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Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Study Headquarters
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Speaker 1: I'm John Stangi, and today we're in Second Chronicles, chapter eleven,
Speaker 1: and we'll be reading from the New Living Translation. When
Speaker 1: Reeboham arrived at Jerusalem, he mobilized the men of Judah
Speaker 1: and Benjamin one hundred eighty thousand select troops to fight
Speaker 1: against Israel and to restore the kingdom to himself. But
Speaker 1: the Lord said to Shemaiah, the man of God, say
Speaker 1: to Raeboam, son of Solomon, King of Judah, and all
Speaker 1: the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin. This is what the
Speaker 1: Lord says. Do not fight against your relatives. Go back home,
Speaker 1: for what has happened is my doing. So they obeyed
Speaker 1: the message of the Lord and did not fight against Jerobom.
Speaker 1: Raaboam remained in Jerusalem and fortified various towns for the
Speaker 1: defense of Judah. He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tacoa, beth Zur, Soco, Adulem, Gath, Marishah,
Speaker 1: zith Adoram, lakish Azakah, Zora, Ajalon, and Hebron. These became
Speaker 1: the fortified towns of Judah and Benjamin. Raaboam strengthened their
Speaker 1: defenses and stationed commanders in them, and he stored supplies
Speaker 1: of food, olive, oil, and wine. He also put shields
Speaker 1: and spears in these towns as a further safety measure.
Speaker 1: So only Judah and Benjamin remained under his control, but
Speaker 1: all the priests and Levites living among the northern tribes
Speaker 1: of Israel sided with Reebom. The Levites even abandoned their
Speaker 1: pastures and property and moved to Judah and Jerusalem. Because
Speaker 1: Jerobom and his sons would not allow them to serve
Speaker 1: the Lord as priests. Jeobom appointed his own priests to
Speaker 1: serve at the pagan shrines, where they worshiped the goat
Speaker 1: and calf idols he had made from all the tribes
Speaker 1: of Israel. Those who sincerely wanted to worship the Lord,
Speaker 1: the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem, where
Speaker 1: they could offer sacrifices to the Lord, the God of
Speaker 1: their ancestors. This strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and for
Speaker 1: three years they supported Raeboam, son of Solomon. For during
Speaker 1: those years, they faithfully followed in the footsteps of David
Speaker 1: and Solomon. Raeboam married his cousin Mahalath, the daughter of
Speaker 1: David's son Jeremath, and of Abihail, the daughter of Eliab's
Speaker 1: son of Jesse. Mahalath had three sons, Jayush, Shamaria, and Zahm.
Speaker 1: Raabeam married another cousin, Maka, the granddaughter of Absalom. Mikaw
Speaker 1: gave birth to Abaija, Atai, Ziza and Schelomyth. Reyaboam loved
Speaker 1: Macaw more than any of his other wives and concubines.
Speaker 1: In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and
Speaker 1: they gave birth to twenty eight sons and sixty daughters.
Speaker 1: Rayaboam appointed Makaw's son, Abaijah as leader among the princes,
Speaker 1: making it clear that he would be the next king.
Speaker 1: Raaboam also wisely gave responsibilities to his other sons and
Speaker 1: stationed some of them in the fortified towns throughout the
Speaker 1: land of Judah and Benjamin. He provided them with generous provisions,
Speaker 1: and he found many wives for them. Let's pray, Lord,
Speaker 1: we thank you for your word, and we thank you
Speaker 1: for the privilege of being able to look at it
Speaker 1: together today. And Lord, as we look at this portion
Speaker 1: of Scripture, we can see that in and among the
Speaker 1: kingdoms of Israel and Judah, that there were people who
Speaker 1: had hearts that were bent on worshiping idols, and there
Speaker 1: were people who had hearts that were drawn to worship You.
Speaker 1: And Lord, that illustrates the difficulty that we, as human
Speaker 1: beings face on a daily basis. We're always wrestling with
Speaker 1: false gods, We're always wrestling with inadequate objects of worship,
Speaker 1: and we forget you far too quickly. But Lord, we
Speaker 1: know that through faith in your son Jesus Christ, we've
Speaker 1: been given the mind of Christ, and we've been given
Speaker 1: the eyes of Christ and the heart of Christ, and
Speaker 1: that our lives can be spent worshiping You, giving you
Speaker 1: honor in every aspect of what we do. And so, Lord,
Speaker 1: today's a new day, and we're grateful for it. We're
Speaker 1: grateful for every opportunity that you give to us in
Speaker 1: this world to live another day for your glory. And
Speaker 1: we pray that every day you entrust to us would
Speaker 1: be a day that we pour ourselves out in worship
Speaker 1: toward You, that we would honor you in the things
Speaker 1: that we dwell on in our minds, that our lips
Speaker 1: would speak words that bring you honor and glory, and
Speaker 1: that the actions that we take throughout the course of
Speaker 1: the day would also honor your name. We're grateful, Lord that,
Speaker 1: by your grace you empower us to actually do these things.
Speaker 1: And so we commit this day to your care, and
Speaker 1: we thank you for your presence with us in it.
Speaker 1: We pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.