Chapter 12:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 2 Samuel 2 Kings
1 Kings 12
Concise Complete
Rehoboam's accession, The people's petition, His rough
answer. (1-15) Ten tribes revolt. (16-24) Jeroboam's idolatry. (25-33)
Verses 1-15 The
tribes complained not to Rehoboam of his father's idolatry, and revolt from God.
That which was the greatest grievance, was none to them; so careless were they
in matters of religion, if they might live at case, and pay no taxes. Factious
spirits will never want something to complain of. And when we see the Scripture
account of Solomon's reign; the peace, wealth, and prosperity Israel then
enjoyed; we cannot doubt but that their charges were false, or far beyond the
truth. Rehoboam answered the people according to the counsel of the young men.
Never was man more blinded by pride, and desire of arbitrary power, than which
nothing is more fatal. God's counsels were hereby fulfilled. He left Rehoboam to
his own folly, and hid from his eyes the things which belonged to his peace,
that the kingdom might be rent from him. God serves his own wise and righteous
purposes by the imprudences and sins of men. Those that lose the kingdom of
heaven, throw it away, as Rehoboam, by wilfulness and folly.
Verses 16-24
The people speak unbecomingly of David. How soon are good men, and their good
services to the public, forgotten ! These considerations should reconcile us to
our losses and troubles, that God is the Author of them, and our brethren the
instruments: let us not meditate revenge. Rehoboam and his people hearkened to
the word of the Lord. When we know God's mind, we must submit, how much soever
it crosses our own mind. If we secure the favour of God, not all the universe
can hurt us.
Verses 25-33
Jeroboam distrusted the providence of God; he would contrive ways and means, and
sinful ones too, for his own safety. A practical disbelief of God's
all-sufficiency is at the bottom of all our departures from him. Though it is
probable he meant his worship for Jehovah the God of Israel, it was contrary to
the Divine law, and dishonourable to the Divine majesty to be thus represented.
The people might be less shocked at worshipping the God of Israel under an
image, than if they had at once been asked to worship Baal; but it made way for
that idolatry. Blessed Lord, give us grace to reverence thy temple, thine
ordinances, thine house of prayer, thy sabbaths, and never more, like Jeroboam,
to set up in our hearts any idol of abomination. Be thou to us every thing
precious; do thou reign and rule in our hearts, the hope of glory.
Chapter 12:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 2 Samuel 2 Kings
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
