Rehoboam

First I’m going to give you a quick description of this king. 

• Name: Rehoboam (Enlargement Of The People)
• Judah’s 1st king but he briefly ruled all 12 tribes.
• The references for Rehoboam are 1 Kings 12:1-24, 14:21-31, and 2 Chronicles 10-12
• Spiritual State: Started Evil, Does good 3 years, and then ends evil.
• He reigned 17 years during the reign of Jeroboam
• Parents: King Solomon & Naamah An Ammonites.
• Prophets: Shemaiah & Ahijah
• Notorious for dividing the kingdom into two. He would be king over the southern kingdoms(Judah & Benjamin). The other 10 tribes would make up the northern kingdom.
• Multiplied Wives. 18 wives & threescore concubines. (Lover boy like his daddy)
• Strong Attributes: Humbled by preaching, Son Of Solomon, and he had connections to a lot of people.
• He will be a picture of someone who chooses to serve the flesh, the world, and the devil.
• Rehoboam dies at the young age of 58.

Rehoboams ENEMY – King Jeroboam

• Jeroboam is a mighty man of valor who Solomon made ruler over all the house of Joseph.
• Ahijah the prophet is told to tell Jeroboam that he would be king over ten of the tribes.
• This causes Solomon to be after the life of Jeroboam so he flees to Egypt until the death of Solomon. 

REHOBOAM SETUP FOR FAILURE 

• His Fathers Choices

Someone doesn’t automatically fail because of the choices of their parents. However these choices can certainly push them in the WRONG DIRECTION. 
Rehoboam ends up causing the kingdom to be split but Solomon is the one who had them close to the edge at the tipping point. He raised taxes and he also let his heart stray from the LORD because of his wives. Rehoboam grew up seeing…

• Solomon multiply wives
• Solomon live for the flesh
• Solomon worship other gods

1Ki 11:3  And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 1Ki 11:4  For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 1Ki 11:5  For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 1Ki 11:6  And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. 1Ki 11:7  Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 1Ki 11:8  And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
We are pushing our children towards failure when we forsake the LORD in our lives. 
What’s in your hand around your son? A Bible or a video game controller? 
What’s in your mouth around your son? Praise or profanity? Psalms and spiritual songs or the latest SONG OF FOOLS? 
What’s catching your eye in front of your son? His mother or someone else’s wife? 
Sons want to be like their fathers. Solomon’s actions put Rehoboam in line for failure. Even though Solomon had wise words…your walk will talk louder than your talk. 

• Rehoboam FORSOOK WISE COUNSEL

Pro 1:5  A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
The father of Rehoboam wrote this. Rehoboam didn’t keep this proverb. 
1Ki 12:1  And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.
Who are you making king? Who sits on the throne of your heart? Trump of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Biden or the LORD? 
1Ki 12:2  And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)
Jeroboam had been afraid of Solomon because Solomon wanted Jeroboam dead. 
1Ki 12:3  That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,1Ki 12:4  Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.

Notice that Solomon had already pushed the kingdom to the edge. He raised taxes and put a heavy yoke on the people. 
So Rehoboam said… 

1Ki 12:5  And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed. 1Ki 12:6  And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?
One good thing about Rehoboam is that he did seek counsel from the old men FIRST…
1Ki 12:7  And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. 1Ki 12:8  But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:

Your setting yourself up for failure when you FORSAKE WISE COUNSEL. Older men , even lost old men, as a general rule have more wisdom through experience. And especially The advice you can get from a GODLY OLD MAN is PRICELESS. Rehoboam FORSAKES THIS WISDOM…
He could have been a HERO OF THE FAITH and had his name in Hebrews 11. His father didn’t even get in there. Instead of FORSAKES WISE COUNSEL. 
If an older man can show you sound biblical counsel than you should TAKE IT..

• Rehoboams FRIENDS LIST

Your going to see that Rehoboam was hanging out with the wrong crowd. He takes the advice from people on his friends list. He gets them in a GROUP CHAT and each one gives their opinion on what they think he should do. 

1Ki 12:8  But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:
Many times a young man will take the advice of his Gamer friends over his own mother & father. He will take the advice of a young teacher who isn’t much older than he is over his grandmother. He will take the advice of a Facebook post over the advice of  his PASTOR. 
1Ki 12:9  And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? 1Ki 12:10  And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins. 1Ki 12:11  And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
SO THEIR ADVICE IS to make the people even more mad than they were before. 
1Ki 12:12  So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. 1Ki 12:13  And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him; 1Ki 12:14  And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

Rehoboam is going to make their YOKE HEAVY
A yoke is a piece of wood that would connect two oxen together while they worked…
Atleast Rehoboam is honest…unlike politicians today. They say everything is going to be peachy and then they are just lying like a dog. 
Serving under Rehoboam is like serving the devil as a slave to sin. Your born with a sin problem and when you choose to serve the devil it will only make things worse. It will ADD TO YOUR YOKE. The sinful life is a HEAVY LOAD. 

