Okay, 1 Kings chapter 12, beginning at verse 1.
Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king.
When Jeroboam, son of Nebat, heard this, he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon, he returned from Egypt.
So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him,
Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lightened the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.
Rehoboam answered, Go away for three days and then come back to me.
So the people went away.
Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime.
How would you advise me to answer these people, he asked.
They replied, If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.
But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.
He asked them, What is your advice?
How should we answer these people who say to me, Lighten the yoke your father put on us?
The young men who had grown up with him replied, These people have said to you, Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.
Now tell them, My little finger is thicker than my father's waist.
My father laid on you a heavy yoke.
I will make it even heavier.
My father scourged you with whips.
I will scourge you with scorpions.
Three days later, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam as the king had said, Come back to me in three days.
The king answered the people harshly, rejecting the advice given him by the elders.
He followed the advice of the young men and said, My father made your yoke heavy.
I will make it even heavier.
My father scourged you with whips.
I will scourge you with scorpions.
So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord.
To fulfill the word, the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam, son of Nebat, to Ahijah the Shilonite.
Thanks very much, Chris.
Let's keep our Bibles open as we continue in our studies, 1 Kings.
If you've missed any along the way, you can find them all on the church website.
So they've all been recorded for the purposes if you're on Sunday school or creche or you've missed any.
They are there for us to be able to follow along.
So I encourage you to do that.
Now let's pray.
Father, thank you that you are the Lord of heaven and earth.
the Lord who has written his word down for us, preserved it through the centuries so that we have it today in our language.
We thank you for this wonderful privilege that you speak to us through your word today.
And we pray that it would have such a transforming and changing effect on our lives.
That it would cause us to bow in wonder and worship at our great King.
So please help us today, we ask in Jesus' name.
Amen.
So, who decides if Britain will leave or stay?
Who determines whether there will be a soft border or a hard border?
Who's in charge?
Somebody said something.
Who decides if you get married or move to another country?
Who determines where you live and where you work?
Who's in charge?
Well, listen to this from Proverbs.
In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
It's telling us that we are free to make all kinds of decisions, but every decision is under the direction of God.
Ultimately, it is God who is in control.
Now, Proverbs 16, verse 9, that we have there on the screen, is a great summary of the text that was just read to us.
If you want a summary for what 1 Kings 12, 1 to 15 or 1 to 24 is all about, well, in their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
We've reached a critical point in the story of the kingdom.
Under Solomon, the kingdom was at its best.
The people were blessed, living in their own land.
They were happy and secure.
But, if you remember from last week, have a quick look back at chapter 11, verse 4.
Chapter 11, verse 4.
As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.
And what follows is a sad decline of the kingdom.
Solomon's son, Rehoboam, becomes king, and the kingdom divides.
Bad decisions and selfish choices have left the kingdom in a terrible mess.
But, chapter 12 is written to remind us that God is the supreme king, ruling over the plans of man to fulfill his promises.
God is the supreme king, ruling over the plans of man to fulfill his promises.
So, two big things that we're going to look at this morning, that I trust will be helpful for us.
First, the plans of man serve the purposes of God.
The plans of man serve the purposes of God.
Let's pick it up in chapter 11, verse 42.
Chapter 11, verse 42.
Solomon reigned in Jerusalem, over all Israel, that is the United Kingdom, for 40 years.
Then he rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David his father, and Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.
Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king.
Now, it seems a normal succession of power.
They even go to a place called Shechem.
That was where God spoke to Abraham and where Moses had gone to speak with God.
Yet, tragically, in chapter 12, there seems to be little listening to God.
In fact, God is subtly ignored.
The people see the change in king as an opportunity to change the way things are done.
So, look at verse 3.
So, they sent for Jeroboam.
We're going to get confused, but let's keep our focus.
There's a Rehoboam.
He's king.
Jeroboam was a person who was under Solomon, but had begun to rebel against Solomon.
He didn't like what he was doing.
So, the people sent for Jeroboam.
And he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam, the king, and said to him,
Your father put a heavy yoke on us.
But now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.
Rehoboam answered, Well, go away for three days, then come back to me, and I'll have a decision.
So, the people went away.
Obviously, the king needs some advice.
The last thing he needs at this point is an all-out rebellion.
