "destroyed from off the face of the earth."

"THE MAN OF GOD":   Unnamed prophet from Judah (southern kingdom). He prophesied against the HEATHEN SUBSTITUTE ALTAR. He named the yet unborn "King Josiah" who would offer the heathen priests on the altar and tear the altar apart.  IMPORTANT: God had told him, further, not to eat or drink in that land.

CONFRONTATION:  When Jeroboam pointed his arm at the "man of God" to capture him, his hand disappeared as a sign that what was prophesied had come from God!  Of course, he demanded that it be healed right away. 

INVITATION OF DEATH:  "Come to my house and eat, and I will pay you!" Yeah, sure, you will! His answer? "I wouldn't eat or drink with you if you gave me half your house!"

"THE OLD PROPHET" OF BETHEL":  It should read "the old BACKSLIDDEN prophet.." He told "the man of God", "I am a prophet like you! And the Lord told me to tell you to eat at my house!"  Liar! Liar!  This speech cost the "man of God" his life!  He was killed by a lion for eating there. The old prophet buried him in his own tomb, and asked to buried alongside him when he died.

RESPONSE:   First God promised Jeroboam the 10 northern tribes to rule.  Then bides His time as Jeroboam leads them into idolatry.  Then, when Jeroboam didn't repent, God "cut Him off".  I think that is Bible-language for "didn't have anything more to do with him" - other than to play his part in God's sovereign plan. You see, it does matter Who and What you worship and serve. Don't confuse BELIEF with TRUTH. Just because you believe something doesn't make it true.  Whatever you believe, it becomes what you live by - it rules you, so to speak.  If you believe something that is NOT God, you have staked your life foolishly. Anything that is a SUBSTITUTE for God is an idol.  The SUBSTITUTE ALTAR took everyone to hell.

ACTS 9:26-43                                                                                                                     
PETER: In making a pass throughout the country, he stopped in Lydda and "in the Name of Jesus Christ" healed Aeneas, who had been a bedridden paralytic for 8 years. (8 is the Bible number for "new beginnings".)   Then in Joppa he "prayed" for Dorcas/Tabitha.  Both healings resulted in many believing in the Lord.

RESPONSE: I believe these two healings are reported here because of the verse just before, that "all the churches....were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost."  At first glance that looks contradictory.  However, the "comfort of the Holy Ghost" is the "paraklesis" or enablement of the Holy Spirit. So, while the "fear of the Lord" keeps us God-conscious and sinless, the Holy Spirit enables us to do so. The result is real integrity - which resulted in miracles and conversions.

PSALM 132:1-18                                                                                                                
THIRTEENTH STEP: PSALM 132: Becoming God's Resting Place.  There comes a time when we DESIRE God's Presence above everything - when our desire to please God becomes our motive for life. When we allow our life to become His House. We no longer have the inner turmoil of having a divided heart. The war is over. V. 15-18 List six things that happen in us once God comes to rest in us: He dwells in us in fullness and ministers Life through us.

PROVERBS 17:6                                                                                                                

And Solomon should know: his father was David.

RESPONSE: God's best desire is to dwell in "Zion" which city we are part of, according to Hebrews 12:22-23, if we are born again and part of the Body of Christ, the "Church of the Firstborn". We ARE the "house" God lives in. And He highly desires to live in us! I am the one "clothed in salvation" and the one "shouting aloud for joy". A "growing horn" speaks of growing influence and power.  This is how the Kingdom of God gets extended to all the earth - through our INFLUENCE.