Ahijah's prophecy against Jeroboam

1 Kings Chapter 14

King Jeroboam's son became very sick and Jeroboam told his wife to disguise herself and seek the prophet Ahijah at Shiloh. He told her to take him gifts of bread, cakes and honey and ask his advice on the boy. She did as he said and the old prophet could no longer see, but the Lord told him Jeroboam's wife was coming pretending to be someone else and she would ask about her son. The Lord said to give her the answer from the Lord.

Ahijah heard the queen's footsteps and called her the wife of Jeroboam and asked her why she was pretending to be someone else? He told her he had bad news and the message was from the Lord. God said, "I promoted you from the ranks of the common people and made you ruler over my people Israel. I ripped the kingdom away from the family of David and gave it to you. But you have not been like my servant David, who obeyed my commands and followed me with his heart and always did whatever I wanted him to do. You have done more evil than all who lived before you." The Lord also said that Jeroboam had made other gods and turned his back on the Lord and for that the Lord would bring disaster on his dynasty and kill all your sons. God would burn up Jeroboam's royal dynasty and the members of his family who died in the city would be eaten by dogs and those who died in the fields would be eaten by vultures.

Then Ahijah told Jeroboam's wife to go home and when she entered the city, her child would die. And the boy would be the only family member who would have a proper burial. And Ahijah said the Lord would raise up a king over Israel who would destroy the family of Jeroboam. Then God would shake Israel and uproot the people and scatter them, for they angered God by worshiping Asherah poles. And God would abandon Israel because Jeroboam sinned and all of Israel sinned along with him.

So Jeroboam's wife returned to Tirzah and the child died as she walked through the door of her home.

Meanwhile, Rehoboam, son of Solmon, was king in Judah and reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem. During his reign the people of Judah did what was evil and angered God. They built pagan shrines and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. They imitated the detestable practices of the pagan nations. And in the fifth year of Rehoboams reign, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and ransacked the temple and stole everything, even the gold shields. So Rehoboam made bronze shields and put them in the care of the palace guard officers so they carried them whenever the king went to the temple. When Rehoboam died, he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David and his son Abijam became the next king.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Asherah poles were idol worship. Wooden images made for the worship of Asherah, a Canaanite mother goddess.
There are three books mentioned in 1 Kings and 2 Kings, all are historical records of Israel and Judah and God directed the author to write them. However, no copies of these books has ever been found.
King Shisak of Egypt resented Solomon's success and so invaded the land when Rehoboam was in power. His army was not strong enough to destroy Judah and Israel, but he weakened them so much that they were never the same.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Look at how quickly the riches of Solomon were destroyed and stolen away. When God is gone from our lives even in this day, we are left with feeling useless. How quickly our own lives can be destroyed, our souls stolen, when God calls us to justice for our terrible sins. But unlike the ancient Israelites, we always have hope- because we have the light of the world in Jesus Christ to carry us through. He forgives us and lights our way to him. Pray to him on a daily basis. Come to know him intimately. He is your savior!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home from the hospital and having rehab for the paralysis on one side of her body. Continue to pray for her recovery.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: She has shed the feeding tube and is taking formula on her own! But breathing problems are still with her, though improving all the time. She continues to have a long road, so prayers are still needed. She has been moved to a St. Louis hospital.
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake,those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.