The Rebellious Heir
2 Chronicles 12:1-16
Many times you see children who are rebellious troublemakers and it is an indication of their “raising”. In many cases you can trace their actions directly back to a lack of discipline and lack of proper training. When you see someone living a wretched sinful lifestyle you may be quick to blame the parents. Sometimes you may be right, but in many cases you may find that you are very wrong.
There are many children who were raised in a loving Godly home, taught the ways of God… Chastened when they disobeyed and somewhere along the way they simply REBELLED!!
I want to look today at one of those cases. I want to look at a man who had a grandfather who was described as “A man after God’s own heart”. He is also a man who’s father was the wisest man who ever lived.
I would like to look at the story of Rehoboam and preach through these verse on the subject of “ The Rebellious Heir"
At the time of King Solomon’s death, The kingdom was blessed with the power & presence of God. After Solomon’s death his son Rehoboam inherited the throne. Solomon is known as being the wisest man who has ever lived, Rehoboam did not inherit his father’s wisdom. In fact Rehoboam was foolish and wicked. As a result of his foolish actions, 10 of the 12 tribes rebelled against Rehoboam, they divided Israel into two kingdoms North & South. The southern Kingdom chose Jeroboam to be their king The Northern Kingdom left the worship of God and began to worship idols.Rehoboam, remained as king of Judah,
Rehoboam is a prime example that proves that children can be raised in a Godly home and rebel against their raising and against the God of their fathers.As a result of his rebellion, Rehoboam and the people of his Kingdom suffered greatly.
I. Rehoboam Neglected His Responsibilities - v1 And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.
A. He Neglected His Responsibilities Concerning Service
As King, Rehoboam should have offered service and devotion to the Lord. Rehoboam forsook his upbringing. David had his issues and Solomon wasn’t perfect but Rehoboam was taught the ways of the Lord.
There are many adults out there today who were raised by Godly parents and taught the ways of the Lord but they have rejected the teaching of their fathers.
Notice in V1 the phrase “strengthened himself” this speaks of the pride of Rehoboam.
This is a common problem among people today. They have been taught the ways of the Lord, yet they seek to live life on their own terms. They attempt to succeed on by their own power and through their own strength!
Proverbs 16:18 ¶Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
B. He Neglected His Responsibilities Concerning Spirituality - “he abandoned the law of the LORD”
It was a common requirement of the King to “make him a copy of the law” - Deuteronomy 17:18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:If Rehoboam had honored this command he would have learned a few things that would have helped him! The law set forth clear guidelines for daily living.
This is no different than the way many live their lives today! You have the Word of God and in fact it is more accessible today than ever before, but you never use it! Why? Because of pride, because you have control and don’t need the Word of God messing up your plans!!
C. He Neglected His Responsibilities Concerning Subordinates - he abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.
Rehoboam’s pride & sin not only affected himself but also the entire nation of Israel. Men, we are called to be the spiritual leaders of the household. When we are filled with pride and neglect and/or reject the truths of God’s Word, it affects our entire household!
You have an impact on those around you! The question is “is it a positive or a negative impact?”Are you seizing the opportunities God has given you or are you Forsaking Priorities?
II. Rehoboam Did Not Fear Discipline - v2 And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD, 3 With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen: and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt;
Here we see that the sins of Rehoboam result in the chastisement Rehoboam and Israel sinned and God used Shishak and Egypt as his method of punishment. God sends the Egyptians to take away all their gold and their valuables. God used the people of the world to chasten His people.God saved us to deliver us from our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He wants to use us for His glory. Are you doing what you have been called to do? Are you living as one changed by the hand of God? If you are not, He will chastise you because you are HIS CHILD!
Chastisement is real! If you are squandering the opportunities and talents that God has given you, you WILL face discipline from your Heavenly Father. Some here today may be like Rehoboam. - You have Neglected Responsibilities …You Do Not Fear Discipline and as we move further we see that Rehoboam abandoned broke promises
III. Rehoboam Was Inconsistent v-14
In verse 1, Rehoboam walks away from the Lord. In verse 6, he repents. “the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous.” In verse 12, he humbles himself. “And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him,”But look to verse 14 – “And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.” There is great inconsistency in the life of this king.
Here, we have a picture of someone who repents with words when he thinks he is in trouble.(these actions fit the bill of someone who is not sorry for what they have done but only sorry that they got caught!) I can’t tell you how many people have come to this altar and “rededicated” their life to Christ one Sunday and haven’t returned yet! How many empty promises have you made to the Lord on Sunday & forgot come Monday?
There are some who have good intentions and fail, then there are some who blatantly put on a show. Rehoboam was one of these type men.
IV. Rehoboam Chose The Easy Way Out v9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made. 10 Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that kept the entrance of the king's house. 11 And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guard chamber.
The Egyptians took the three hundred shields that Solomon had made from gold they hung in the palace. These shields were taken down by the king’s guard when he went to the Temple to worship. These shields would shine as Rehoboam made his way into the Temple to worship.As a result of the theft, Rehoboam commissioned the metal workers to fashion three hundred new shields of brass. When polished, these brass shields would gleam like gold, but when the king and the guards knew that they were inferior and only a false substitute for the missing shields of gold. Brass is cheaper & much easier to acquire and far more common than gold. Unlike gold, brass must be polished constantly because it tends to tarnish. Whereas gold was tempered and durable, brass was cheap and flimsy.Rehoboam tried to deceive the people by preparing an inferior substitute. Instead of gathering his army to go and recover what the enemy had taken, he chose the pathway of hypocrisy and compromise. Rehoboam took something that was cheap and offered it up as something that was pure and valuable. From start to finish we have seen that this king did not do much with what he was given. How about you?
Here is a man who not only inherited the throne…. He inherited a legacy. He was taught right from wrong. He had the knowledge, the ability and the opportunity to do great thingsHe chose to squander all that had been given to him, and do things his way. All he did was make a mess…..
Each day is an opportunity of you to serve… What will you do with what you have been given?
