God Who Rules Over Sin
(1 Kings 14: 21ampsim31)
Jesus first message on earth was Repent. The time is near. The constant theme of our sermons is that Gods chosen one repents even at the last moment. God urges us to repent and see our sins, which is possible only in Gods time. This relies on Gods grace, which includes his system to deal with our sins. Jeroboams life ended with Gods judgment. As for Rehoboam, however, God ruled over his sins and save him from judgment. It is a blessing if God deals with our sins on earth. How can we enjoy it?
1. Dwell in the structure where true worship is offered. Rehoboam, the first king of Judah, was enthroned at 41 and reined over Judah for 17 years. God chose Jerusalem out of Israel to put his name on. God also chose us to put his name on. Yet Rehoboam committed sins, which stirred up Gods anger more than his forefathers. The benchmark of Gods evaluation on kings is not their success in politics or economic policies, but how they were good in the eyes of the LORD. Rehoboam showed his self-righteousness instead of Gods absolute righteousness. This traces back to his mother Naamah, an Ammonite, who served Molech. The name of a kings mother is not mentioned in the chronicles of the kings of Israel, yet it is mentioned in that of Judah. This shows us how important a mothers role is in Gods redemption history. Even Solomon, son of David and Bathsheba, failed to keep his faith. How much more are we affected by circumstances! So was Rehoboam affected by his mother. Yet, notice that he reigned in Jerusalem for 17 years, the city that God had chosen even while he was committing sins. Thus he stuck to the holy city where God ruled over his sins. However, Jeroboam, who worshiped God in his own way, didnt recognize his sins despite trials. Having one tribe is a blessing. While Jeroboam was living a hellish life in delusion, struggling to keep his ten tribes, Rehoboam stayed in the city of Gods choice for 17 years with his one tribe, worshiping God humbly. Gods people can make mistakes, yet they can be saved as long as they stay in their Jerusalem. So it is with our children. As long as they dwell in the structure of a true worship community, they will be saved from the torrents of the world, even while drifting away, by remembering their parents faith application.
2. Both Rehoboam and Jeroboam committed sins. Theres no exception among us in committing sins. Like Israel, Judah also set up altars and Asherah poles beside the spreading trees and on the high hills. This caused Gods rage. We need to notice the subject is Judah not Rehoboam. This shows us how important a leader is. According to 2 Chronicles 12, Rehoboam kept the Word during his first three years, yet as soon as his kingdom prospered by Gods grace, he turned away from it to the altars of idols, which Israel copied. Gods love for us is often described as a lovers jealousy for his beloved. Therefore, as Gods bride, we need keep our chastity, our holiness. Yet we offer ourselves to sex, money, and our children as instruments of wickedness instead of offering ourselves to Christ as instruments of righteousness. Among many detestable sins, the sin of male shrine prostitutes is especially infectious. Homosexuality is not love, but a sin. It is an abominable sin that stands against the Lord, His order, and His command to us 'Be fruitful and increase in number.' The homosexual desperately needs to know God, yet probably they are the last people to do that. Romans 1 describes twenty one sins in one verse, but it describes the sin of homosexuality in two verses. We need to pray that they will lay down their sin and accept God as their Lord.
3. The remnant is the one who repents despite Gods judgment. The detestable sins of Jerusalem finally brought about Gods judgment. God punishes his beloved ones. Yet the people of Judah didnt recognize how detestable their practice of idolatry was, so God sent Shishak king of Egypt to them. To the Israelites, Egypt was a fearful kingdom to which they had been in slavery for 400 years. God trains us with fear. No wonder Egypt took the gold shields of Judah. Solomon ignored Gods command not to accumulate gold and handed down his gold shields to his son, who was unable to handle them until they were pillaged by the Egyptians. So Rehoboam made bronze shields, which reflects that his kingdom is still under God grace even though it had lost the glory of God. The guard who bore shields and returned them to the guardroom shows us that Rehoboam kept visiting Gods temple after Shishaks invasion. God is the true shield that protects us. There was continual warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam, which was caused by their idolatry. Rehoboam, to whom the warfare was a trial, listened to prophet Shemaiah. In 1 Kings 12:24, God said that Israel and Judah should not fight against each other because their division was caused by God. The real problem is the warfare among us or in each of us. We have our continual warfare because we dont forgive others. Instead we blame them. The same war can be a good training to believers while it is disaster to unbelievers. Remembering his promise to David, God had Rehoboam buried in the City of David despite his weakness while he left Jeroboam alone because of his idolatry. Repentance is the only way to the heavenly kingdom. Gods chosen people repent at least at their last moment. Repentance, which belongs to Gods sovereignty, is also triggered by mans free will. Therefore, its the mark of Gods selected one. Rehoboam did that. The worst of all kinds of war is the one among brothers or within a family. We need to support Rehoboam if anyone, who considered his war humbly and seriously.
Heres the confession from one of our deacons. 'I used to be a Sunday Christian, a doctor working at a university hospital. After quitting my job, I became a small group leader of our church in 2018, touched by the message that I would be a sinful father whose legacy is nothing but sins. Then I got involved in a bribery incident, where I felt nothing could be concealed. I was afraid of losing my license and job rather than repenting. My Babel Tower was my job and recognition. Yet I was able to live out a year thanks to the prayer of my mokjang family and Gods promise of recovery through his judgment, I was also blessed to restore the relationship with my wife after confessing my sins to her. Even though things are still pending, I pray that I will meet God in my circumstance.' This deacon has volunteered in the parking lot of our church for four years. He has borne his bronze shields, coming from and going back to his guardroom. We are all under Gods judgment for our sins. However, He blesses only the one who repents to be his one remnant.
And Rehoboam rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David. His mothers name was Naamah she was an Ammonite. And Abijah his son succeeded him as king.(1kgs 14:31)
