LISTENING TO AND OBEYING THE WORD OF GOD
Saturday, 20th August 2016
2 Chronicles 11:1-23 (NKJV)
Now when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled from the house of Judah and Benjamin one hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.
2 But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
3 “Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
4 Thus says the Lord: “You shall not go up or fight against your brethren! Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me.”’” Therefore they obeyed the words of the Lord, and turned back from attacking Jeroboam.
5 So Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.
6 And he built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7 Beth Zur, Sochoh, Adullam,
8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and Benjamin, fortified cities.
11 And he fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine.
12 Also in every city he put shields and spears, and made them very strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
13 And from all their territories the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel took their stand with him.
14 For the Levites left their common-lands and their possessions and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them from serving as priests to the Lord.
15 Then he appointed for himself priests for the high places, for the demons, and the calf idols which he had made.
16 And after the Levites left, those from all the tribes of Israel, such as set their heart to seek the Lord God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers.
17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years, because they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years.
God loves to speak to His people in order to provide counsel, direction and guidance. Listening to God is a habit we develop as we draw nearer to God through study of His Word, and remain in constant fellowship with Him (1 Sam 3:8-10, James 4:8, Heb. 10:22).Knowing how to recognise the voice of God will protect us from false shepherds who are out to deceive us (John 10:4).
God can speak through His messengers (v. 2), the Bible (John 1:1), nature and events around us, inner witness and ultimately, His Son (Heb. 1:1, 2). Do you listen to God? Can you identify other ways through which God speaks to His people? The benefits of listening to God are incomplete without obeying His word (Duet. 28:1, 2). The obedience of Rehoboam averted a serious war. Peace will reign in many churches, institutions and nations when the leaders and the people listen to and obey God’s Word.
Prayer: Lord, please give me a listening ear, an understanding mind and an obedient heart, I pray. Amen. Also reflect on 1 Sam 15:22.