So, in verse 6, we're told that the king went off to his elders, asked them for their advice,
What should I do?
And they responded with great wisdom.
Serve them well, Solomon, and they will always serve you.
Be kind to them, and they'll always be in your pocket, as it were.
But Rehoboam doesn't seem to be in the mood for much listening.
That seems a little weak and pathetic.
Not a great way to start your reign as a king, giving in to your subjects.
So, Rehoboam turns to his old college buddies.
What should we do about these complaints, he asks them.
Well, they respond in verse 10.
The young men who had grown up with him replied,
These people have said to you,
Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.
Now tell them,
My little finger is thicker than my father's waist.
In other words, you tell the people,
You think my father was harsh?
Well, I'm going to show you who's boss.
Verse 11.
My father laid on you a heavy yoke.
I will make it even heavier.
My father scourged you with whips.
I will scourge you with scorpions.
That is, whips with lumps of lead at the end of it.
Well, that sounds more like the role of a king, doesn't it?
I like that, Rehoboam is thinking to himself.
Time to show them who's king round here.
I'm going to teach them a lesson about authority and power.
So just as Rehoboam had said three days later,
he goes back to the people to give the answer.
Have a look at verse 14.
He followed the advice of all the young men.
In other words, he ignored the advice of the elders and said,
My father made your yoke heavy.
I will make it even heavier.
My father scourged you with whips.
Well, I'm going to scourge you with scorpions.
So tell me,
who decided what to do with the people?
Who determined that the people should be treated harshly?
Well, he took advice from some younger people
but it certainly looks like Rehoboam is the one in charge.
He gave the decree and after all, he's the king.
Now we could be asking the same kind of questions about our country.
Who's decided that Fine Gael is in power?
I mean, we had a vote, didn't we?
Who determines what laws are passed
and how and when abortions should be carried out?
Well, it's the people, isn't it?
Because we all voted at the recent referendum.
And what about our church?
Right now we're in the process of appointing deacons.
Who decides who is a deacon?
Is it the elders?
Who determines what role and how they should serve?
Or does the church decide that?
Or is it the person themselves?
And think about your own life.
Who decides what college course you take
and where you end up working in your life?
I mean, we've all got the freedom to choose, don't we?
And who determines how you use your money?
And what you spend it on?
And where you go at the weekends?
I mean, it belongs to us
and it's us who pays the money over at the end of the day.
You see, we've all got freedom to make our choices.
We can all make our plans.
But, the purposes of God.
Rehoboam has determined and decreed.
After all, he's the king, right?
Well, let's look at verse 15.
So the king did not listen to the people,
for this turn of events was from the Lord
to fulfill what the Lord had spoken
to Jeroboam, son of Nebat,
through Ahijah, the Shilonites.
So again, let's ask the question,
who made the decision
not to listen to the people
and treat them badly?
Well, look closely at verse 15.
So the king did not listen to the people,
for or because
this turn of events
was from the Lord.
Yes, Rehoboam sought advice.
Yes, he made his choice.
But God determined
what should happen.
You say, how can that be?
Well, let's read on in verse 15.
For this turn of events
was from the Lord
to fulfill the word
the Lord had spoken
to Jeroboam, son of Nebat,
through Ahijah, the Shilonites.
Well, what had God said?
Well, have a look back
to chapter 11
and verse 29.
Because there it's recorded for us
what God had said
through the prophet Ahijah
to Jeroboam.
We'll pick it up in verse 29.
Solomon is still king
at this point.
Jeroboam had got sick
and fed up
with the latter reign of Solomon
and the way he began
treating the people
and he had rebelled.
So, verse 29.
About that time,
Jeroboam was going out
of Jerusalem
and Ahijah,
the prophet of Shiloh,
met him on the way
wearing a new cloak.
He'd obviously been to Debenhams
to buy himself
a nice new suit.
So, the two of them
were alone out in the country
and Ahijah took hold
of his nice new cloak
he was wearing
and he tore it
into twelve pieces.
Then he said to Jeroboam,
take ten pieces
for yourself,
for this is what
the Lord,
the God of Israel,
says.
See,
I am going to tear
the kingdom
out of Solomon's hand
and give you
ten tribes
but for the sake
of my servant
David
and the city
of Jerusalem
which I have chosen
out of all of the tribes
of Israel,
he will have
one tribe.
