Thoughts on the Bible Readings (1 Kings 12; Jeremiah 38, Mark 12) for Aug 17th.

1 Kings 12 tells us of Rehoboam's folly following the death of Solomon. Rehoboam fails to heed the wise counsel of the elders and rather harkens  to the ridiculous reasoning of his entitled peers. The outcome of this is the division of the kingdom, as prophesied by Ahijah. Jeroboam is termed in scripture "the man who caused Israel to sin". Jeroboam set up two golden calves - the one in the north at Dan; and the other in Beersheba in the south. Rehoboam sent his treasurer to collect the tribute from Israel. But they stoned the treasurer causing  Rehoboam to flee in his chariot. Rehoboam then mustered his army but was dissuaded from fighting against his brethren by the prophet Shemaiah who tells the king that the division is from the LORD. To his credit Rehoboam responded to the Word of God and sent the army home. King Jeroboam from the northern branch of the divided kingdom next changes the timing of the feast of worship from the seventh to the eighth month. This idolatrous man made his priests from the lowest of the people. All of this was designed to maintain the division. Jeroboam was fearful that Israel might, if they went to the Feast in Jerusalem, be reconciled to Rehoboam. 

This 38th chapter of Jeremiah told of the malevolent treatment afforded the prophet at the hands of the treacherous princes casting him into the mire (mud) of the cistern. He was rescued by the kind and faithful Ethiopian, Ebed-melech. Our Sovereign recompensed the Ethiopian eunuch's kindness to Yahweh's prophet. After his deliverance Jeremiah presented his entreaties secretly to the king. Jeremiah again counsels the king to save Judah  by surrendering to the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar.

Mark 12 begins with the parable of the tenants of the vineyard which spoke of Israel. The parable tells of the constant rejection of God's servants, the prophets; and the ultimate sin of Israel in rejecting the Son of the Father. The nation's wicked rulers saw themselves in Jesus' words and fulfilled the prophecy of our Lord in plotting Jesus' death. Christ's enemies make several attempts to undermine our Lord's authority. The chapter shows that each prominent party posed hypothetical questions. The first was from an alliance of the Herodians, who were pragmatists who were prepared to cooperate with Rome, and the arch enemies of the Herodians - the Pharisees. The question from this unholy alliance was on taxation. The master not only answers majestically, but he directs their minds to God's claims on them. We are next told of the Sadducees posing their question on resurrection. This sect were the priestly class. They were wealthy and used their power to accumulate wealth. The Sadducees did not accept the teaching of the resurrection; nor any of the Scriptures apart from the 5 Books of Moses. These hypocrites were likewise confounded by incontestable proof from Exodus 3 - one of the five writings that were accepted by them - of the raising of the dead. The Scribes with the Pharisees pose a problem to our Lord as to which commandment was the greatest. Jesus answers by showing that the entire message of the Law and the Prophets hung equally on the love of God and the love one's neighbour. Christ then turns the tables on his foes through a simple question in two parts;- 1) whose son is the Messiah (easy they thought - David's of course); and, part 2) how then in Psalm 110 is the Christ spoken of as David's Lord? The inescapable answer was that the Christ, Messiah, was greater because he was the Son of God as well as son of David. The chapter concludes with a denunciation of the Scribes and an object lesson from the widow, who gave all.
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