A Bad King’s Good Son
Bible Text: I Kings 14:1-8 | Preacher: Alan Conner | Series: 1 Kings, 2006
Northwest Bible Church – April 30, 2006 – Worship Service – Alan Conner
1 Kings 14:1-18
A Bad King’s Good Son
INTRO
AHIJAH – THE PROPHET
Ahijah the Shilonite (from Shiloh), successor to Nathan and the predecessor to Elijah.
1) The old are still useful to God.
2) Blind but behold he sees.
JEROBOAM – THE IDOLATROUS SEEKER
1) Jeroboam the idolater (14:7-9).
2) God’s judgement (vv. 10-12).
Jeroboam had contact with two godly prophets: Ahijah (ch. 11), the man of God (ch. 13) without any sanctifying effect. This is not good. The word of God will either, 1) by Spirit soften our hearts to Him, or 2) harden our hearts.
3) Troubles drive many to become temporary seekers of God.
The sickness of the son was to drive Jeroboam to forsake his idols and return to the Lord. As Spurgeon says, “The Lord, usually brings forth the rod before he lifts the axe.” One last opportunity for repentance.
Instead of godly sorrow and seeking the Lord, Jeroboam masterminds this elaborate scheme to get a blessing for his son or at least information about his future. Instead of going himself, he decides to send his wife. He probably fears being denounced and judged by the holy prophet.
Many seek God for all the wrong reasons. Selfishness, personal gain, healing for sick loved one – – – but there is no shred of true faith in it. It is all for self, nothing for God.
JEROBOAM’S WIFE – THE PRETENDER.
1) She came disguised (v. 2).
2) She brings the prophet a gift (v. 3). A FEE FOR HIS SERVICES.
Her cover was blown before the show even started (vv. 5-6).
Lesson: We cannot fool or deceive God.
3) She returns home to the death of her child (v. 17).
ABIJAH – THE GOOD BOY RECEIVED AN EARLY GRAVE
1) Abijah, had something good in him (v. 13).
Let us be clear, this good was not of his own making for “There is none who does good, there is not even one” (Rom. 3:12). Christ said, “There is only one that is good.” Whatever good was found in this boy is there by the sovereign grace of God. But surely this child was a believer. “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Grace was found in his heart. Notice that “something good was found toward the Lord God of Israel.” There was some holy faith that was reaching out to the God of Israel.
2) Abijah’s name revealed his character. “YAHWEH IS MY FATHER.”
3) It was God’s blessing that he died (vv. 10-11).
He would escape the terrible death of the rest of his family. His body alone will come to the honorable grave, all others would be ripped and torn asunder and turned into scraps that never make it under ground. (v. 10-11).
Let all good parents seek to cultivate good in our children.
SUMMARY