So, it's crystal clear,
isn't it?
God had said
that the kingdom
would be divided,
taken out of Solomon's hands.
We're not told
how that was going
to happen
but simply
that it would happen.
And God's purpose
was that Jeroboam
would have
ten tribes
and Rehoboam,
Solomon's son,
would only have
one tribe.
So, now
as we begin
to read chapter 12,
we can see
God's purposes
being worked out.
Rehoboam
is completely
unaware
of what God
had said
to Jeroboam.
He plans
to crush
the people
but in crushing
the people
it leads
to rebellion
and the rebellion
leads to
division.
You see,
through Rehoboam's
choice,
God's purposes
prevail.
The plans
of man
always
serve
the purposes
of God.
Now, our government
and the leaders
of the world
make choices
and decisions
all the time.
But what I want
us to be clear
about is that
they are only
serving
the greater
purposes
of God.
It's not saying
that every decision
they make
is good
or right.
Rehoboam's
plans were
clearly wrong
in the way
he treated
the people
and he will
be held
accountable
just as
every leader
of this world
will be held
accountable.
Just because
they serve
God's purposes
doesn't mean
to say
they're off
the hook.
God's sovereignty
never violates
human responsibility.
responsibility.
We will all
have to
answer to
God
for the way
we live
the choices
we make
and our
decisions.
But this
account in
chapter 12
is simply
there to
remind us
that we
are free
to make
decisions
and our
decisions
whether they
are right
or wrong
are always
always
determined
by God.
One author
Dale Ralph
Davis
has put it
so well.
He says
this,
human choice
never catches
God by
surprise.
Contrary to
our fears
human decision
making is not
running loose
but is on the
leash
of God's
sovereignty.
That means
that nothing
happens
in this
world
and nothing
happens
in our
lives
without
God's
say so.
More than
that,
every decision
of a nation,
every choice
of an
individual
is ultimately
decreed
and determined
by God
for our
good
and for
God's
glory.
The plans
of man
always
serve
the purposes
of God.
So,
the plans
of man
serve the
purposes
of God.
The second
big thing
we're going
to look at,
the plots
of man
surrender
to the
promises
of God.
You see,
we must
remember that
verse 15
is like
inserted
into the
history.
This is
the author's
interpretation.
It's written
for us,
the reader,
so that we
can get the
big picture
of what's
going on.
It's history
from God's
perspective.
For Rehoboam,
he obviously
didn't have
one kings
to read
and he
certainly
doesn't know
about verse
15,
so he
just continues
to plan
and to
plot.
Not
surprisingly,
verse 16,
when all
the people
saw that
the king
refused to
listen to
them,
they answered
the king,
what share
do we have
in David?
What part
in Jesse's
son?
To your
tents,
Israel,
let's get
out of
here,
we don't
want this
king anymore.
Look
after your
own house,
David.
So the
Israelites
went home.
they're
rebelling,
they don't
want this
king.
And as
far as
Rehoboam
is concerned,
this rebellion
needs to be
squashed and
quickly.
So,
verse 18,
King Rehoboam
sent out
Adoniram,
who was in
charge of
the forced
labour.
Here is the
one to
implement the
king's
decree,
to restore
order,
to fling
those whips
and get those
people in
line.
But,
verse 18,
all Israel
stoned him
to death.
King
Rehoboam,
however,
managed to
get into
his chariot
and escape
to Jerusalem.
He wasn't
going to
hang around
for any
questioning.
So Israel
has been
in rebellion
against the
house of
David to
this day,
to the
time that
it was
written.
So the
kingdom
divided
just as
God had
said.
Jeroboam
takes off
with ten
tribes,
and Rehoboam
was left
with only
one tribe.
But Rehoboam
is not
happy.
He wants
it all.
This is
his kingdom.
So he
begins to
plot,
verse 21.
When Rehoboam
arrived in
Jerusalem,
he mustered
all Judah
and the
tribe of
Benjamin.
So Judah
and Benjamin,
when it's
written,
is always
formed as
one tribe
or speaks
as one
tribe,
the tribe
of Judah.
So he
gathers
together
180,000
able young
men to
go to
war against
Israel and
regain the
kingdom for
Rehoboam,
son of
Solomon.
