“Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king. He reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there. His mother’s name was Naamah, an Ammonitess. 22 Now Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they provoked Him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, more than all that their fathers had done. 23 For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and wooden images on every high hill and under every green tree. 24 And there were also perverted persons in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations which the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.” 1 Kings 14:21-24
“Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who guarded the doorway of the king’s house. 28 And whenever the king entered the house of the Lord, the guards carried them, then brought them back into the guardroom.” 1 Kings 14:27-28 NKJV
Lord God Almighty,
Even with the Temple and the history of Your people and Jerusalem, Rehoboam did not attempt to lead according to tradition, Your commands God or good judgement. Though we read later after Shishak king of Egypt came against Jerusalem and took away the treasures of the Lord’s house, the king’s house and everything, Rehoboam does go into the Temple. Too little too late?
But he made no attempt to remove or deal with the idolatrous high places, sacred pillars, and wooden images on every high hill and under every green tree. And the perverted persons. Society was in free fall. Father we see it getting worse and yet we know how their history goes and Your unending faithfulness. Eventually, at the right time, You send deliverance and it will to cover Your people and all nations.
David’s line does continue even through sin and judgement. You hold firm to Your answer to sin, in Jesus Your Son. While we plough through the book of Kings and Chronicles, we could despair, if we did not know all this history is leading to the promise of redemption (John 3:16) and finally to a new earth and a new heaven and glorious joy! (Revelation 7:9,10).
In Jesus name we pry, Amen.
Worship Friday 22nd May 2026
A quote from vertical worship is below the lyrics.
I am holding on to faith
‘Cause I know You’ll make a way
I don’t always understand, I don’t always get to see
But I will believe it, Yes I will believe it
[Chorus]
You make mountains move
You make giants fall
You use songs of praise
To shake prison walls
I will speak to my fear, I will preach to my doubt
You were faithful then, You’ll be faithful now
I am standing on Your word
Calling heaven down to earth
You will fight enemies this will end in victory
I will believe it, Yes I will believe it
Chorus
I know that I know, You never fail
I know that I know, You never will
I know that I know, You never fail
I know that I know. You never will
Chorus twice
Lyrics: Mia Fieldes, Jonathan Smith, Hank Bentley, and Eddie Hoagland (2020)
A band member of vertical worship, said about this song: “It is a song that not just speaks to the faithfulness of God but the story of His faithfulness through thousands of years and how His promises and Word support that message. In whatever situation or season you find yourself in, a temporary remedy will only temporarily satisfy or heal—but the fulfilled promises, the never-changing Word, and the proven faithfulness of God are capable of holding us up and seeing us through anything.”