Chapter 164. 1 Kings 14. Jeroboam’s Son.
INSTEAD of repenting and forsaking idolatry, after the warning from the man of God, Jeroboam grew worse and more hardened every day. He made again priests of the high places of the lowest of the people and taught the people idolatry. It became a sin to the house of Jeroboam, to cut it off from the face of the earth. At that time Jeroboam’s son became ill. God in his goodness was again speaking in that way to this hardened sinner. But Jeroboam would not turn from his evil way. He told his wife to disguise herself, and go to Shiloh to the prophet Abijah, who had told him many years before that he should reign over Israel. The prophet would know what would happen to the child, whether he would live or die.
Jeroboam’s wife took a present with her and went to Shiloh, where the prophet lived. Abijah was an old man; his eyes had become dim, so that he could not see. But God told him who was coming, and gave him a message for her and her husband. As soon as Abijah heard her footsteps at the door, he cried, “Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam. Do not try to be someone else. I know who thou art, and I have heavy tidings from God to thee. Go home and tell Jeroboam thus saith the Lord, I made thee king over my people Israel. I took away ten tribes from the house of David and gave them to thee. But thou hast been rebellious and ungrateful, thou hast disobeyed my commandments, thou hast forsaken me and served new gods. Therefore. I will punish thy sin. I will send evil upon thy house. They shall die by the sword and not be buried. The dogs shall eat the flesh of those that die in the city and the birds shall devour their dead bodies in the fields. The child of Jeroboam who is now ill shall die. He only of the house of Jeroboam shall die in peace and be buried. All the people shall mourn for him because there were found some good things in him toward God. I shall raise a King over Israel who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam. Israel also shall be punished. They shall be rooted out of their land because of their idolatry, provoking the Lord to anger. God will give them up because of the sin of Jeroboam, who caused them to sin. Jeroboam’s wife went home and, according to God’s word, when she entered her home, the child died. They buried him and all Israel mourned for him as the Lord had said. Jeroboam reigned twenty-two years, then died; his son, Nadab, reigned in his stead. God’s judgment came quickly on him, for after a reign of two years he was killed by one of his men with all his brethren and every one that belonged to the house of Jeroboam. Thus was fulfilled God’s solemn word against this wicked man. Truly, “The face of the Lord is against them that do evil to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.” (Psa. 34:1616The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. (Psalm 34:16).) In this, the day of God’s grace, “the Lord is long-suffering, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” But it will not always be so; for the rejectors of the Lord Jesus, and the despisers of His grace, sure judgment is coming. “When they shall say: Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them.” Reader, are you safe against that day?
ML 11/05/1916