WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.900 As we continue here in 1 Kings chapter 15, as we've been going through the kings here, 00:00:06.960 --> 00:00:11.980 looking at the transitions and things that take place as they go through. 00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:16.480 And if you've got your little chart from last week, we can look, because we're going to be 00:00:16.480 --> 00:00:23.640 moving to Abijah here, right under the, be on your left-hand side of the sheet, right under 00:00:23.640 --> 00:00:33.120 Rehoboam, as he takes the throne from his father here at the 18 years in from the dividing 00:00:33.120 --> 00:00:34.679 of the kingdom. 00:00:34.679 --> 00:00:43.700 And we see here that the tension between Israel and Judah, though, had not de-escalated in 00:00:43.700 --> 00:00:51.019 18 years, but it actually escalated up, you know, and the tensions had increased there 00:00:51.020 --> 00:01:00.640 in that, and they continued to even get more so as Rehoboam drew close to passing on the 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:01.040 throne. 00:01:01.040 --> 00:01:09.500 And we see here that the dynamic and the conflict was not just a geopolitical conflict, it was 00:01:09.500 --> 00:01:11.100 also a religious conflict. 00:01:12.240 --> 00:01:18.120 And the things that take place, because ultimately we know we can have, you can have geopolitical 00:01:18.120 --> 00:01:22.859 type conflicts that cause division, but you know, I want you to understand, what somebody 00:01:22.859 --> 00:01:28.740 believes impacts a lot more than we realize. 00:01:29.320 --> 00:01:33.620 And we're going to see that as we go through the children of Israel, the choices that they 00:01:33.620 --> 00:01:39.840 made early here and the direction they've taken impacts the relationships and how those 00:01:39.840 --> 00:01:43.040 things work together and how those things come about. 00:01:43.040 --> 00:01:50.200 And we're going to see here tonight is they have become this polarity of religion within 00:01:50.200 --> 00:01:50.640 them. 00:01:50.740 --> 00:01:54.920 And because Judah, if you remember, kind of partially held on to the things of God. 00:01:55.380 --> 00:02:01.000 And we're going to look at that tonight because we looked last week about what happened in Rehoboam's 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:01.300 reign. 00:02:01.420 --> 00:02:10.780 You had that blending of what God had along with the things that the children or that the 00:02:10.780 --> 00:02:17.819 Canaanites had that they brought in, the false gods, all that was trying to be blended together, 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:23.020 you know, and to have that syncretism that hindered Rehoboam. 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:28.460 And we ended last week there in 2 Chronicles chapter 12 where it talked about that he failed 00:02:28.460 --> 00:02:31.479 to prepare his heart to seek the Lord. 00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:37.159 You know, that's a statement to really all of us have to consider each day. 00:02:37.159 --> 00:02:43.060 Because it guides us where our heart is pointed is the direction you're going to be traveling. 00:02:43.460 --> 00:02:45.879 Your heart affects so much. 00:02:45.939 --> 00:02:49.120 It has to do with what you love, what you serve, you know. 00:02:49.379 --> 00:02:52.639 And we're going to find that was the summary of his life, you know. 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:56.979 You know, if God was to write about you, I hope not that's what God would write. 00:02:58.539 --> 00:03:02.539 That you failed to follow him because you didn't prepare your heart to seek him. 00:03:02.539 --> 00:03:07.120 You know, that's a bad epitaph on this tombstone, isn't it? 00:03:07.159 --> 00:03:09.620 You know, as we realize what's happening. 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:15.139 And so let's go ahead and hear in 1 Kings chapter 15 here in verse 1. 00:03:15.259 --> 00:03:16.219 Let's look here. 00:03:16.300 --> 00:03:16.479 It says, 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:23.460 Now in the 18th year of King Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, reigned Abijam over Judah. 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:25.060 Let's pray. 00:03:25.139 --> 00:03:28.979 Heavenly Father, as we take a few moments tonight, as we look into your word, Lord, 00:03:28.979 --> 00:03:36.299 as we study the reality of Abijan and just the things here in his life, in the short reign 00:03:36.299 --> 00:03:41.339 that he had and the things that influenced him, how he influenced others, Lord, the things 00:03:41.339 --> 00:03:44.979 that we can learn and redeem from this account. 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:50.139 Lord, you say you've told us that the Old Testament is written for our learning and for 00:03:50.139 --> 00:03:50.979 our understanding. 00:03:50.979 --> 00:03:57.379 And Lord, help us to apply the truths in our life, to realize the importance of preparing 00:03:57.379 --> 00:03:59.539 our heart to follow you. 00:03:59.639 --> 00:04:02.419 And Lord, we just ask all these things in your precious name. 00:04:03.139 --> 00:04:03.439 Amen. 00:04:04.500 --> 00:04:07.620 You know, we look here as we begin to see this transition. 00:04:07.819 --> 00:04:13.839 At 18 years since the division of the kingdom, we have Rehoboam has passed off the scene. 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:19.040 And we find his son, and his son is referred to by two different names, and we're going 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:20.180 to talk about that in a moment. 00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:29.980 Because you have one here in 1 Kings where he's called Abijam, and in Chronicles he's 00:04:29.980 --> 00:04:30.639 called Abijah. 00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:35.780 There's important distinction that you're going to see from this name and how each refers 00:04:35.780 --> 00:04:36.220 to him. 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:37.680 It's the same person. 00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:44.079 And we're going to see here some things, because let's look at the lineage of Abijah. 00:04:44.819 --> 00:04:49.879 You know, because now he assumes the throne of his father, being preferred above his brothers. 00:04:50.360 --> 00:04:56.060 Remember back in 1 Kings chapter 11, it told us that Rehoboam prepared him specifically 00:04:56.060 --> 00:04:58.560 to be king, even above his older brothers. 00:04:58.699 --> 00:05:04.840 I mean, he was kind of drawn out of the crowd, and he was prepared and set forth for what he 00:05:04.840 --> 00:05:05.699 was to be doing. 00:05:05.699 --> 00:05:10.479 And we find here that all that preparation, that his reign was relatively short. 00:05:10.560 --> 00:05:11.879 It was only three years long. 00:05:12.899 --> 00:05:15.699 You know, it was pretty quick, relatively speaking. 00:05:16.019 --> 00:05:19.779 And it talks about here in verse 2, notice here, it says, 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:25.360 Three years reigned he in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Makai, and the daughter of 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:25.939 Absalom. 00:05:25.939 --> 00:05:32.379 And he walked in all the sins of his father, which had done before him, and his heart was 00:05:32.379 --> 00:05:36.639 not perfect, but the Lord is God, as the heart of David his father. 00:05:37.660 --> 00:05:43.480 And so we're going to see here, as he assumes the throne, it's the son of Makai, the granddaughter 00:05:43.480 --> 00:05:44.300 of Absalom. 00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:49.220 And I want you to understand, through this thing, you'll find the moms are being mentioned, 00:05:49.579 --> 00:05:50.519 along with the dads. 00:05:50.519 --> 00:05:54.959 You know, one of the things I want you to understand is the mom and dad both influence 00:05:54.959 --> 00:05:55.479 the kids. 00:05:57.199 --> 00:06:02.079 The decision-making here, you'll find that the dads are the ones that are held the most 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:06.879 accountable in Scripture, because it says they did not the sins of their father, or they 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:08.159 did the sins of their father. 00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:14.700 But the moms have a great impact, and we see that even in the lives, as the moms are mentioned 00:06:14.700 --> 00:06:18.280 here, through this passages of Scripture. 00:06:19.140 --> 00:06:24.540 But she was the granddaughter of Absalom, which is an interesting thing, because who was Absalom? 