C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR MAY 24, 2020 Unit Three: THROUGH THE KINGS, LESSON TEN / PART TWO : TOPIC – ISRAEL DIVIDED (1 Kings 12:1-33; 13:1-10)
C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
God in the Administration of Man.
Unit Three: THROUGH THE KINGS.
LESSON TEN / PART TWO.
May 31st, 2020.
God in the Administration of Man.
Unit Three: THROUGH THE KINGS.
LESSON TEN / PART TWO.
May 31st, 2020.
II. ISRAEL DIVIDED (1 Kings 12:1-33; 13:1-10)
God Himself orchestrated the division of the Kingdom He brought together by Himself. This is a proof that He can discipline How own people, even after they have enjoyed His unlimited blessings and covering. This also shows to us that God is the Almighty who can do what pleases Him at any given time. Man should only be careful not to incur His wrath via actions and words.
God Himself orchestrated the division of the Kingdom He brought together by Himself. This is a proof that He can discipline How own people, even after they have enjoyed His unlimited blessings and covering. This also shows to us that God is the Almighty who can do what pleases Him at any given time. Man should only be careful not to incur His wrath via actions and words.
A. REHOBOAM’S ERROR (12:1-24)
But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him (v. 8).
i. vv. 1-11: God had privileged Rehoboam to reign over the united kingdom (11:43), but there is no sign that he recognised His as the Super Governor. One would think that he was going to consult God in the 3 day’s he asked for (v. 3), like his grandfather, David, would have done, but he approached the elders and then the youths, insisted.
ii. vv. 6-8: Yet, the loving God still counselled him through these elders. May such godly elders not be lacking in the administrations of our homes, churches, communities and nations, in Jesus’ name. Amen. But did he follow God? (v. 8) He who despises godly elders counsel will have himself to blame (Prov. 29:11).
iii. vv. 9ff: We see the Finger of God working underground to fulfil His sentence on Solomon, and promise to Jeroboam. May Scripture not be negatively fulfilled in our lives. Amen.
iv. vv. 16-20: These ones were only acting the script written by God, the Administration of all situations. Are you in tune with Him?
v. vv. 21-24: Look at how the Supervisor of human situations intervened, even uninvited, to quell unnecessary bloodshed. After all, He occasioned their division. Why should brothers be warring against themselves. When situations like this arise amidst us, we must see to know God’s mind, lest we be fighting the wrong fights.
vi. God is the great Mastermind of all times. He decides who falls or rises, all for His pleasure and purpose. May we fulfil His purpose. Amen.
But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him (v. 8).
i. vv. 1-11: God had privileged Rehoboam to reign over the united kingdom (11:43), but there is no sign that he recognised His as the Super Governor. One would think that he was going to consult God in the 3 day’s he asked for (v. 3), like his grandfather, David, would have done, but he approached the elders and then the youths, insisted.
ii. vv. 6-8: Yet, the loving God still counselled him through these elders. May such godly elders not be lacking in the administrations of our homes, churches, communities and nations, in Jesus’ name. Amen. But did he follow God? (v. 8) He who despises godly elders counsel will have himself to blame (Prov. 29:11).
iii. vv. 9ff: We see the Finger of God working underground to fulfil His sentence on Solomon, and promise to Jeroboam. May Scripture not be negatively fulfilled in our lives. Amen.
iv. vv. 16-20: These ones were only acting the script written by God, the Administration of all situations. Are you in tune with Him?
v. vv. 21-24: Look at how the Supervisor of human situations intervened, even uninvited, to quell unnecessary bloodshed. After all, He occasioned their division. Why should brothers be warring against themselves. When situations like this arise amidst us, we must see to know God’s mind, lest we be fighting the wrong fights.
vi. God is the great Mastermind of all times. He decides who falls or rises, all for His pleasure and purpose. May we fulfil His purpose. Amen.
B. JEROBOAM’S ENTHRONEMENT AND ERROR (12:1-33; 13:1-10)
And he said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to you” (1 Kings 11:31).
i. 12:20: God had promised to hand part of the kingdom over to Jeroboam (11:26ff), and Rehoboam had misfired (12:1-19). The unfailing God (cf. Num. 23:19) moved the people to enthrone Jeroboam over what later became the northern kingdom (Samaria).
ii. v. 20b: The all-knowing God preserved Judah for the house of David, according to His Word. They didn’t know He had the Messiah in mind who must come as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Great God, the Administrator of the universe!
iii. v. 25: God was giving Jeroboam establishment and expansion (v. 25). But did he think he was doing it of his own (cf. Zech. 4:6)? Foolishness!
iv. vv. 26,27: For political reasons, Jeroboam thought of stopping God’s people from going to worship Him. He erred in not consulting God for the way out. They same God who had deposited the kingdom (not merited) into his hands.
