NOVEMBER 25, 2025 – PUNISHMENT

READ: 1 Kin. 14:21-31: … His mother’s name was Naamah, an Ammonitess. Now Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord …

Rehoboam, the eldest son of Solomon who became king of Judah, also did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. In him we see Solomon’s apostasy continuing. This was also influenced by his mother, an Ammonite and head of Solomon’s great harem (2 Chron. 15:16). Like his father, he also took many wives: 18 queens and 60 concubines (2 Chron. 11:21).

However, he went further than his father, so that the tribe of Judah surpassed even the sins of the judges’ era. They built their own high places and various sacred structures..

A kind of mixed religion developed, in which they combined the service of the LORD with pagan elements. They even adopted the immoral Canaanite ritual  of male cult prostitution.

In all this, they became no different from the nations the LORD had driven out before Israel. All of this was detestable and aroused the LORD’s wrath.

The LORD not only wanted to punish these serious sins but also to discipline the king and the people so that they might return to Him; thus He showed His love and faithfulness.

The LORD carried out His punishment by sending King Shishak of Egypt against Jerusalem. He came with a vast army (2 Chron. 12:2). He captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem. Only then did the leaders and the king humble themselves before the LORD, although Rehoboam’s heart was not truly turned to Him (2 Chron. 12:6,12,14).

As a sign of God’s judgment, King Shishak took away all the treasures of the temple and the palace. Rehoboam replaced the golden shields with bronze ones, which were then guarded.

Thus, what had been built up under faithful King David and in the early days of Solomon under the LORD’s blessing, was now ruined under a king who did not truly love the LORD.

 How do we keep our worship pure?
Sing: Ps. 94:5,6