00:06:26.440 --> 00:06:29.260 He was one of David's sons, and he was the one that did what? 00:06:30.740 --> 00:06:35.740 Rebelled against his father, and tried to set up his own, and there was a whole thing in 00:06:35.740 --> 00:06:41.340 that, that we could talk about, you know, because of what went on in the family dynamic. 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:47.220 That's where David didn't step up and do what he ought to do, and caused even more tension 00:06:47.220 --> 00:06:53.500 in his household, because he failed to do what the God commanded them that they were supposed 00:06:53.500 --> 00:06:53.939 to do. 00:06:54.879 --> 00:07:00.879 And to deal with it appropriately, it caused a lot of division in his household, and it 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:05.319 had a great impact, but that's not the lesson for tonight, so we'll move on, okay? 00:07:05.319 --> 00:07:11.060 You go back and read about that, and understand some of how that crosses in, in the decisions 00:07:11.060 --> 00:07:12.579 and things that were made there. 00:07:12.839 --> 00:07:21.539 But I want you to see here that Absalom's granddaughter was who Rehoboam married. 00:07:21.719 --> 00:07:29.879 In other words, we find here that as Abijah assumes the throne of Rehoboam, he's continuing 00:07:29.879 --> 00:07:31.659 with the lineage from both sides. 00:07:31.660 --> 00:07:36.260 His mom was of the seed of David, and Solomon was definitely seed of David. 00:07:36.400 --> 00:07:42.620 And so you see here that this kingly lineage that is following in, that he lays claim to, 00:07:42.680 --> 00:07:48.020 and we're going to see this play out in his thinking even here a little later in that. 00:07:48.100 --> 00:07:54.020 But as he assumes the throne, the Bible makes a very bold statement here about him again, 00:07:54.019 --> 00:08:01.139 that he says that he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him. 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:06.699 In other words, he learned the things he learned from his father. 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:15.159 Watching what his father did, watching how his father prioritized, watching those things 00:08:15.159 --> 00:08:16.799 played out in his thinking. 00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:24.939 And we see here as he was being prepared for this, he was following the example set by 00:08:24.939 --> 00:08:25.639 his parents. 00:08:25.920 --> 00:08:30.379 And I want you to understand, the interesting thing about Abijah is he didn't fully reject 00:08:30.379 --> 00:08:33.019 God, but he didn't fully walk in God's ways either. 00:08:34.759 --> 00:08:36.720 He was trying to run the middle of the road. 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:40.360 He was trying to appease everybody. 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:46.680 He was trying to work that, say, well, I can go to church on Sunday and do whatever I want 00:08:46.680 --> 00:08:47.139 on Monday. 00:08:47.460 --> 00:08:53.120 I can do things contrary to the things of God as long as I go do and perform the things 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:53.899 that I ought to do. 00:08:55.700 --> 00:09:00.120 And we're going to see here that he was, as we're going to look at his comments, he was 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:03.259 very performance-based in his mindset about it. 00:09:04.139 --> 00:09:06.600 If I perform this, therefore I'm okay. 00:09:07.720 --> 00:09:13.420 And we have to be careful because God doesn't care as much about what you perform that if 00:09:13.420 --> 00:09:16.460 your heart's right, because if your heart's right, what you do is going to be right. 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:20.500 But you can do what appears right with a wrong heart. 00:09:22.180 --> 00:09:24.320 But if your heart's right, you're going to do right. 00:09:24.620 --> 00:09:27.019 We learned that from Rehoboam, didn't we? 00:09:27.860 --> 00:09:31.660 He sinned because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord. 00:09:31.659 --> 00:09:35.360 That's a dynamic that was there. 00:09:35.459 --> 00:09:43.679 And we find as we walk through here that Abijah is going to take the promises of God and try 00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:46.659 to manipulate them for his advantage. 00:09:46.659 --> 00:09:51.819 You know, he was clearly in the lineage of David, the one that God promised to uphold. 00:09:52.779 --> 00:09:58.819 And he, like many throughout time, they hear the promises of God that benefit them and ignore 00:09:58.819 --> 00:10:03.500 or downplay the promises they don't like or the commands they don't like. 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:10.039 And that's how we play both sides of that coin sometimes is we overemphasize things that 00:10:10.039 --> 00:10:12.839 we like and we de-emphasize things we don't like. 00:10:14.719 --> 00:10:16.579 Where God says they're all the same. 00:10:16.579 --> 00:10:19.699 And to measure that, we're going to see that in Abijah's life here. 00:10:19.959 --> 00:10:26.939 And we're going to see as this is how it's going to impact his thinking and being in the 00:10:26.939 --> 00:10:31.179 lineage of David along with the kingdom that had been established under David and Solomon. 00:10:31.319 --> 00:10:36.439 He sought to re-establish that kingdom once again by force. 00:10:36.440 --> 00:10:42.060 And we're going to see his thinking play out because we're going to find here in just a 00:10:42.060 --> 00:10:48.440 little bit that he claimed the promises of the kingdom but didn't hold to the commands of God. 00:10:49.820 --> 00:10:52.680 He wanted the benefits without the responsibility. 00:10:53.320 --> 00:10:54.380 You know, same thing today. 00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:59.700 There's a lot of people want the benefits of God without the responsibility that comes 00:10:59.700 --> 00:11:00.940 of standing before God. 00:11:02.180 --> 00:11:05.760 They want all the blessing but they don't want anything of accountability. 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:12.180 And we're going to see here Abijah, you might say, is the poster child for some of this 00:11:12.180 --> 00:11:16.600 as we look through because he sets the stage for what's to come. 00:11:16.900 --> 00:11:23.200 And we find here that he claimed those promises of the Lord but it says his heart was not perfect 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:24.620 with the Lord. 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:29.720 Notice in verse 3 there it says his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God as the heart 00:11:29.720 --> 00:11:30.800 of David his father. 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:36.279 David would have actually been his great-grandfather and that's something you need to keep in mind 00:11:36.279 --> 00:11:40.819 and remember when you're reading through Scripture is that when you hear that relationship 00:11:40.819 --> 00:11:49.319 that can sometimes mean more than just an immediate but extended out like David was his father in the 00:11:49.319 --> 00:11:50.759 sense he was his great-grandfather. 00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:52.720 Okay? 00:11:53.439 --> 00:11:57.279 And so just when you're reading through the Bible you have to keep some of that in mind 00:11:57.279 --> 00:11:58.860 or you'll get confused. 00:11:58.980 --> 00:12:03.159 How is that son there and this one over here and that relationship? 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:08.720 You have to understand in Hebrew the writing of that and the terms used could be used. 00:12:08.779 --> 00:12:10.299 It just means in the lineage of. 00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:11.460 Okay? 00:12:11.460 --> 00:12:18.139 And so it has that family connection but it says something here his heart was not perfect 00:12:18.139 --> 00:12:19.200 with the Lord. 00:12:20.040 --> 00:12:25.460 That word perfect there generally means complete but this one actually in Hebrew ties in the 00:12:25.460 --> 00:12:28.320 thing of that peace with God. 00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:32.840 And that's one thing we see here because he's contrasted against David. 00:12:34.340 --> 00:12:39.440 And we're going to see here in just a minute we're going to talk about David and how God refers 00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:42.300 to David here because this is important for us to understand. 