Year One, November 9

The Root of the Matter Is Found in Him1

1 Kings 14:1-10; 12-13; 17-18

1At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. 2And Jeroboam said to his wife, “Arise, and disguise yourself, that it not be known that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said of me that I should be king over this people. 3Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall happen to the child.”

Bad people cannot help respecting God’s true messengers. Why did Jeroboam not go to the prophets of the golden calves? In times of great need, the ungodly and those who follow false religions lose their faith in what they claimed to believe in. They begin to look around for something that will provide them more comfort. King Jeroboam had seen the power of the prophet’s word before, so he wanted to hear what he had to say about his sick son. Many sinners are like Jeroboam. In his heart he knew Ahijah was a minister of the true God and that what he had to say was worth hearing.

4Jeroboam’s wife did so. She arose and went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age. 5And the LORD said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. Thus and thus shall you say to her.”

When she came, she pretended to be another woman. 6But when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be another? For I am charged with unbearable news for you. (Those who think they can hide from God will be absolutely amazed. God will unmask them and make them ashamed. Some sinners pretend they are saints, but, “The Lord knows those who are his.”2) 7Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: “Because I exalted you from among the people and made you leader over my people Israel 8and tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, and yet you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commandments and followed me with all his heart, doing only that which was right in my eyes, 9but you have done evil above all who were before you and have gone and made for yourself other gods and metal images, provoking me to anger, and have cast me behind your back, 10therefore behold, I will bring harm upon the house of Jeroboam and will cut off from Jeroboam every male, both bond and free in Israel, and will burn up the house of Jeroboam, as a man burns up dung until it is all gone.”’” (Jeroboam would have no living relatives to continue his name. His whole family was going to be wiped out and his name erased from the families of Israel. God knows how to punish as well as how to bless.)

12“Arise therefore, go to your house. When your feet enter the city, the child shall die. 13And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found something pleasing to the LORD, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam.”

17Then Jeroboam’s wife arose and departed and came to Tirzah. And as she came to the threshold of the house, the child died. 18And all Israel buried him and mourned for him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the prophet.

Matthew Henry says this about this child: “Good people are those who have good things toward the Lord God of Israel. They have good tendencies, good intentions and good desires toward him. If there is only one good thing like that, God will find it. God looks for it. No matter how little it is, he is pleased with it. A little grace goes a great way with great folks. It is so rare to find princes who look with favor on religion, that when they are found, they are worthy of double honor. God fearing characteristics are very special and heart warming when they are found in those who are young. The image of God in miniature has an unusual glow and beauty in it. A good child in the house of Jeroboam is a miracle of divine grace. To be there and not be tainted is like being in the fiery furnace and not being burnt or injured. Observe the care taken of him. He is the only one of all Jeroboam’s family that will be buried and mourned as one that lived an acceptable life. Those that are distinguished by divine grace will be distinguished by divine providence.”3

In this family we trust there are some who have hopeful signs of grace in them. If there are, let them be encouraged by knowing that the Lord notices the smallest amount of grace that may be found in any one of us.

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¹ Job 19:28

² 2 Timothy 2:19

³ Matthew Henry (1662-1714).