A Meditation on 1 Kings 14-16

July 18, 2006

Hey there everyone. Joe again. Larry was a little under the weather today, but again, I didn’t want to leave the blog empty. Something has to get up each day–at least in my mind! Take this for what it is worth…

I am reading 1 Kings right now. A few days ago I read chapters 14-16. Chapter 14 recounts the prophecy against the wicked king of Israel (the northern 10 tribes) Jeroboam. If you don’t recall, he led the northern tribes into idolatry, immediately after the split of the nation (after Solomon died and his son Rehoboam took over). Anyhow, the Lord pronounced judgment on Jeroboam for his great sin and for leading the people of Israel into sin. The Lord said through His prophet Ahijah, “behold, I will bring harm upon the house of Jeroboam and will cut off from Jeroboam every male, both bond and free in Israel, and will burn up the house of Jeroboam, as a man burns up dung until it is all gone” (1 Kings 14:10). Of course, the Lord says more, but that sums things up well.

Now, later on in chapter 15, we find the fulfillment of those words. Baasha conspired against Jeroboam’s son, Nadab and, after killing Nadad and becoming king, killed the rest of Jeroboam’s house. Verses 29 and 30 of chapter 1 Kings 15 say this, “And as soon as he [Baasha] was king, he killed all the house of Jeroboam. He left to the house of Jeroboam not one that breathed, until he had destroyed it, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite. It was for the sins of Jeroboam that he sinned and that he made Israel to sin, and because of the anger to which he provoked the Lord, the God of Israel.”

That seems pretty clear enough to me. You too? I would think. The cutting off of Jeroboam’s house was clearly the Lord’s judgment. Right? Yes, right. But there is still more. Take a look at the beginning of chapter 16. Baasha has become king and also led the people in idolatry. Therefore the Lord sends His prophet and pronounces the same judgment on Baasha. Fair enough yes, but don’t miss verse 7. It says, “Morever, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and also because he destroyed it.”

Did you catch that? It takes your breath away doesn’t it? You have the Lord pronouncing judgment on Baasha for two reasons: 1) B/c he also led the people into idolatry and walked in rebellion himself and 2) B/c he killed the house of Jeroboam!

This is glorious and makes me marvel at our awesome God! The judgment upon Jeroboam’s house was from the Lord, but that does not mean that Baasha did not sin in doing so. God ordained the sin, but Baasha was wholly responsible for it! Our great, sovereign, all-wise God ordains and uses sin to accomplish the will of His good pleasure. He dishes out judgment through means and men that He will soon judge for those same acts. And you find this all over the Scriptures!

Let it take your breath away brothers and sisters! By God’s Spirit, let such truth make you appreciate and admire the glory of our sovereign, infinitely wise God!

Admiring Him with you,

Joe

Posted by Joe | Filed Under Seeking Him 

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