00:12:43.160 --> 00:12:46.800 Because it said his heart was not perfect before God as David's was. 00:12:48.140 --> 00:12:52.800 And the first thing comes to mind when you talk about David and his heart was right but 00:12:52.800 --> 00:12:57.940 perfect before God and all the things that he did your first thought is David did a lot 00:12:57.940 --> 00:12:58.800 of wrong things. 00:12:58.800 --> 00:13:03.280 How could God look at David and say David was a man after my own heart? 00:13:04.560 --> 00:13:06.780 That David was a godly individual. 00:13:06.920 --> 00:13:07.760 Look what David did. 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:10.220 David committed adultery, killed a person. 00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:13.759 But yet God said he was a man. 00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:15.500 That's hard for some people to comprehend. 00:13:16.019 --> 00:13:20.340 But I want you to understand when we look at this tonight it describes how that's possible. 00:13:20.659 --> 00:13:26.279 Because just like with you and I God takes a sinful person and can make us right with 00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:26.480 him. 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:32.299 And we see this going to be spoken about here a little bit but let's look here at just a 00:13:32.299 --> 00:13:33.080 moment here. 00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:34.320 I talked about the names. 00:13:34.980 --> 00:13:41.100 You know because in 1 Kings chapter 15 he's called Abijam which is references the Canaanite 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:41.920 God Yam. 00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:47.540 In other words it's interesting that we see this division even in his name because here 00:13:47.540 --> 00:13:52.379 it's listed as a Canaanite type name giving honor to a Canaanite God. 00:13:52.379 --> 00:14:01.200 But over in 1 Chronicles he's taught in chapter 13 he's Abijah which refers to he is of his father 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:01.879 Jehovah. 00:14:02.840 --> 00:14:03.120 You know. 00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:08.159 It gives that picture that dynamic of difference. 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:10.919 And even his actions. 00:14:11.799 --> 00:14:17.100 Because remember he did not fully reject God but he didn't fully accept God. 00:14:17.319 --> 00:14:19.500 And you have a lot of people in the same place. 00:14:19.799 --> 00:14:21.500 They'll give lip service to God. 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:24.240 They know all the right answers. 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:30.019 They know exactly what people want to hear and what people expect. 00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:34.460 But their heart is not perfect before God. 00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:36.799 And we see this brought out for us. 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:41.639 And we see as he's playing these things come to fruition. 00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:46.439 We find in verse 4 here in his lineage here this interesting thing. 00:14:46.539 --> 00:14:49.100 Verse 4 begins with a word nevertheless. 00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:50.799 Nevertheless. 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:52.639 You know. 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:56.319 In other words Abijah was not right before God. 00:14:56.439 --> 00:14:57.759 He gave God homage. 00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:01.699 He respected God in certain ways. 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:03.379 But his heart was not right with him. 00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:04.519 But it says this. 00:15:04.779 --> 00:15:09.620 Nevertheless for David's sake did the Lord his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem 00:15:09.620 --> 00:15:13.659 to set up his son after him to establish Jerusalem. 00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:15.039 You know. 00:15:16.019 --> 00:15:18.399 Nevertheless for David's sake. 00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:22.000 Now that's a power punch statement right there. 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:24.860 Nevertheless for David's sake. 00:15:25.179 --> 00:15:28.360 The lineage of Abijah was from David. 00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:34.279 And Abijah's going to hold on to some of what God has declared to his great grandfather David. 00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:38.879 But he doesn't understand how that plays out. 00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:40.539 We're going to look at that a little bit tonight. 00:15:41.199 --> 00:15:44.419 Because what a great truth we see here though that's declared. 00:15:44.620 --> 00:15:48.419 Nevertheless for David's sake did the Lord God give him a lamp in Jerusalem. 00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:51.000 You know what. 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:53.399 This speaks highly about God's character. 00:15:53.460 --> 00:15:57.299 This is a statement that tells you something about who God is. 00:15:57.419 --> 00:16:01.320 Because remember God told David this is what I'm going to do. 00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:07.620 He didn't tell David if you do this or if you do that or if you do this over here. 00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:14.419 When you read over in 1 Samuel chapter 7 you'll find that God just told David this is what I'm going to do. 00:16:14.700 --> 00:16:15.799 And you know what this tells us? 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:17.860 What God told David he was going to do. 00:16:17.860 --> 00:16:21.560 God said nevertheless no matter what somebody else does I'm going to keep my word. 00:16:22.860 --> 00:16:24.320 I'm going to keep my promise. 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:30.639 You know this is one of them when you look at God could justly look and say they didn't merit me keeping my promise. 00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:33.659 But you know what God did anyways. 00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:37.899 We see God's character here because God keeps his word. 00:16:37.899 --> 00:16:42.620 God keeping his word is not dependent upon us. 00:16:44.459 --> 00:16:55.720 You know David had been given a promise there in 1 Samuel chapter 7 that God would give him his throne and his throne would be established forever. 00:16:56.179 --> 00:17:02.360 That there would be a lineage that was there and he was going to keep a light for David there. 00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:06.480 And he would keep because David did right in the eyes of the Lord. 00:17:06.860 --> 00:17:09.279 Because notice here in verse 5. 00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:19.180 Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord and turned not aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:20.500 You know. 00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:25.980 That's another one of those that David was not a perfect individual. 00:17:27.180 --> 00:17:29.599 In the eyes as we see David sinned. 00:17:29.819 --> 00:17:32.440 I want you to understand that David is no different than you and I. 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:38.180 But we can see one of God's promises working right here. 00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:44.180 We see a promise of God at work because not that David sinned. 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:49.920 It's because David sinned and David did something to get right with God. 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:53.359 And it wasn't much of sacrifices. 00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:55.420 It wasn't going through different ordinances. 00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:57.400 It wasn't doing all those other things. 00:17:58.819 --> 00:18:06.660 You'll find that when David turned back to God and said God I'm a sinner and I need your forgiveness. 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:09.740 God responded. 00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:12.359 You know look over the New Testament for a moment. 00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:13.920 Go over to Acts chapter 13. 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:21.240 You know it's always interesting as you read about the Old Testament saints in the New Testament. 00:18:21.420 --> 00:18:25.820 You'll find that you sometimes look at it and you look at it and say are they talking about the same person? 