v. vv. 28ff: He further erred in leading the people God put in his care into serious idolatry against God’s Word (Exod. 20:2,3). Would God allow him go scot-free?
vi. 13:1-10: God sent him His verdict, and proved His supremacy as the unchangeable Governor of nations who enthrones and dethrones (cf. Psa. 5:4ff). Did he change? No, of course. God had to tell him a sad story of himself, bereave him of his beloved son (14:1-18), before himself died, obviously in sorrow (vv. 19,20).
vii. God sent His Word through His servant to Jeroboam, but he became arrogant about it, instead of regretting his actions, repenting and asking God for forgiveness (cf. Isa. 1:18-20; 2 Chro. 7:14). God would have forgiven him, had he repented, and not let calamity befall him and his household, but his heart had been hardened against God, just as in the case of Pharaoh (Exo. 14:4).
And he said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to you” (1 Kings 11:31).
i. 12:20: God had promised to hand part of the kingdom over to Jeroboam (11:26ff), and Rehoboam had misfired (12:1-19). The unfailing God (cf. Num. 23:19) moved the people to enthrone Jeroboam over what later became the northern kingdom (Samaria).
ii. v. 20b: The all-knowing God preserved Judah for the house of David, according to His Word. They didn’t know He had the Messiah in mind who must come as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Great God, the Administrator of the universe!
iii. v. 25: God was giving Jeroboam establishment and expansion (v. 25). But did he think he was doing it of his own (cf. Zech. 4:6)? Foolishness!
iv. vv. 26,27: For political reasons, Jeroboam thought of stopping God’s people from going to worship Him. He erred in not consulting God for the way out. They same God who had deposited the kingdom (not merited) into his hands.
v. vv. 28ff: He further erred in leading the people God put in his care into serious idolatry against God’s Word (Exod. 20:2,3). Would God allow him go scot-free?
vi. 13:1-10: God sent him His verdict, and proved His supremacy as the unchangeable Governor of nations who enthrones and dethrones (cf. Psa. 5:4ff). Did he change? No, of course. God had to tell him a sad story of himself, bereave him of his beloved son (14:1-18), before himself died, obviously in sorrow (vv. 19,20).
vii. God sent His Word through His servant to Jeroboam, but he became arrogant about it, instead of regretting his actions, repenting and asking God for forgiveness (cf. Isa. 1:18-20; 2 Chro. 7:14). God would have forgiven him, had he repented, and not let calamity befall him and his household, but his heart had been hardened against God, just as in the case of Pharaoh (Exo. 14:4).
LESSON DERIVED
1. Leaders should beware, lest they become instruments of fulfillment negative scriptures. And what you do to those before you will eventually be meted on you.
2. Leaders who are misbehaving in any form, should know that they cannot escape the iron rod of God’s justice, unless they repent.
1. Leaders should beware, lest they become instruments of fulfillment negative scriptures. And what you do to those before you will eventually be meted on you.
2. Leaders who are misbehaving in any form, should know that they cannot escape the iron rod of God’s justice, unless they repent.
QUESTIONS
1. Why did God initiate the division of a kingdom He brought together by Himself?
2. After the division of the kingdom, their different kings were still messing up instead of learning from Solomon’s error. Discuss, drawing out lessons for church, family, traditional and political, leaders, etc., today.
1. Why did God initiate the division of a kingdom He brought together by Himself?
2. After the division of the kingdom, their different kings were still messing up instead of learning from Solomon’s error. Discuss, drawing out lessons for church, family, traditional and political, leaders, etc., today.
SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
ANSWER TO QUESTION 1:
i. God did so, firstly, to fulfill His Word which He had spoken through Prophet Ahijah (1 Kgs. 11:29-31).
ii. God did so as a punishment for Solomon’s sins of adultery and idolatry.
iii. God did so to show His supremacy over all, as the Chief Administrator of the universe.
iv. He did so to show us that no man is indispensable in His Kingdom. He can enthrone and dethrone anyone at will and in line with His holiness.
v. The same God who created Satan as an angel of light and made him the archangel was the same God who demoted him and sent him away from heaven to the earth. The same God who made a covenant that priest would always come from the house of Prophet Eli revoked it without being questioned. He has shown to us enough that He alone is the Sovereign God — the unquestionable Governor Himself!
vi. He created the world by His wisdom. He will destroy it at the end of age, by His power. Who dares questions Him!
ANSWER TO QUESTION 1:
i. God did so, firstly, to fulfill His Word which He had spoken through Prophet Ahijah (1 Kgs. 11:29-31).
ii. God did so as a punishment for Solomon’s sins of adultery and idolatry.
iii. God did so to show His supremacy over all, as the Chief Administrator of the universe.
iv. He did so to show us that no man is indispensable in His Kingdom. He can enthrone and dethrone anyone at will and in line with His holiness.
v. The same God who created Satan as an angel of light and made him the archangel was the same God who demoted him and sent him away from heaven to the earth. The same God who made a covenant that priest would always come from the house of Prophet Eli revoked it without being questioned. He has shown to us enough that He alone is the Sovereign God — the unquestionable Governor Himself!
vi. He created the world by His wisdom. He will destroy it at the end of age, by His power. Who dares questions Him!
