“As for the events of Rehoboam’s reign, from beginning to end, are they not written in the records of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer that deal with genealogies? There was continual warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. Rehoboam rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. And Abijah his son succeeded him as king.” 2 Chronicles 12:15-16 NKJV
“As for the other events of Rehoboam’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? There was continual warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. And Rehoboam rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. His mother’s name was Naamah; she was an Ammonite. And Abijah his son succeeded him as king.” 1 Kings 14:29-31 NKJV
“In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah became king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Maakah daughter of Abishalom. He committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been. 4 Nevertheless, for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong. For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord’s commands all the days of his life – except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.” 1 Kings 15:1-5 NKJV
Father,
We continue to see how 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles cover the same time in history but sometimes one gives us a few more details. So now Nebat is King of Judah. God withdraws his anger at the sins of his people because he has promised David he will always have a descendant on the throne. So he has to keep Jerusalem safe and the line of David. And yet we read David’s sin was not covered over or forgotten. David committed adultery and arranged a murder . . .
The line of David was to fulfill a greater promise to us. There was only one who was good enough to pay the price of sin ( 1 Corinthians 6:20), to rule creation and judge mankind. Emmanuel, God with us, the King who came in the lineage of David (Matthew 1:1-17). Today we stand on Your promises in Jesus, that He went to prepare a place for us and one day we will be with Him (John 14:1-4). That in Him we would be forgiven and adopted and loved eternally (Romans 8:15).
Easter is a historic event just as real as the events we read of in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. The difference is that Easter lives in our hearts as real today as it was when it happened. And the change it has made for those who embrace Jesus is present and eternal. We thank You that You are a God who we can trust, have faith in and have a future with. Even when we have down or off days.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 18th June 2025
I love this version . . .
There is a green hill far away,
outside a city wall,
where the dear Lord was crucified,
who died to save us all.
We may not know, we cannot tell
what pains He had to bear,
but we believe it was for us
He hung and suffered there.
There was no other good enough
to pay the price of sin;
He only could unlock the gate
of heav’n, and let us in.
We may not know, we cannot tell
what pains He had to bear,
but we believe it was for us
He hung and suffered there.
He died that we might be forgiv’n,
He died to make us good,
that we might go at last to heav’n,
saved by His precious blood.
We may not know, we cannot tell
what pains He had to bear,
but we believe it was for us
He hung and suffered there.
Lyrics Cecil Frances Alexander