00:18:26.080 --> 00:18:28.539 Because look here in Acts 13 verse 22 it says. 00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:35.039 And when he had removed him he raised up unto them David to be their king to whom also he gave testimony and said. 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:41.799 I have found David the son of Jesse a man after mine own heart which shall fulfill all my will. 00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:45.559 David was not without sin. 00:18:45.659 --> 00:18:53.519 We know he went after Bathsheba the wife of Uriah the Hittite which ended in the death. 00:18:53.659 --> 00:18:55.139 He had Uriah killed. 00:18:55.539 --> 00:19:01.079 Ultimately the child that was born from that passed away. 00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:07.039 But you know what it wasn't that David that God overlooked what David did. 00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:12.559 It was David's response to what he did that made a difference. 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:16.439 Because God is in the business of dealing with sin. 00:19:17.919 --> 00:19:24.819 You know we understand the importance because notice here how can God look at David and say he was a man after his own heart. 00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:32.460 Go to Psalm 51 for a moment because this is important to understand. 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:36.819 And you know and this is one of those things that oftentimes I think we miss. 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:39.980 But David published this as a song for people to sing. 00:19:40.379 --> 00:19:45.299 David was given testimony of his own life when he wrote this about his relationship. 00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:52.839 Notice in Psalm 51 you'll notice there's all in the Psalms you'll sometimes have a little heading that comes up in there. 00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:56.179 Right underneath the top of the Psalm there right when it's listed. 00:19:56.939 --> 00:20:03.879 And this one says to the chief musician a Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet came unto him after he had gone into Bathsheba. 00:20:04.099 --> 00:20:07.500 That gives us the pretense those are actually part of the scripture. 00:20:09.159 --> 00:20:11.919 Because it's identifying those things for us. 00:20:12.699 --> 00:20:15.079 And notice what David writes. 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:19.879 He says have mercy upon me oh God according to thy loving kindness. 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:26.619 According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:31.119 Wash me from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:35.179 Now I want you to catch something here because verse 3 is important. 00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:40.059 Because sometimes people say well I'll ask God to forgive me and I'm really sorry. 00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:45.339 But notice what David adds here because this is an important element of getting right with God. 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:49.619 He says for I acknowledge my transgression my sin is ever before me. 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:56.440 In other words David acknowledged that yes I violated God's law. 00:20:57.639 --> 00:20:58.980 Nobody else did. 00:20:59.079 --> 00:20:59.679 I did. 00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:02.419 I'm responsible. 00:21:02.879 --> 00:21:05.700 But I want you to understand that God also forgives. 00:21:05.700 --> 00:21:10.880 You can finish reading through Psalm 51 and you'll find out that David asks for something in prayer. 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:13.460 He wants to restore the joy of his salvation. 00:21:15.319 --> 00:21:16.600 You know what he's asking for? 00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:18.740 God I want to be at peace with you again. 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:21.960 I want my heart perfect before you again. 00:21:23.580 --> 00:21:28.279 I want to have that fellowship that we once had in the right way. 00:21:28.660 --> 00:21:31.080 I desire those things that are missing. 00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:38.039 Because look up just a little bit before that in the back in our passage where we started there in 1 Kings. 00:21:38.199 --> 00:21:41.039 Because notice the problem with Abijah was what? 00:21:42.119 --> 00:21:44.159 His heart was not perfect, complete. 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:45.659 It wasn't at peace with God. 00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:46.879 Why wasn't it at peace? 00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:52.019 Because there were things separating him from God that he wasn't willing to deal with. 00:21:52.220 --> 00:21:53.960 He didn't want to deal with those things. 00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:59.759 But you say, how can God talk about David having his heart right? 00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:01.000 Because simply this. 00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:03.519 God forgave him. 00:22:05.420 --> 00:22:10.980 Because David came and recognized and called upon the Lord to forgive him. 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:11.759 And you know what? 00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:14.600 Whenever you ask God sincerely and genuinely, 00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:17.700 understanding that you violated his law, 00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:18.920 God says, I will forgive. 00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:24.560 And God says he'll take that sin and move it as far as the east is from the west. 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:29.560 You know, a few weeks ago we talked about that concept of behind your back. 00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:31.700 You know, things behind your back you never see. 00:22:32.080 --> 00:22:33.240 Why could God say this? 00:22:33.300 --> 00:22:35.700 Because David asked for forgiveness and God said, 00:22:35.800 --> 00:22:38.900 I took that and placed it behind my back. 00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:41.560 I put it away. 00:22:41.840 --> 00:22:43.340 I've dealt with those things. 00:22:44.340 --> 00:22:48.840 You know, it's showing here that God's again honoring his promise. 00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:52.680 Because God is very clear that if we come to him, 00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:55.060 he will no wise reject you or turn you out. 00:22:55.360 --> 00:22:57.480 God's revealing and even reminding. 00:22:58.519 --> 00:23:01.340 I believe he reminded Abijah many times that, 00:23:01.560 --> 00:23:05.340 hey, if you get your heart right, the rest is going to fall into place. 00:23:05.620 --> 00:23:08.100 But we're going to find here that Abijah chose differently. 00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:11.120 Because we're going to look at the battle of Abijah. 00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:13.500 Look here at verse 6. 00:23:13.600 --> 00:23:13.900 And it says, 00:23:13.900 --> 00:23:18.500 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. 00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:23.320 And now the rest of the acts of Abijah and all that he did, 00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:26.259 are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah? 00:23:26.560 --> 00:23:29.860 And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 00:23:30.060 --> 00:23:31.440 Now I want you to look at the battle. 00:23:31.560 --> 00:23:34.420 So in order to do that, let's go over to 2 Chronicles chapter 13. 00:23:34.420 --> 00:23:42.259 Because remember that the kings, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings are tied together in a block. 00:23:42.340 --> 00:23:44.259 And then you have 1 and 2 Chronicles. 00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:51.840 And 1 and 2 Chronicles give you further insight into 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings. 00:23:52.100 --> 00:23:53.640 It gives you a different perspective. 00:23:53.640 --> 00:24:00.580 And so as we're going to look here in 2 Chronicles over here, chapter 13, 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:03.040 we see here, it picks up, it says, 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:08.560 And now in the 18th year the king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah. 00:24:09.080 --> 00:24:11.300 He reigned three years in Jerusalem, 00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:15.160 and his mother's name was Micaiah, the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. 