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 
So serving Rehoboam is the opposite of serving Jesus Christ…
Mat 11:30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 
1Ki 12:15  Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

AHIJAH had already predicted that the kingdom would be split and Jeroboam would get ten tribes and Rehoboam would have Judah and Benjamin. 
You see that Rehoboam FORSOOK THE COUNCIL of the old men. He had people on his FRIENDS LIST that gave him the wrong advice. Instead of being kind to the people he made them hate him. 

Jas 3:17  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

Rehoboam doesn’t get this. He’s like a rich kid trying to be tough. He is what causes the kingdom to be DIVIDED. So instead of Israel being one they are broken down into the sountern kingdom (which is Judah and Benjamin) and the northern kingdom (The other ten tribes)

1Ki 12:16  So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.1Ki 12:17  But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
This is only for David’s sake that this happened. 

Now your going to see the Rehoboam even has the nerve to send his tax collector to the people after what just happened. 
1Ki 12:18  Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.1Ki 12:19  So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.1Ki 12:20  And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
It isn’t a surprise that so many men would follow Jeroboam because he was a “mighty man of valour.” He probably got the attention of the people by his warrior like credentials and how he looked. Similar to Saul. 
1Ki 12:21  And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.

Notice Rehoboams friends from the tribe of Benjamin. They were considered to be one of the more filthy tribes. Many of them were Sodomites. However they were TOUGH AS NAILS.  In the book of Judges Benjamin took on Israel by itself. So they weren’t worried about breaking a nail as you’d expect. 

So Rehoboam had Judah and Benjamin. Even though this is only two tribes they would have taken out then other ten tribes. However God sends another preacher. 
1Ki 12:22  But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 1Ki 12:23  Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,1Ki 12:24  Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.
Notice Rehoboams reaction to the preaching was a GOOD REACTION. He listened to the preacher. He was a bad man but he LISTENED. A lot of lost people are like that. They live like the devil but they know the preacher is right. 
Let’s turn over to 1 Kings chapter 14 and just see how bad of a guy Rehoboam actually was. Rehoboam had a lot of light even though Solomon turned away from the LORD in front of Rehoboam. Rehoboams dad was still the wisest man who ever lived and spake 3,000 proverbs and his songs were a thousand and five. His grandfather was the MIGHTY KING DAVID. Rehoboam was a complete failure. 
Rehoboam was setup for failure through his fathers choices, forsaking wise counsel, his friends list, and also his FILTHY PRACTICES.
1Ki 14:21  And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah.

Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign,(so he wasnt just young and stupid) and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess.
Remember that the ammonites came about because of a drunken incest relationship between Lot and his daughters after coming out of SODOM. So Rehoboams momma was probably a wild thing. Probably similar to Meghan the Stallion, Cardi B, and Nicki Minaj. So Solomon really knew how to pick them. Everyone he got with was the kind you don’t bring home to mother. I bet he was lucky if she even made him a cheese sandwich. 
Solomon said he couldn’t find a VIRTUOUS WOMAN. He was looking in the wrong places too. He was getting the STRANGE WOMAN who worshipped other gods. You can’t put a price on a GODLY WOMAN. If your a woman that reads the Bible, prays, and tries to do right than your one of the greatest Christians. As a general rule today women are better Christians than men. In churches you mostly see spiritual women that have dead beat husbands and not the other way around. 
1Ki 14:22  And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done.
So Judah did EVIL, the provoked God to Jealousy. He is JEALOUS GOD. JEALOUSY is a characteristic of God. It isn’t always a bad thing. He was jealous because..  
1Ki 14:23  For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.

They would go up there in these high places and worship false gods in these groves and under the shades of the trees. Men like to do evil in the SHADOWS. THEN WHEN it gets real bad they come out with it in the open. 
It’s getting real bad when you parade your wickedness in broad daylight. It’s getting real bad when the music videos are like pornography and come on in the middle of the day. It’s getting real bad when the commercials show two men kissing and when the cartoons push a satanic sodomite agenda. 
1Ki 14:24  And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
So Rehoboam was being soft on the Sodomites. You’ll find later on that the good kings drive them out of the land. 
1Ki 14:25  And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem: 1Ki 14:26  And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.
If you have been a bible student for a while than you have probably heard how Egypt is a type of the SINFUL WORLD. Rehoboam has been living for the WORLD. What your seeing here is how the world will take away YOUR TREASURES. 
If your a Christian than your mind should be on Jesus Christ, Heaven, and the judgment seat of Christ. Your supposed to be setting up treasures in heaven. 
Mat 6:19  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: Mat 6:20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The same way Rehoboam allowed Shishak(the king of Egypt) to take away treasures…is the same way Christians allow the world to take away their treasures. In Revelation Paul tells us it is possible for someone to “take thy crown.” In his little epistle he talked about how it is possible to “lose your reward.” Paul tells us that we can “suffer loss.” 

