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Reading: 1Kings
14:21-15:24; Psalm 50:22-23; Proverbs 13:1
And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was
forty-one years old when he became king. 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. His mother's
name was Naamah, an Ammonitess. Now Judah did evil in the sight
of the LORD, and they provoked Him to jealousy with their sins
which they committed, more than all that their fathers had done.
For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars,
and wooden images on every high hill and under every green tree.
And there were also perverted persons in the land.
They did according to all the abominations of the nations which
the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. It happened
in the fifth year of King Rehoboam that Shishak king of Egypt
came up against Jerusalem. And he took away the treasures of the
house of the LORD and the treasures of the king's house; he took
away everything. He also took away all the gold shields which
Solomon had made. Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in
their place, and committed them to the hands of the captains of
the guard, who guarded the doorway of the king's house. And
whenever the king entered the house of the LORD, the guards
carried them, then brought them back into the guardroom.
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? And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their
days. So Rehoboam rested with his fathers, and was buried with
his fathers in the City of David. His mother's name was Naamah,
an Ammonitess. Then Abijam his son reigned in his place.
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam
became king over Judah. He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His
mother's name was Maachah the granddaughter of Abishalom. And he
walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before
him; his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the
heart of his father David. Nevertheless for David's sake the
LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, by setting up his son
after him and by establishing Jerusalem; because David did what
was right in the eyes of the LORD, and had not turned aside from
anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except
in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. And there was war between
Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. Now the rest of
the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in
the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was
war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
So Abijam rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the
City of David. Then Asa his son reigned in his place.
In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became
king over Judah. And he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem.
His grandmother's name was Maachah the granddaughter of
Abishalom. Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as
did his father David. And he banished the perverted persons from
the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
Also he removed Maachah his grandmother from being queen mother,
because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. And Asa cut
down her obscene image and burned it by the Brook Kidron. But
the high places were not removed. Nevertheless Asa's heart was
loyal to the LORD all his days. He also brought into the house
of the LORD the things which his father had dedicated, and the
things which he himself had dedicated: silver and gold and
utensils.
Now there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all
their days. And Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and
built Ramah, that he might let none go out or come in to Asa
king of Judah. Then Asa took all the silver and gold that was
left in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the
treasuries of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand
of his servants. And King Asa sent them to Ben-Hadad the son of
Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who dwelt in
Damascus, saying, "Let there be a treaty between you and
me, as there was between my father and your father. See, I have
sent you a present of silver and gold. Come and break your
treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from
me."
So Ben-Hadad heeded King Asa, and sent the captains of his
armies against the cities of Israel. He attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel
Beth Maachah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
Now it happened, when Baasha heard it, that he stopped building
Ramah, and remained in Tirzah. Then King Asa made a proclamation
throughout all Judah; none was exempted.
And they took away the stones and timber of Ramah, which Baasha
had used for building; and with them King Asa built Geba of
Benjamin, and Mizpah. The rest of all the acts of Asa, all his
might, all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they
not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. So
Asa rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in
the City of David his father. Then Jehoshaphat his son reigned
in his place. (1Ki.14:21-15:24)
WORSHIP:
Now consider
this, you who forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there
be none to deliver: Whoever offers praise glorifies Me and to
him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of
God. (Ps.50:22-23)
WISDOM:
A wise son
heeds his father's instruction,
But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. (Prov.13:1)
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