00:24:15.360 --> 00:24:18.140 And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 00:24:18.140 --> 00:24:24.400 And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:26.740 even 400,000 chosen men. 00:24:27.380 --> 00:24:31.759 Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with 800,000 chosen men, 00:24:32.060 --> 00:24:33.960 being mighty men of valor. 00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:40.380 And so we see here that Abijah's growing up witnessing and experiencing the conflict 00:24:40.380 --> 00:24:43.480 between his father Rehoboam and Jeroboam. 00:24:44.120 --> 00:24:47.900 Because remember there was this constant tension between them the whole time. 00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:49.940 That he was growing up. 00:24:50.120 --> 00:24:53.720 And we understand that he's going to come here, 00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:58.420 and he's going to accuse Jeroboam of being a wrong usurper of the kingdom. 00:24:58.800 --> 00:25:00.800 Which as you read this, you find a little irony 00:25:00.800 --> 00:25:05.100 considering his great-grandfather usurped David in things. 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:09.340 You know, it's interesting how those things come back around. 00:25:09.340 --> 00:25:13.259 But I want you to see here that there was two battles happening in his life. 00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:18.559 One was between serving the Lord and doing what's right, 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:24.079 and the other was to serve the idols and the things and the selfishness and the self-righteousness 00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:26.599 that he promoted of himself. 00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:30.440 You know, we find this struggle recorded for us here. 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:33.200 Because notice he moves his army into Israel. 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:35.799 It tells us here he went to Mount Ephraim. 00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:40.759 Which is basically right in the heart of the northern tribes. 00:25:40.860 --> 00:25:42.240 It was their important place. 00:25:42.340 --> 00:25:43.580 And he stands up on the mountain. 00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:45.840 He puts his 400,000 men around him. 00:25:46.100 --> 00:25:48.380 And stands up and starts proclaiming. 00:25:48.620 --> 00:25:50.140 He makes this great oration. 00:25:51.120 --> 00:25:52.400 Notice what he says here. 00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:54.500 We pick up in verse 4. 00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:59.539 And Abijah stood upon the Mount Zerim, which is Mount Ephraim. 00:25:59.599 --> 00:25:59.960 And he said, 00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:03.200 Hear me, thou Jeroboam and all Israel. 00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:10.480 Ought ye not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, 00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:13.339 even to him and to his sons by covenant of salt? 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:19.000 Yet Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon, the son of David, 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:21.819 is risen up and hath rebelled against his Lord. 00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:26.899 And there are gathered unto him vain men and children of Belial 00:26:26.899 --> 00:26:30.480 and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam and their son Solomon. 00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:35.399 And the son of Solomon, which Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted 00:26:35.399 --> 00:26:39.159 and could not understand or not withstand them. 00:26:40.659 --> 00:26:44.759 And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord in the hand of the son of David. 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:46.659 And ye be a great multitude. 00:26:46.879 --> 00:26:51.179 And there are with you golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods. 00:26:52.379 --> 00:26:55.619 Let's stop here for a moment and start breaking some of this down a little bit. 00:26:56.419 --> 00:26:57.879 Because I want you to see the picture. 00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:59.879 Here's Abijah. 00:27:00.879 --> 00:27:03.899 Goes into Israel with 400,000 men. 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:06.539 Stands up on the mountain and says, 00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:09.039 I'm taking back what's rightfully mine 00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:12.200 because God gave the kingdom to my grandfather David. 00:27:12.439 --> 00:27:13.859 He's making a bold assertion. 00:27:13.859 --> 00:27:19.740 He's making a declaration that he's taking the kingdom because it's what God wanted. 00:27:21.079 --> 00:27:23.939 Now I want you to notice and remember something important here. 00:27:25.419 --> 00:27:27.919 What he said is partially true. 00:27:28.339 --> 00:27:31.419 You know, do we live in a day where people operate on partially true things? 00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:35.920 We need to be careful that we operate in full truth 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:40.580 and not try to do things or dictate things in partial truth. 00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:42.860 Because what he said is true. 00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:47.100 God gave the kingdom from Saul to David. 00:27:47.300 --> 00:27:50.740 But what he failed to leave out is what had happened in the meantime. 00:27:51.120 --> 00:27:52.920 Look back to 1 Kings chapter 11. 00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:54.220 Look down at verse 30. 00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:56.880 Do you remember when we talked about this? 00:27:56.880 --> 00:28:04.940 When Ahijah the prophet, there in 1 Kings chapter 11 verse 30. 00:28:07.440 --> 00:28:08.180 Excuse me, is that? 00:28:09.160 --> 00:28:10.000 Yeah, that's 1 Kings. 00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:10.820 Yep, right. 00:28:12.820 --> 00:28:16.740 Caught a new garment on him and rent it in 12 pieces and said unto Jeroboam, 00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:20.280 Take thee 10 pieces, for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, 00:28:20.780 --> 00:28:24.980 Behold, I will rent the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and give 10 tribes unto thee. 00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:26.120 What was he doing? 00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:28.480 Because he would have been very aware this took place. 00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:32.839 He was taking the part he liked and said, 00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:36.000 I'm going to operate in the part I like and ignore the part I don't like. 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:37.640 Because let me ask you a question. 00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:40.680 Had God given Jeroboam the 10 tribes? 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:48.900 The scripture is very clear that God gave Jeroboam the 10 tribes. 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:51.140 Why did he give 10 tribes over to Jeroboam? 00:28:51.380 --> 00:28:51.799 Do you remember? 00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:55.099 Because of the sins of Solomon. 00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:59.299 Because Solomon in his later years turned from the Lord. 00:28:59.619 --> 00:29:05.059 He was really here, Abijah here is declaring a divine right to take back the kingdom 00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:07.200 based on a promise given to David, 00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:13.779 but yet rejects the prophet Ahijah's declaration against Solomon because of his sin. 00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:15.480 Now let's apply this for a moment. 00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:16.599 Whenever you, 00:29:16.860 --> 00:29:21.799 when you don't consider the whole counsel of God, 00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:26.720 it will cause you to draw conclusions that are inaccurate. 