ANSWER TO QUESTION 2:
i. A generation is supposed to be an improvement on the former, but when a generation repeats the error of the former, the consequences are bound to be repeated too, even in more grievous way.
ii. It has been said that he who does not learn from history is cursed to repeat the disaster in the history.
iii. It is disappointing for Rehoboam and Jeroboam to have fallen unto the errors of their predecessor. Leaders in all spheres must be careful enough not to fall victim of such in their contemporary dispensation.
iv. Leader must be watchful and prayerful to surpass the successes of their predecessor and not repeat their errors, or fall into the same traps as they did.
v. Let leaders in our churches, families, communities, political arena, etc. learn from the mistakes of their predecessors, lest they repeat their failures and experience the consequences.
i. A generation is supposed to be an improvement on the former, but when a generation repeats the error of the former, the consequences are bound to be repeated too, even in more grievous way.
ii. It has been said that he who does not learn from history is cursed to repeat the disaster in the history.
iii. It is disappointing for Rehoboam and Jeroboam to have fallen unto the errors of their predecessor. Leaders in all spheres must be careful enough not to fall victim of such in their contemporary dispensation.
iv. Leader must be watchful and prayerful to surpass the successes of their predecessor and not repeat their errors, or fall into the same traps as they did.
v. Let leaders in our churches, families, communities, political arena, etc. learn from the mistakes of their predecessors, lest they repeat their failures and experience the consequences.
LIFE APPLICATION
The same God who enthrones. He is the one who creates and He can destroy as well. He is just just simply unquestionable, unchallengeable, invincible and sovereign. We must live with the knowledge that God is All in All. He does everything in His own time (not in man’s time), and for His pleasure (not for man’s satisfaction). Man can only propose while God (the One who has the final say) can choose to dispose or approve in His sovereignty. God is the ultimate determining factor in all cases, the Chief Supervisor, Executive Governor, and Overall Administrator of the Universe. The earlier man understands this, the better. Plan your life well, but always be open to God’s sovereign intervention, interruption and interjection at any point. Shalom!
The same God who enthrones. He is the one who creates and He can destroy as well. He is just just simply unquestionable, unchallengeable, invincible and sovereign. We must live with the knowledge that God is All in All. He does everything in His own time (not in man’s time), and for His pleasure (not for man’s satisfaction). Man can only propose while God (the One who has the final say) can choose to dispose or approve in His sovereignty. God is the ultimate determining factor in all cases, the Chief Supervisor, Executive Governor, and Overall Administrator of the Universe. The earlier man understands this, the better. Plan your life well, but always be open to God’s sovereign intervention, interruption and interjection at any point. Shalom!
CONCLUSION
Man’s realisation of God’s totality in the affairs of man is the beginning of wisdom. When it dawns on man that he is absolutely nothing apart from what God has been the import of the lesson we just concluded. We have seen how Rehoboam and Jeroboam chose not to recognise God as the Governor of all nations, including theirs. Their ends are totally undesirable, through in fulfillment of the Scriptures.
Man’s realisation of God’s totality in the affairs of man is the beginning of wisdom. When it dawns on man that he is absolutely nothing apart from what God has been the import of the lesson we just concluded. We have seen how Rehoboam and Jeroboam chose not to recognise God as the Governor of all nations, including theirs. Their ends are totally undesirable, through in fulfillment of the Scriptures.
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS FOR WEEK TWO
Mon. 25: Israel is Idolatrous under Rehoboam (1 Kgs. 14:22-24)
Tue. 26: Israel is Plundered — God’s Judgment (1 Kgs. 14:25-26)
Wed. 27: Rehoboam’s Further Error; God is Unhappy (1 Kgs. 14:27)
Thur. 28: Rehoboam Dies and is Buried (1 Kgs. 14:31)
Fri. 29: Jeroboam’s Error Grieves God (1 Kgs. 12:25-33)
Sat. 30: Jeroboam Incurs God’s Wrath (1 Kgs. 14:7-14)
Mon. 25: Israel is Idolatrous under Rehoboam (1 Kgs. 14:22-24)
Tue. 26: Israel is Plundered — God’s Judgment (1 Kgs. 14:25-26)
Wed. 27: Rehoboam’s Further Error; God is Unhappy (1 Kgs. 14:27)
Thur. 28: Rehoboam Dies and is Buried (1 Kgs. 14:31)
Fri. 29: Jeroboam’s Error Grieves God (1 Kgs. 12:25-33)
Sat. 30: Jeroboam Incurs God’s Wrath (1 Kgs. 14:7-14)