We had a little "book club" discussion at our Elders and Wives Retreat this weekend at the Oregon Coast. I am still here, and it was a fabulous discussion about being relationally connected with God.
I really liked it, and it was part of a Bible Book Club post I wrote earlier in the week and thought I would just include it here.
Heartily recommend this book. It is simple but so CORE to what it is all about!
1 Kings 12:21-24 parallels 2 Chronicles 11:1-4
BACKGROUND
Judah's King Rehoboam (933 - 916 B.C.)
The 1 Kings account of Rehoboam recounts the event, but the 2 Chronicles account centers around the divine purpose behind those events that we read in 2 Chronicles 10:15: "So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of events from God that the LORD might establish His word . . ." The question was would Rehoboam listen?
In this chapter, Rehoboam did. He heard and obeyed God's message through Shemaiah. As a result, God blessed him building projects (5-12), his people (13-17), and his family (18-23).
The King of Israel, Jeroboam had put his own priests in place and led the ten northern tribes into worship of goat and calf idols; but for three years, King Rehoboam led the people of Judah into the worship ordained in the Law of Moses. This resulted in the migration of many priests and Levites in Israel to true worship in Judah.
Even though Rehoboam was blessed with many children and acted wisely in the distribution of his sons through all the territories of Judah (11:23), he did disobey God by taking eighteen wives and fifteen concubines (Deuteronomy 17:17). We know that was the downfall of his father Solomon!
REFLECTION
Rehoboam had three glorious years. Let's bask in that for a while because I hate to say it, it won't last!
So, what is going to keep us walking with God for the long haul? Do we want to finish well? YES!!!!!!!
So, what why did Rehoboam succeed for that three years?
". . . they listened to the words of the LORD . . ." (11:4)
" . . . He acted wisely . . ." (11:23)
There is a simple pattern here: Listen and act upon what God tells you!
APPLICATION
This is the key to a day to day, 24/7/365 life of walking with the Lord: Listen and obey. I know it sounds simple, but that is it.
I am reading a sweet book with the elders and wives of our church called More Than Ordinary: Enjoying Life with God by Doug Sherman (turns out I know the man that discipled him and wrote the foreward to the book!). It is a very simple concept, but it is about walking with Him 24/7/365.
The principles in this book are super simple. If every believer followed them, their lives would be transformed! Sadly, we can sometimes be like Rehoboam.
So, if you are in it for the long-haul. Get this book! I love it, and maybe you will too!
Click HERE to read a sample of the first chapter. It will give you a little taste of it.
If you have a Kindle, it is only $3.79, and the first chapter can be sent wirelessly as a sample for free. Click HERE.
PRAYER
Lord, empower us to listen and obey for the long haul! We want to live extraordinary lives for You. Amen.
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