00:29:27.079 --> 00:29:31.279 We need to make sure that we have a full picture of what God has said. 00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:33.420 Because here, just as he did, 00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:37.339 it's easy to draw false conclusions and false narratives 00:29:37.339 --> 00:29:40.480 if you don't consider the whole counsel of God's word. 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:43.500 You say, what do you mean? 00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:45.880 Well, let's use a nice easy one. 00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:49.740 Have you ever heard, well, God loves people, so nobody's going to go to hell? 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:51.120 Now let me ask you a question. 00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:52.860 Is it true that God loves everybody? 00:29:53.160 --> 00:29:55.279 But if you don't consider the whole counsel of God, 00:29:55.360 --> 00:29:57.700 you get misguided and have a wrong narrative, don't you? 00:29:57.900 --> 00:29:59.339 Because they forget to tell you, 00:29:59.900 --> 00:30:01.539 when they say God loves you, 00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:05.019 is the fact that Jesus Christ is that love manifest to you. 00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:09.200 That he came and died on the cross because of your sin. 00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:12.619 And what you've done with the one he sent to die on the cross 00:30:12.619 --> 00:30:16.500 changes everything about your relationship with God. 00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:19.720 Because whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:23.519 There's a change that takes place because of the whole counsel of God 00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:25.460 and not just part of it. 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:26.960 That's easy and obvious, 00:30:27.139 --> 00:30:30.160 but we need to be careful in every area that we're measuring things 00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:33.039 with the whole counsel of God and not just part of it. 00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:37.399 Not taking the stuff we like like Abijah did. 00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:41.299 God promised the kingdom to David, so let's go take it. 00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:43.039 Because he was pushing a false narrative. 00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:44.599 He has a lot of false narrative. 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:45.559 Look at verse 7. 00:30:45.839 --> 00:30:47.220 As I read this, it's interesting. 00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:49.399 The end of verse 7 is another one of those wonderful, 00:30:50.079 --> 00:30:54.819 you know, we talked a lot today about misinformation and falsehoods. 00:30:54.859 --> 00:30:58.039 Here's a, I want you to remember back when we talked about Rehoboam 00:30:58.039 --> 00:31:01.740 taking over for Solomon and the kingdom dividing. 00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:05.279 Notice what his son says about him. 00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:08.259 Look at verse 7. 00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:09.160 It says, 00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:12.000 And when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:14.940 and could not withstand them. 00:31:15.140 --> 00:31:16.480 Now, think back for a moment. 00:31:16.819 --> 00:31:19.140 How old was Rehoboam 00:31:19.140 --> 00:31:23.000 when he took the kingdom from his father? 00:31:23.220 --> 00:31:24.720 He was 41 years old. 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:30.160 So, does the young part in definition meet? 00:31:30.380 --> 00:31:33.000 Because young here, he's implying that he was naive. 00:31:35.140 --> 00:31:37.860 That in his youth, he didn't understand what was happening. 00:31:38.220 --> 00:31:41.360 I think at 41 years old, he had a full clue of what was happening. 00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:45.699 Especially growing up in his father Solomon's house. 00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:46.759 He knew what was going on. 00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:48.119 He was tenderhearted. 00:31:48.500 --> 00:31:50.240 Now, that one's got to make you chuckle a little bit. 00:31:50.459 --> 00:31:53.159 When we just talked about Rehoboam and all the things that he did. 00:31:54.399 --> 00:31:55.979 And he could not withstand them. 00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:57.219 In other words, what he's saying is, 00:31:57.619 --> 00:31:59.299 Jeroboam came and took them, 00:31:59.619 --> 00:32:01.319 and my father wasn't able, 00:32:01.679 --> 00:32:04.799 or wasn't up to speed to defend it. 00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:05.659 Now, remember, 00:32:06.180 --> 00:32:09.259 when Jeroboam took the ten tribes, 00:32:09.399 --> 00:32:10.799 what did Rehoboam try to do? 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:13.759 He tried to take it back. 00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:15.200 Why did he not take it back? 00:32:15.940 --> 00:32:18.559 Because he was young and tenderhearted and didn't understand? 00:32:22.599 --> 00:32:24.680 Yeah, God sent a prophet and said, 00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:25.339 no, you don't. 00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:28.460 Because remember, he called up all the men. 00:32:28.519 --> 00:32:29.539 He was getting ready to go. 00:32:31.079 --> 00:32:33.059 And God sent the prophet to him and said, 00:32:33.059 --> 00:32:33.659 no, you don't. 00:32:33.660 --> 00:32:36.320 That's a nice twist of narrative, isn't it? 00:32:36.519 --> 00:32:39.440 What we experience today is no different than what they did back then. 00:32:39.700 --> 00:32:41.360 You know, there's nothing new under the sun. 00:32:41.720 --> 00:32:42.500 And I want you to see here, 00:32:42.560 --> 00:32:44.900 God's describing what takes place 00:32:44.900 --> 00:32:47.420 in this. 00:32:47.860 --> 00:32:51.180 And then notice the next assessment here in verse 8. 00:32:52.259 --> 00:32:52.740 And it says, 00:32:52.820 --> 00:32:55.240 Now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord 00:32:55.240 --> 00:32:56.759 in the hand of the Son of David, 00:32:57.140 --> 00:32:58.660 and ye be a great multitude, 00:32:58.660 --> 00:33:00.540 and there are with you golden calves 00:33:00.540 --> 00:33:03.040 with Jeroboam made you for gods. 00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:05.559 Have ye not cast out the priests of the Lord, 00:33:05.659 --> 00:33:07.299 the sons of Aaron and the Levites, 00:33:07.379 --> 00:33:08.259 and made you priests 00:33:08.259 --> 00:33:11.779 after the manner of the nations of other lands? 00:33:12.519 --> 00:33:15.220 So that whatsoever cometh to consecrate himself 00:33:15.220 --> 00:33:16.940 with a young bullock and seven rams, 00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:18.460 the same may be a priest of them 00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:19.899 that are no gods. 00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:23.539 Now notice, he's standing on the mountain 00:33:23.539 --> 00:33:24.859 and he's making accusations 00:33:24.859 --> 00:33:26.259 against Israel. 00:33:26.259 --> 00:33:28.259 Now, 00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:31.119 is what he said false? 00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:33.359 No, here goes back to a pretty accurate narrative, 00:33:33.480 --> 00:33:33.759 doesn't he? 00:33:35.220 --> 00:33:37.980 It's exactly what was taking place with Jeroboam. 00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:38.740 Because remember, 00:33:38.839 --> 00:33:40.299 all the priests and others 00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:41.039 had moved back, 00:33:41.180 --> 00:33:42.839 had come back into Judah 00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:44.839 because of this. 00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:45.740 But now, 00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:48.379 look at verse 10. 00:33:48.380 --> 00:33:49.820 But as for us, 00:33:50.020 --> 00:33:51.220 the Lord is our God 00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:52.820 and we have not forsaken him. 00:33:53.180 --> 00:33:53.340 Now, 00:33:54.360 --> 00:33:56.560 what did it say about 00:33:56.560 --> 00:33:58.820 Abijah at the beginning 00:33:58.820 --> 00:34:00.900 in 1 Kings? 