• Abijam took the throne of Judah at the death of his father Rehoboam ( 1 Kings 15:1)
• And, like his father, Abijam sinned against God (vs 3)
• Also, like his father, Abijam warred against Jereboam (2 Chronicles 13:2)
• He pleaded with his brothers to the north not to rebel against God (vs 5)
• And he warned them of the futility of fighting God (vs 8).
• They were ostracized for their liberal ordination policies (vs 9-10)
• He declared the God was on his side (vs 12)
• God proved this by delivering Judah from the ambush that Jereboam had set for them (vs 16-18)

• When Jereboam abolished the Levite priesthood in the North, the Levites moved south ( 11:13-16)
• Rehoboam, like his father Solomon, had many wives and concubines (vs 18-21)
• Like many others, when Rehoboam was established he forssok the law of the LORD, and he led others to do so also (12:1)
• God sent Shemiah the prophet to warn the people about their sin; and the people repented. (vs 5-8).
• Rehoboam did evil because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord ( 2 Chronicles 12:14 ). What preparations have you made to seek the Lord?

Jereboam, through his wife, is told that he will lose his kingdom (vs 1-16)

His 22-year reign is ended (vs 20)

The southern tribes fell into idolatry, too (vs 22-24)

• high places
• images
• groves
• sodomites
• heathen abominations

Shishak the Egyptian king invaded Judah and carried away the golden treasures of the Lord’s house (vs 25-26)

Jereboam received authority over the 10 northern tribes of Israel because Solomon’s love for God had dissipated.

Sadly, Jereboam loved God less than Solomon did; and Jereboam, also, lost his kingdom.

• he encouraged people not to go to Jerusalem to the Lord’s temple (1 Kings 12)
• he made 2 golden calves to represent God (remember Aaron’s sin)
• he established worship centers in Bethel and Dan
• he made high place temples
• he abandoned the Levite priesthood
• he established his own holidays and religious feasts to mimic those of Israel
• he offered sacrifices upon his own altar

God sent an unnamed prophet to denounce Jereboam (I Kings 13)

Jereboam, resisting the prophet, saw his hand wither, and begged the prophet to pray for him (vs 5-6)

Contrary to God’s command, the prophet was distracted from his journey home, believed a lie, and he subsequently lost his life because of his disobedience.

The religious liar who tempted the man of God, requested to be buried alongside the dead prophet

Acts 1:9-11

• Solomon reigned 40 years; and he was succeeded by his son Rehoboam
• Instead of ingratiating himself to the people, Rehoboam alienated himself. All of this because he forsook the wisdom of his elders.
• The majority of the land rebelled against Rehoboam’s strong-arm tactics, and they allied themselves behind Jereboam. Thus was God’s promise/threat to divide the land under Jerboam fulfilled.
• When Rehoboam proposed to stop the insurrection, God forbade it.

• Charity/kindness (vs 1-4)
• Since you don’t know the complete will of God, you should work hard, but expect trouble (vs 5-8)
• Judgment day is coming (vs 9-10)

Ecclesiastes 12

• Remember that you have a Creator; remember your Creator (vs 1)
• A figurative description of aging (vs 2-8)
  • winter, not springtime, of life (vs 2)
  • hands, legs, teeth, eyes (vs 3)
  • lips, mouth, voice/hearing, loss of sleep (vs 4)
  • feebleness, fear, hair loss, loss of appetite (vs 5)
  • spinal cord, brain, heart (vs 6)
  • death and decay (vs 7)
• An example of teaching others (vs 9-12)
• The conclusion: Fear God (Ecclesiates 12:13-14)

• Does your face shine? (vs 1)
• Do you honor your political leaders? (vs 2-4; 1 Peter 2:17; Daniel 4:37)
• Do you know that you will die? (vs 5-8)
• Are you bossy, or a bully? (vs 9)
• Do you not see that, in the end, evil shall be punished? (vs 10-13)
• Do you wonder why some things happen contrary to what you expect? (vs 14-17)

Ecclesiastes 9

• Does anyone know his earthly future? (vs 1-3)
• Life and death stir up many questions (vs 4-6)
• Enjoy the life that God has given you (vs 7-10)
• Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, things don’t work out (vs 11)
• The snares and pitfalls of life (vs 12-13)
• The forgotten (and unappreciated) wise man (vs 14-18)

Ecclesiastes 10

• Don’t destroy your reputation in a moment of foolishness (vs 1-3)
• Learn how to behave before your king (vs 4, 20)
• The world is often upside down (vs 5-7)
• You reap what you sow (vs 8-10)
• Words of wisdom; words of folly (vs 11-15)
• Your choice of king (vs 16-17)
• Idleness, ease and money (vs 18-19)

Ecclesiastes 1-7.