Returning today to 2 Chronicles, we come to chapters 10-12 where we see things in Israel will now begin to fall apart. To review briefly from chapter 9, we saw the Queen of Sheba’s visit to Solomon and all the gold associated with Solomon’s splendor – “Nothing was made of silver because silver was considered of little value in Solomon’s day … and silver was as common as stones” (cf., 2 Chronicles 9:20 and 27). We notice that the chronicler omits some of the inauspicious trivia (i.e., “the apes, baboons,” and Solomon's “many wives”) included in 1 Kings 10-11. We also saw the death of Solomon. Here then, we pick up at chapter 10 with Solomon's successor – his son – Rehoboam. “Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him” (verse 8). Any sensible person would recognize that their advice was juvenile – “Tell the people, ‘my little finger is thicker than my father’s waist … [he] scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions” (verses 10-11). So “the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from God to fulfill the Word of the LORD …” (verse 15). God is working here, and we must understand that He will always fulfill His Word – even when it is given to a scoundrel like Jeroboam. God’s overall, eternal program is more important that keeping disobedient Israelites together as a nation. In fact, His program includes the division that is coming. We see here that Rehoboam’s leadership is rejected, and the kingdom now divides in two – what was once one – has now become two. In chapter 11, we see that Rehoboam mustered a large army to “regain the kingdom,” but God said, “do not go up to fight against your brothers – go home … so they obeyed” (verses1-4). Here, we see that Rehoboam protected the priests and Levites and acted wisely for a period of time (verse 23), but tomorrow, we will see his fall into serious sin.
In Proverbs 20:15-24, we read that, although there is “gold … and rubies in abundance, lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel” (verse 15). God has placed gold and precious stones throughout the earth, but the expression of knowledge and truth are far more valuable. People who make their living deceptively may enjoy some of life’s rewards for a time, but in the end, God ensures that the good things received by such a livelihood go completely sour for them – like “a mouth full of gravel” (verse 17). These proverbs are all practical illustrations to help us recognize that God is in charge, and nothing will get past Him. This is a lesson we must learn over and over again. God hears the “gossip who betrays confidence” (verse 19). He knows if a man “curses his father or mother” (verse 20); He sees if a merchant is using “different weights and dishonest scales” (verse 23). How can that be? Because God is actually the One Who “directs the steps of men, but we cannot even understand our own way” (verse 24). Clearly, from this section, we see that God is the invisible Observer Who knows how to deal effectively with noisy behavior and wayward children.
1 Corinthians 14:1-19 … Over the course of my lifetime, I have observed the inordinate amount of fuss that many Christians make about the spiritual gifts that Paul talks about in 1 Corinthians 12. Today, I think that some well-meaning believers over-emphasize and misunderstand Paul’s purposes for writing this letter. We need to remember that the Apostle was writing to the Corinthian church which, as we have seen, was out of order and fraught with major problems. This includes their misuse of the spiritual gifts - especially the so-called “charismatic” gifts. The main reason these gifts were given to the early church was limited primarily to the cause of evangelism - to attract unbelievers to Christ so the church would grow. All of these gifts are important, but the Holy Spirit does not need our help or our free advertising to manifest the use of any of these gifts. The best use of time spent in church should be given over to worship, to teaching, and to hearing the Word of God. The Holy Spirit is fully capable of the orderly exercise of these gifts as - and through whom - He wills. Unfortunately, the manifestation of many spiritual gifts today (especially the charismatic ones) has become a display that draws attention more to the one who utilizes the gift than to Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit never draws attention unto Himself but always points to the glory of the Son and the Father. The church should recognize that order in the worship service is better than disorder. The invisible Observer knows because He is watching and listening.
Commentaires