00:34:01.900 --> 00:34:03.460 That he followed after, what, 00:34:03.520 --> 00:34:04.640 the sins of his 00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:06.620 father. 00:34:07.540 --> 00:34:09.680 And they had all the evil in the land, 00:34:09.760 --> 00:34:11.240 they had all the false worship 00:34:11.240 --> 00:34:12.180 set up in the land. 00:34:12.360 --> 00:34:14.099 This is a little self-righteousness 00:34:14.099 --> 00:34:14.820 going on here. 00:34:14.820 --> 00:34:17.519 And notice why he says that. 00:34:17.600 --> 00:34:19.180 This is important to pick note. 00:34:19.820 --> 00:34:21.720 Because in the priests which minister 00:34:21.720 --> 00:34:23.900 unto the Lord 00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:25.100 are the sons of Aaron 00:34:25.100 --> 00:34:25.860 and the Levites 00:34:25.860 --> 00:34:27.019 wait upon their business 00:34:27.019 --> 00:34:28.760 and they burn unto the Lord 00:34:28.760 --> 00:34:29.400 every morning 00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:30.100 and every evening 00:34:30.100 --> 00:34:31.120 burnt sacrifices 00:34:31.120 --> 00:34:32.019 and sweet incense 00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:32.820 and the showbread 00:34:32.820 --> 00:34:33.860 is also set in order 00:34:33.860 --> 00:34:34.820 upon the pure table 00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:36.780 and the candlestick of gold 00:34:36.780 --> 00:34:37.700 and lamps thereof 00:34:37.700 --> 00:34:38.539 to burn everything, 00:34:39.200 --> 00:34:40.680 to burn every evening. 00:34:41.320 --> 00:34:42.760 For we keep the charge 00:34:42.760 --> 00:34:43.920 of the Lord our God, 00:34:43.920 --> 00:34:45.840 ye have forsaken him. 00:34:47.039 --> 00:34:47.880 And behold, 00:34:48.039 --> 00:34:48.800 God himself 00:34:48.800 --> 00:34:50.340 is with our captains 00:34:50.340 --> 00:34:52.280 and his priests 00:34:52.280 --> 00:34:53.360 with a sounding trumpet 00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:55.139 to cry alarm against you. 00:34:55.380 --> 00:34:56.340 Now let's slow down 00:34:56.340 --> 00:34:57.280 and back up for a moment. 00:34:59.019 --> 00:35:00.159 In Jerusalem, 00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:01.220 were they still 00:35:01.220 --> 00:35:02.460 worshiping God 00:35:02.460 --> 00:35:03.019 in the temple? 00:35:05.220 --> 00:35:05.780 Yes. 00:35:07.180 --> 00:35:08.260 All these things 00:35:08.260 --> 00:35:08.980 were happening, 00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:11.659 but simultaneously 00:35:11.659 --> 00:35:13.259 people were going out 00:35:13.259 --> 00:35:14.239 into the groves 00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:15.359 and worshiping 00:35:15.359 --> 00:35:16.099 all the others 00:35:16.099 --> 00:35:17.099 at the same time. 00:35:18.679 --> 00:35:19.199 Now do you see 00:35:19.199 --> 00:35:20.539 the self-righteous nature 00:35:20.539 --> 00:35:21.480 of what he's saying here? 00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:21.779 He says, 00:35:22.279 --> 00:35:23.659 we're still seeking God 00:35:23.659 --> 00:35:24.379 because we're going 00:35:24.379 --> 00:35:25.219 through the actions. 00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:27.179 We're doing all the things 00:35:27.179 --> 00:35:28.819 that God wanted us to do, 00:35:28.899 --> 00:35:29.960 but remember the assessment 00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:30.779 in 1 Kings? 00:35:32.159 --> 00:35:33.339 His heart was what? 00:35:33.399 --> 00:35:35.659 Not perfect 00:35:35.659 --> 00:35:36.980 before the Lord his God. 00:35:37.259 --> 00:35:38.279 He has a conflict 00:35:38.279 --> 00:35:39.440 that's going on 00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:40.820 because he's like, 00:35:40.880 --> 00:35:41.599 I'm going through 00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:42.579 all the ritual, 00:35:42.780 --> 00:35:43.360 I'm going through 00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:44.159 all the things 00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:45.380 that I'm supposed to do, 00:35:46.179 --> 00:35:48.280 all the things 00:35:48.280 --> 00:35:49.599 that make me look religious, 00:35:50.099 --> 00:35:50.900 all the things 00:35:50.900 --> 00:35:51.740 that give an appearance 00:35:51.740 --> 00:35:53.420 I'm doing what I ought to do, 00:35:53.740 --> 00:35:55.440 therefore I'm serving God 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:56.139 and you're not. 00:35:56.380 --> 00:35:57.119 In reality, 00:35:57.300 --> 00:35:58.159 what he was doing 00:35:58.159 --> 00:35:59.000 was no different 00:35:59.000 --> 00:36:00.019 than the children of Israel 00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:01.099 because his heart 00:36:01.099 --> 00:36:02.059 was far from God. 00:36:03.820 --> 00:36:05.280 It's the same condemnation 00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:06.200 that Jesus gave 00:36:06.200 --> 00:36:06.920 to the Pharisees, 00:36:07.000 --> 00:36:07.300 didn't he? 00:36:07.519 --> 00:36:07.760 He said, 00:36:07.760 --> 00:36:09.600 you honor me with your lips, 00:36:09.700 --> 00:36:10.260 but your heart 00:36:10.260 --> 00:36:11.040 is far from me. 00:36:11.280 --> 00:36:13.100 We see this self-righteousness 00:36:13.100 --> 00:36:14.540 and this self-proclamation. 00:36:16.860 --> 00:36:18.140 The Lord is our God. 00:36:18.220 --> 00:36:19.460 We haven't forsaken anything. 00:36:20.260 --> 00:36:21.080 The priests still do 00:36:21.080 --> 00:36:21.880 the sacrifice 00:36:21.880 --> 00:36:23.580 and we do all the things 00:36:23.580 --> 00:36:24.200 that we're supposed to 00:36:24.200 --> 00:36:25.820 and therefore God is with us. 00:36:26.140 --> 00:36:27.700 We see all this playing out 00:36:27.700 --> 00:36:30.460 and verse 12, 00:36:30.580 --> 00:36:30.760 it says, 00:36:30.860 --> 00:36:31.160 and behold, 00:36:31.320 --> 00:36:32.580 God himself is with us 00:36:32.580 --> 00:36:33.700 for our captain 00:36:33.700 --> 00:36:34.500 and his priests 00:36:34.500 --> 00:36:35.340 and sounding trumpets 00:36:35.340 --> 00:36:37.079 to cry alarm against you, 00:36:37.160 --> 00:36:37.980 O children of Israel. 00:36:38.480 --> 00:36:39.460 Fight ye not against 00:36:39.460 --> 00:36:40.360 the Lord God 00:36:40.360 --> 00:36:41.240 of your fathers 00:36:41.240 --> 00:36:43.700 for ye shall not prosper. 00:36:45.440 --> 00:36:46.220 In other words, 00:36:46.280 --> 00:36:47.620 he's building the case 00:36:47.620 --> 00:36:49.340 of we're so self-righteous, 00:36:49.440 --> 00:36:50.880 God's going to hand you over to us. 00:36:52.640 --> 00:36:53.079 Now, 00:36:53.360 --> 00:36:54.559 while he's up on the mountain 00:36:54.559 --> 00:36:55.019 speaking, 00:36:55.120 --> 00:36:56.579 we're going to condense this down quick 00:36:56.579 --> 00:36:58.180 so we can get to the conclusion. 00:36:58.860 --> 00:37:00.120 While he's up on the mountain 00:37:00.120 --> 00:37:02.220 surrounded by his 400,000 men, 00:37:02.219 --> 00:37:03.739 Jeroboam goes, 00:37:04.319 --> 00:37:04.559 huh, 00:37:04.859 --> 00:37:05.980 they're all in one place 00:37:05.980 --> 00:37:06.559 up on the mountain. 00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:07.199 Let's get around 00:37:07.199 --> 00:37:07.839 and circle them. 00:37:09.299 --> 00:37:10.379 So when he gets done 00:37:10.379 --> 00:37:11.839 with his great oration here, 00:37:11.879 --> 00:37:12.399 he discovers 00:37:12.399 --> 00:37:14.079 that he has 800,000 men 00:37:14.079 --> 00:37:15.759 surrounding his 400,000 men. 00:37:16.119 --> 00:37:16.519 Ultimately, 00:37:16.719 --> 00:37:17.619 they were victorious. 00:37:17.919 --> 00:37:18.199 Why? 00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:21.399 First Kings tells us 00:37:21.399 --> 00:37:22.459 why he was victorious 00:37:22.459 --> 00:37:23.480 and not destroyed 00:37:23.480 --> 00:37:24.619 for the sake of David. 00:37:24.899 --> 00:37:25.819 Because God said, 00:37:25.939 --> 00:37:26.939 I can't allow this 00:37:26.939 --> 00:37:27.959 to take place 00:37:27.959 --> 00:37:30.539 and be able to keep 00:37:30.539 --> 00:37:31.539 my promise over here. 00:37:31.539 --> 00:37:32.659 I want you to understand 00:37:32.659 --> 00:37:34.340 just because you're successful 00:37:34.340 --> 00:37:36.039 and say the Lord did it 00:37:36.039 --> 00:37:37.219 doesn't mean God did it 00:37:37.219 --> 00:37:38.840 because of you. 00:37:40.500 --> 00:37:41.920 Look at verse 14 00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:43.900 back there in 2 Chronicles. 