1Ki 14:27  And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king’s house.
In place of the GOLDEN SHIELDS , you would think Rehoboam would atleast get SILVER SHIELDS. HOWEVER he went down even further to BRASEN SHIELDS. EACH generation will generally get worse and have less standards than the last generation. 
You have a group of people called “the recovering fundamentalists.” They grew up in a strict environment under hardcore IFB parents and pastors. While that environment can be TOO STRICT…the modern churches can be too SLACK. The danger in that is…The slacker you are…the more slack your kids will become. 
The best thing to do is JUST PREACH AND TEACH THE BOOK. Don’t add unnecessary standards and at the same time DON’T drop all the standards. If you just grab the Bible and preach it and teach it..God will take care of the rest.  The problem is none of these groups teach the Bible hardly. The strict old school IFB spent too much time on standards and convictions. The modern day churches spend all their time singing, getting people hyped up, trying to be popular with the world, using the modern versions of the Bible, and bashing the OLD SCHOOL guys that were too strict for them. 
Just remember the more slack you are…your kids will get even slacker. I’m not saying to be overly strict. You can have standards and convictions but you also have liberty too. There is no need to add standards and convictions that aren’t in the Bible and there is no need to abuse your liberty as an act of rebellion against the old guys. 
1Ki 14:28  And it was so, when the king went into the house of the LORD, that the guard bare them, and brought them back into the guard chamber. 1Ki 14:29  Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 1Ki 14:30  And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.1Ki 14:31  And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess. And Abijam his son reigned in his stead.
Notice that “the rest of the acts of Rehoboam” are written in the “book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah.” So let’s go there. It covers a lot of the same material but also adds some extra nuggets in there. 
Notice in 2 Chronicles 2 after Rehoboam listens to the preaching of Shemiah he starts BUILDING and fortifying STRONG HOLDS. 
2Ch 11:4  Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.2Ch 11:5  And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah. 2Ch 11:6  He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,2Ch 11:7  And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam, 2Ch 11:8  And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph, 2Ch 11:9  And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,2Ch 11:10  And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities. 2Ch 11:11  And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine. 2Ch 11:12  And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
There is nothing wrong with building and fortifying. There is nothing wrong with getting prepared. Just don’t let any physical thing have more of your trust than God himself. It is GOOD TO PREPARE. 
I’m trying to stay prepared. When I mark up my Bible I see it as PREPARING FOR WAR. When I make references in my Bible I see it as Fortifying strong holds. That way when I false doctrine or satanic cult comes my way…I’ve got the verses. I’ve got five smooth stones for them. I’ve got a sharp two edged sword. 
2Ch 11:11  And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.
In these last days of the church age I’mNot storing physical weapons to preserve my physical life but I’m making a library. I’ve got Bibles, I’ve got preaching galore, I’ve got teaching, I collect bible believing books and articles. These help me in my fight against SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS in high places. 
People ask if they can donate to me and I always tell them don’t feel like you have to pay me back for the truth. 
Pro 23:23  Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding 
The purpose of my ministry is to put out as much truth as I can for free so that anybody can get it. If you want to help me then get me a gift certificate for the Bible Baptist bookstore or something haha. 
That helps me FORTIFY my strong holds. 
When Rehoboam was doing RIGHT he had men who wanted to do RIGHT come and be under his leadership…
2Ch 11:13  And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. 2Ch 11:14  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: 2Ch 11:15  And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. 2Ch 11:16  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. 2Ch 11:17  So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.
There is STRENGTH IN NUMBERS if THOSE NUMBERS ARE ON THE LORDS SIDE…and they did walk in the way of DAVID for three years. They did right a little while. Three years is about all you get out of a lot of people. 
Notice that the wives Rehoboam takes are also part of the family of David just like he has. So he is keeping things in the Royal blood line. 
2Ch 11:18  And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;2Ch 11:19  Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham. 2Ch 11:20  And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. 2Ch 11:21  And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.) 2Ch 11:22  And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king. 2Ch 11:23  And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives.
He desires many wives. Men follow their daddy’s. David and Solomon BOTH MULTIPLIED WIVES even though they weren’t supposed to 

2Ch 12:1  And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. 
Now he starts to stray…and we are back to the story of Shishak king of Egypt coming against him. 
2Ch 12:5  Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak. 2Ch 12:6  Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous. 2Ch 12:7  And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. 2Ch 12:8  Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
2Ch 12:12  And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well. 2Ch 12:13  So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess. 2Ch 12:14  And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.
Notice that Rehoboam did HUMBLE HIMSELF under the preaching of the word again. You’ll notice that this is a difference between him and Jeroboam. 
Rehoboam spent a lot of time preparing himself against an enemy but not enough time preparing himself SPIRITUALLY. Today we do both of those at the same time because our enemies are spiritual enemies. And the physical enemies we have…we don’t fight them we try to love them to the LORD JESUS CHRIST.