So now it
seems we're
faced with
two competing
forces.
We have
Rehoboam's
plot to
take back
all the
tribes for
himself and
to have
the kingdom
to himself.
And then we
also have on
the other
side God's
promise that
well Jeroboam
would have
ten tribes
and he
would only
have one.
So what's
going to
happen?
Well,
not only are
there the
plots of
man,
there is the
promise of
God.
You see as
Rehoboam
begins his
plotting and
his scheming,
God's word
rules.
Verse 22,
but this
word of
God came
to Shemaiah,
the man of
God, this
is another
prophet,
say to
Rehoboam,
son of
Solomon,
king of
Judah,
to all
Judah and
Benjamin and
to the rest
of the
people,
this is
what the
Lord says,
do not
go up to
fight against
your brothers
the Israelites,
go home
every one
of you,
for this
is my
doing.
You see,
God is now
letting
Rehoboam
in on the
big picture,
isn't he?
What we've
known all
the way
along,
because God's
word had
decreed it
and God's
word had
said,
Rehoboam
now begins
to see
what God
is decreeing
and what
God wants.
This is
my doing,
says God.
This is
my plan.
I ultimately
decide and
decree what
will happen.
I promised
that Rehoboam
would get
these ten
tribes and
that you
would only
get one.
I mean,
let's think
about it.
If Rehoboam
did go up
and fight
against
Rehoboam,
there was
only ever
going to
be one
winner,
wasn't
there?
Do the
maths.
Ten
tribes
versus one
tribe.
Who's
going to
win?
If
Rehoboam
went off
to fight,
he would
have ended
up with
no
kingdom.
But you
see,
God had
promised,
God had
promised
Rehoboam's
grandfather
David,
that there
would always
be one
tribe,
one
people,
that God
would preserve
because from
that one
tribe of
Judah
would come
God's
promised
king,
Jesus
Christ.
So God
ensures that
his promise
remains.
The plots
of man
always
surrender
to the
promises
of God.
Now how
does Rehoboam
respond to
what God
has decreed?
Well look at
the end of
verse 24.
So they
obeyed the
word of the
Lord and went
home again
as the
Lord had
ordered.
Rehoboam
surrenders to
God's word.
After all his
planning and
plotting,
he submits.
It may come a
surprise to us
because that's
not how we
started out,
but it's a
reminder of
how we should
all respond.
We can fight
God all we
like,
but we will
not win.
God will
see that his
word is
fulfilled,
because the
plots of
man always
surrender to
the promises
of God.
Of course
it's true that
men and
women have
always planned
and plotted to
do their own
thing, haven't
we?
We ignore
God and we
live as if
we're the
king.
This is my
world,
my life,
my money.
I will
decide what
I will
do.
In fact,
if there's
any threat
to our
sovereignty,
any threat
to our
self-rule,
we will
fight it.
Nobody will
tell me what
to do.
Isn't that
what happened
when God's
king,
Jesus Christ,
came?
Turn with me
please to
Acts chapter
2.
Acts chapter
2 in the
New Testament.
So,
Acts chapter
2 is,
well,
Jesus has
already died,
he is risen
again,
he has poured
out his
Holy Spirit
and Peter
is preaching
to all the
people who
have gathered.
And he
gets to
the heart
of his
message in
verse 22.
So,
Peter is
preaching,
fellow
Israelites,
listen to
this,
Jesus of
Nazareth
was a
man accredited
by God
to you
by miracles,
wonders and
signs which
God did
among you
through him
as you
yourselves
know.
All these
miracles that
Jesus did,
all the
signs,
proves that
Jesus is
God's
King,
the one
with absolute
power and
supreme
authority.
The problem
is people
don't like
that.
It's a
threat to
their self
rule,
so what
do they
do?
Verse 23,
this man
was handed
over to you
by God's
deliberate
plan and
foreknowledge
and you
with the
help of
wicked men
put him
to death
by nailing
him to
the cross.
So,
who killed
Jesus?
Who planned
and decided
that Jesus
would die?
Well,
this verse
is telling
us that,
well,
they chose
to kill
Jesus.
They wanted
rid of
him.
But look
what it
says at the
beginning of
verse 23,
this man
was handed
over to
you by
God's
deliberate
plan and
foreknowledge.