00:37:44.719 --> 00:37:45.719 And Judah looked back 00:37:45.719 --> 00:37:46.059 and behold, 00:37:46.139 --> 00:37:47.239 the battle was before 00:37:47.239 --> 00:37:47.920 and behind 00:37:47.920 --> 00:37:48.739 and notice this. 00:37:48.800 --> 00:37:49.519 I think this is the thing 00:37:49.519 --> 00:37:50.340 that played into it. 00:37:50.579 --> 00:37:52.039 And they cried unto the Lord. 00:37:52.300 --> 00:37:52.480 You know, 00:37:52.500 --> 00:37:53.059 one thing about it, 00:37:53.079 --> 00:37:54.460 when you call upon God, 00:37:54.579 --> 00:37:55.219 God hears you. 00:37:55.400 --> 00:37:57.139 And we see God delivers them. 00:37:58.019 --> 00:37:58.619 Matter of fact, 00:37:58.679 --> 00:37:59.800 the Bible tells us 00:37:59.800 --> 00:38:01.320 as we go down through here, 00:38:01.320 --> 00:38:02.039 we'll notice 00:38:02.039 --> 00:38:06.180 all that went on here. 00:38:06.380 --> 00:38:07.080 And it said that 00:38:07.080 --> 00:38:08.100 verse 16, 00:38:08.200 --> 00:38:08.680 the children of Israel 00:38:08.680 --> 00:38:09.660 fled before Judah 00:38:09.660 --> 00:38:10.559 and God delivered them 00:38:10.559 --> 00:38:11.120 into their hand 00:38:11.120 --> 00:38:12.180 and Abijah and his people 00:38:12.180 --> 00:38:12.780 slew of them 00:38:12.780 --> 00:38:13.559 a great slaughter. 00:38:14.039 --> 00:38:14.960 So there fell down 00:38:14.960 --> 00:38:15.720 slain of Israel 00:38:15.720 --> 00:38:18.940 500,000 chosen men. 00:38:19.280 --> 00:38:20.660 And so Abijah continues 00:38:20.660 --> 00:38:21.640 and he conquers 00:38:21.640 --> 00:38:23.740 much of the land of Israel 00:38:23.740 --> 00:38:24.660 trying to fulfill 00:38:24.660 --> 00:38:25.780 what he said 00:38:25.780 --> 00:38:27.000 was his divine right. 00:38:27.300 --> 00:38:27.840 So let's talk 00:38:27.840 --> 00:38:29.080 just for a moment here 00:38:29.079 --> 00:38:30.679 because ultimately 00:38:30.679 --> 00:38:32.440 he has a short reign 00:38:32.440 --> 00:38:33.619 less than three years. 00:38:33.860 --> 00:38:34.960 Just under three years 00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:36.380 of time he was on the throne. 00:38:36.679 --> 00:38:37.619 And it says he died. 00:38:39.019 --> 00:38:40.440 What lessons can we learn 00:38:40.440 --> 00:38:41.059 from Abijah? 00:38:42.739 --> 00:38:43.199 You know, 00:38:43.259 --> 00:38:44.239 what do we observe 00:38:44.239 --> 00:38:46.239 and learn from his life? 00:38:46.360 --> 00:38:46.539 Well, 00:38:47.340 --> 00:38:48.500 a few things that are positive. 00:38:48.619 --> 00:38:49.159 We know he was 00:38:49.159 --> 00:38:50.179 a courageous man. 00:38:50.179 --> 00:38:51.679 I mean, 00:38:51.759 --> 00:38:52.460 he was a man 00:38:52.460 --> 00:38:53.559 that would stand up 00:38:53.559 --> 00:38:54.379 and go do something. 00:38:55.119 --> 00:38:56.139 He was a man 00:38:56.139 --> 00:38:57.239 that could be convincing 00:38:57.239 --> 00:38:58.179 in his speech. 00:38:58.259 --> 00:38:59.299 He was a great orator. 00:38:59.440 --> 00:39:00.579 He was a preacher, 00:39:00.739 --> 00:39:01.199 a proclaimer. 00:39:01.359 --> 00:39:02.359 People followed him 00:39:02.359 --> 00:39:03.059 and boy, 00:39:03.159 --> 00:39:03.659 he put together 00:39:03.659 --> 00:39:04.879 a good sounding message. 00:39:05.119 --> 00:39:06.000 It wasn't accurate, 00:39:06.119 --> 00:39:06.799 but it was good. 00:39:08.179 --> 00:39:08.940 I'm sure he got 00:39:08.940 --> 00:39:09.799 lots of amens 00:39:09.799 --> 00:39:10.379 in the crowd. 00:39:10.719 --> 00:39:11.759 He knew about God 00:39:11.759 --> 00:39:12.559 and his commandments 00:39:12.559 --> 00:39:13.279 and promises, 00:39:13.539 --> 00:39:14.679 but he didn't 00:39:14.679 --> 00:39:15.980 internalize them. 00:39:16.239 --> 00:39:17.279 He had no relationship. 00:39:17.419 --> 00:39:18.179 His heart was not 00:39:18.179 --> 00:39:19.159 at peace with God. 00:39:19.159 --> 00:39:20.019 And lastly, 00:39:20.159 --> 00:39:20.779 we see he lived 00:39:20.779 --> 00:39:21.659 a double life 00:39:21.659 --> 00:39:22.440 trying to please 00:39:22.440 --> 00:39:23.219 both the Lord 00:39:23.219 --> 00:39:23.759 and the world. 00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:24.440 Because he said, 00:39:24.599 --> 00:39:24.739 well, 00:39:24.779 --> 00:39:25.739 I want everybody to know 00:39:25.739 --> 00:39:27.460 we worship God 00:39:27.460 --> 00:39:28.679 just like we're supposed to, 00:39:29.099 --> 00:39:31.099 but yet he still sinned 00:39:31.099 --> 00:39:32.239 after the same thing 00:39:32.239 --> 00:39:32.859 as his father, 00:39:33.819 --> 00:39:35.639 going out into the groves 00:39:35.639 --> 00:39:36.539 and participating 00:39:36.539 --> 00:39:38.299 in the evil 00:39:38.299 --> 00:39:39.179 that took place. 00:39:39.559 --> 00:39:39.759 You know, 00:39:40.359 --> 00:39:41.420 there's a lot of things 00:39:41.420 --> 00:39:42.039 we can learn 00:39:42.039 --> 00:39:42.719 from Abijah, 00:39:42.839 --> 00:39:43.339 but let me give you 00:39:43.339 --> 00:39:44.539 a couple other observations 00:39:44.539 --> 00:39:45.339 that we learn 00:39:45.339 --> 00:39:46.239 from this passage. 00:39:46.659 --> 00:39:46.839 You know, 00:39:47.960 --> 00:39:49.079 one primary one 00:39:49.079 --> 00:39:49.739 we can take away 00:39:49.739 --> 00:39:50.599 is God always 00:39:50.599 --> 00:39:51.440 keeps his promises. 00:39:51.860 --> 00:39:52.880 God always keeps 00:39:52.880 --> 00:39:53.519 his promises 00:39:53.519 --> 00:39:54.659 and it's not dependent 00:39:54.659 --> 00:39:55.719 upon what people do. 00:39:56.119 --> 00:39:56.460 Secondly, 00:39:56.739 --> 00:39:57.860 God will not change 00:39:57.860 --> 00:39:58.440 his will 00:39:58.440 --> 00:39:59.619 to suit the ideas 00:39:59.619 --> 00:40:00.199 of people. 00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:00.940 Because remember, 00:40:01.039 --> 00:40:01.980 Abijah had a thought, 00:40:02.079 --> 00:40:03.880 I'm going to use this, 00:40:03.940 --> 00:40:04.679 I'm going to manipulate, 00:40:04.860 --> 00:40:05.619 I'm going to do this, 00:40:05.719 --> 00:40:07.340 and God in 1 Kings 00:40:07.340 --> 00:40:07.619 says, 00:40:07.699 --> 00:40:07.880 hey, 00:40:07.940 --> 00:40:08.799 I'm not doing this 00:40:08.799 --> 00:40:09.099 for you, 00:40:09.159 --> 00:40:09.659 I'm doing it 00:40:09.659 --> 00:40:10.299 because I made 00:40:10.299 --> 00:40:11.400 a promise to David. 00:40:11.699 --> 00:40:12.900 Because if David's heart 00:40:12.900 --> 00:40:13.799 was right with me. 00:40:14.059 --> 00:40:15.319 Third thing you can find, 00:40:15.519 --> 00:40:16.840 I think it's very important here, 00:40:16.840 --> 00:40:17.940 that if you have sin 00:40:17.940 --> 00:40:20.460 and you repent 00:40:20.460 --> 00:40:21.600 and turn to God 00:40:21.600 --> 00:40:23.039 to restore right fellowship, 00:40:23.220 --> 00:40:24.360 God will forgive. 00:40:25.820 --> 00:40:27.160 Not just partially, 00:40:28.160 --> 00:40:29.300 but completely. 00:40:29.680 --> 00:40:30.559 And the fourth thing 00:40:30.559 --> 00:40:31.559 is we need to know 00:40:31.559 --> 00:40:33.920 not only what God says, 00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:34.900 but how it applies 00:40:34.900 --> 00:40:36.480 to us. 00:40:36.579 --> 00:40:37.579 Because if you apply 00:40:37.579 --> 00:40:38.720 God's word wrongly, 00:40:38.760 --> 00:40:39.960 you get wrong conclusions 00:40:39.960 --> 00:40:43.320 and end up in a wrong place. 00:40:43.500 --> 00:40:44.620 Some important lessons 00:40:44.619 --> 00:40:45.339 we can learn 00:40:45.339 --> 00:40:46.719 through this. 00:40:48.480 --> 00:40:49.759 As we move through 00:40:49.759 --> 00:40:51.059 and understand 00:40:51.059 --> 00:40:53.199 what's happening 00:40:53.199 --> 00:40:54.019 as we see 00:40:54.019 --> 00:40:55.839 him pass from the scene 00:40:55.839 --> 00:40:56.319 quickly 00:40:56.319 --> 00:40:59.039 and his son Asa 00:40:59.039 --> 00:40:59.960 take the throne. 00:40:59.960 --> 00:41:02.240 Asa 00:41:02.240 --> 00:41:02.619 says 00:41:02.619 --> 00:41:03.000 I will 00:41:03.000 --> 00:41:04.220 be 00:41:04.900 --> 00:41:05.019 house 00:41:07.519 --> 00:41:08.639 as a 00:41:08.639 --> 00:41:09.119 Henry 00:41:09.119 --> 00:41:09.220 can 00:41:09.320 --> 00:41:10.079 die 00:41:10.079 --> 00:41:10.820 to the 00:41:10.840 --> 00:41:12.240 woman 00:41:12.420 --> 00:41:12.980 who 00:41:12.980 --> 00:41:13.880 Is 00:41:13.880 --> 00:41:14.199 that 00:41:14.460 --> 00:41:15.000 to superhero 00:41:15.019 --> 00:41:17.000 is 00:41:17.000 --> 00:41:17.900 correct 00:41:18.480 --> 00:41:18.940 and 00:41:18.940 --> 00:41:19.340 after 00:41:19.360 --> 00:41:20.400 family 00:41:20.400 --> 00:41:20.740 the 00:41:20.740 --> 00:41:21.019 woman 00:41:21.079 --> 00:41:21.940 should 00:41:22.519 --> 00:41:22.579 ask 00:41:22.579 --> 00:41:24.860 you 00:41:24.940 --> 00:41:25.480 be 00:41:25.480 --> 00:41:25.760 turned 00:41:26.260 --> 00:41:27.000 the 00:41:27.000 --> 00:41:27.840 Angst 00:41:27.840 --> 00:41:28.760 Hitler