Justin Houtz

1 Kings 12, Philippians 3, Ezekiel 42, Psalm 94

DateVersionReading Plan
October 9, 2024ESV (2016)M’Cheyne Plan 2024

1 Kings 12

Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, went to Shechem, the location of his coronation, about 40 miles north of Jerusalem. When Jeroboam heard of this, he returned from Egypt to which he had fled from king Solomon. The assembly of Israel came to Rehoboam, requesting that he lighten the heavy yoke that Solomon had placed on them. Rehoboam told the people to go away for three days and then proceeded to seek counsel, first with the “old men”, an unknown group that “likely includes some of the officials listed in 1 Kings 4:1–19.” (FSB). The old men advised Rehoboam to treat the people kindly and be a servant to them. However, he abandoned their counsel and sought that of the young men who had grown up with him. The young men told Rehoboam to increase the yoke of the people, whereas under Solomon they were disciplined with whips they would be disciplined more harshly with scorpions. Rehoboam moved forward with the counsel of the young man and spoke to the people accordingly, that he would increase their burden. The turn of affairs fulfilled the Lord’s word as was prophesied by Ahijah (1 Kings 11:29–39) and “validates the division of the kingdom.” (FSB)

When the people saw that Rehoboam did not listen to them, they declared that they had no portion in David, leaving Rehoboam to reign over the people in Israel who lived in the cities of Judah. “Rehoboam had no idea how close he came to losing everything—but for God’s grace and the Davidic covenant.” (CSB Notes) Rehoboam sent Adoram, taskmaster over the forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. As the CSB Notes states, “The northerners killed him in a particularly insulting way, and Rehoboam barely escaped with his life.” When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, but God through Shemaiah spoke to Rehoboam that he was not to fight against his relatives. They listened the word of the LORD and went home again.

Focus then shifts to Jeroboam, who built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim. Jeroboam said in his heart that “God might prove untrue and the people of the north might return to the house of David.” (CSB Notes). Jeroboam took counsel and made two calves of gold and told the Israelites that they were their gods who brought them up out of the land of Egypt. “The king then set up a new system of worship for the people to keep them from going to Jerusalem for worship.” (CSB Notes) This continued in the creation of temples and high places along with pagan priests who were not of the Levites. Jeroboam appointed a festival “on the fifteenth day of the eighth month. This festival apparently replaced the observances in the seventh month, Tishri, which included both the Day of Atonement and the Festival of Ingathering (Ex 23:16; also known as the Festival of Shelters).” The complete departure of the people worshiping the LORD revealed that their hearts were far from Him. “Their fathers had worshiped a calf before and were punished for it (Ex. 32). Solomon had erected high places and lost most of his kingdom for it (chap. 11). Korah and his followers had tried to usurp the priesthood and lost their lives for it (Num. 16). These innovations by which Jeroboam sought to secure his kingdom only ensured its eventual downfall.” (BBC)

Philippians 3

Paul calls the brothers to rejoice in the Lord and beware of the dogs and evildoers, “probably refer to the same group of men—false teachers who sought to put Christians under the laws of Judaism and taught that righteousness could be obtained by law-keeping and ritual.” (BBC) He told them to put no confidence in the flesh and that if anyone had such confidence, he certainly had more. “Paul’s fleshly confidence included heredity and accomplishments. On the issue of his heredity, circumcised the eighth day (lit “an eighth-day one”) placed him in a special group whose parents scrupulously kept the law. A Hebrew born of Hebrews means he had impeccable credentials. This countered those who may have assumed otherwise because Paul was from Tarsus.” (CSB Notes)

Paul counted his righteousness not to be of his own but from God that depends on faith. “Paul described his new aspirations in three ways: gaining Christ and being found in him, having a Christian righteousness, and attaining resurrection from the dead.” (CSB Notes) In humility, Paul gives admission that he had not already obtained this nor was he perfect but that he pressed on to make it his own. By this, Paul advises that the church “should live up to whatever light the Lord has given us.” (BBC) Paul told them to imitate himself and to note those who so walk, referring to “others who were living the same kind of life as Paul.” (BBC) The citizenship of the church is in heaven, now awaiting the Lord’s return and the glorification of our lowly body to be like His glorious body “by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” (Phil. 3:21b)

Ezekiel 42

Description of the temple continues as Ezekiel is led out into the outer court. More details around chambers and buildings along with measurements are given as to the “buildings to the north and south of the inner court complex.” (FSB) The man then instructed Ezekiel that “the rooms Ezekiel has seen are holy chambers for the priests’ use. The sacrifices and the holy garments must remain in these chambers and not be taken into the outer court.” (FSB) Once finished with measuring the interior of the temple area, Ezekiel was guided out of the gate that faced east and measured the temple all around. The east, north, south and west sides were 500 cubits all around. It also had a wall around it, 500 cubits both wide and long, to make a separation between the holy and the common. “At a height of only 10.5 feet (see Ezek. 40:5), its purpose was not defensive. It served to mark a boundary between the sacred space of the temple and the ordinary space around it.” (FSB)

Psalm 94

“Yahweh avenges. So how long will the wicked endure? God’s discipline brings wisdom. God will judge the wicked and restore the righteous. I can take joy in God’s unfailing love.” (Bible: A Reader’s Guide)

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