God's
marriage.
You see,
their plans
to kill
Jesus
only served
the greater
purposes of
God.
Let's read
on,
verse 24,
but God
raised him
from the
dead,
freeing him
from the
agony of
death,
because it
was impossible
for death
to keep
its hold
on him.
You see,
we can't
fight
God.
We will
never defeat
him.
His purpose
to bring
salvation
through his
death and
his promise
to give
life through
his
resurrection
will prevail.
No one
can stand
against God's
promises and
God's
purposes.
Verse 36,
as he gets
to the
conclusion of
his sermon,
Therefore,
let all
Israel be
assured of
this,
God has
made this
Jesus,
whom you
crucified,
both Lord
and Messiah.
Jesus is
the risen
victorious
king,
who rules
over every
decision,
who determines
every act.
This is the
king who
planned his
own death
and plots
his own
resurrection
from before
time began.
The king
whose purposes
will not be
foiled,
and whose
promises will
never,
ever fail.
And how
are we to
respond to
such a
king as
this?
Verse 38,
Peter replied,
repent and
be baptized,
every one
of you,
in the name
of Jesus
Christ for
the forgiveness
of your
sins,
and you
will receive
the gift
of the
Holy Spirit.
The promise
is for you
and for your
children and
for all who
are far off,
for all whom
the Lord,
the God,
will call.
Surrender
to the
king who
died for
you.
Submit to
the king
who's
defeated
death for
you.
Do not
fight this
king,
but let us
live under
his sovereign
word.
Of course,
people still
fight against
God's king.
They will
not recognize
his rule,
and they will
fight against
you if you
are his
people.
Have a look
at Acts
chapter 4.
Not long
after this
sermon,
Peter is
thrown in
prison for
preaching.
It seems
that those
who were
against Jesus
are also
against his
people.
But Peter
is released,
and we pick
it up in
verse 23.
On their
release,
Peter and
John went
back to their
own people
and reported
all that the
chief priests
and the
elders had
said to
them,
they had
said,
stop talking
about this
Jesus,
we don't
want you
to do it
anymore.
When they
heard this,
they raised
their voices
together in
prayer to
God.
Let's look
how they
prayed.
Sovereign
Lord,
they said,
you made
the heavens
and the
earth and
the sea
and everything
in them.
Verse 27,
indeed,
Herod and
Pontius Pilate
met together
with the
Gentiles and
the people
of Israel
in the city
to conspire
against your
holy servant
Jesus whom
you anointed.
They did
what your
power and
will had
decided
beforehand
should happen.
You see,
nothing can
stand in the
way of God's
purposes in
God's
plans.
And what
about these
people who
are now
threatened?
Well,
they cry
out to
the
sovereign
God who
is Lord
over every
ruler and
they remind
themselves that
even the
death of
Jesus and
the resurrection
of Jesus is
all part of
God's wonderful
plan.
Verse 29,
now Lord,
consider their
threats and
enable your
servants to
speak your
word with
great boldness.
Stretch out
your hand and
heal and
perform signs
and wonders
through the
name of
your holy
servant Jesus.
And after
they prayed,
the place
where they
were meeting
was shaken
and they
were all
filled with
the Holy
Spirit and
spoke the
word of
God boldly.
You see,
nothing was
ever going
to hinder
the preaching
of God's
word.
He's in
control.
You just
need to
read through
Acts.
The word
spread,
the word
spread,
the kingdom
expanded as
people came
to the
Lord Jesus.
So do
not fear.
Do not
fear the
outcome of
Brexit.
Do not
fret when
our government
introduces new
laws.
Do not
worry when
circumstances in
your life
change.
Jesus is
in charge.
Cry out to
him as
our sovereign
Lord and
ask him,
Lord, I
do not
know what
is going
on, but
I trust
that you
are in
control.
Enable
us to
keep speaking
your word.
Perform
your wondrous
deeds, because
God takes
every choice
that we
make and
the decisions
that others
make, whether
good or
bad, and
he uses it
all to
serve his
purposes and
his promises,
all for
our good
and all
for his
glory.
Let's
pray.
Let's
pray.
Let's
pray.
Let's
pray.
Let's
pray.
Let's
pray.
Let's
pray.