CROWNED | 1 Kings Chapter 14
- Jun 25
- 6 min read
Week 3 / Day 14
Written by Rae Johnson
INTRODUCTION
Today’s passage is going to revolve around 5 main characters.
First, we have Ahijah - A prophet of God who prophesied that Jeroboam would become king of Israel back in 1 Kings 11, when Solomon was still alive and reigning over Israel.
Second, Jeroboam - An Ephraimite man, whom we have met many times at this point, and who was originally a servant of Solomon until he was selected to be King after Solomon’s death.
Third and Fourth, Jeroboam’s wife AND son - We are not told her name, but the son’s name was Abijah, not to be confused with the prophet Ahijah.
Fifth and finally, Rehoboam - The son of Solomon and king of Judah, the Southern Kingdom.
Now, remember how I said yesterday that things were about to go from bad to worse for God’s people? Well, the “worse” may have started to unravel in 1 Kings 13, but we are going to see it in full force in chapter 14 today! However, before we dive in, let’s take a look at a few details that are important to note!
First, when the nation of Israel split, Rehoboam remained in the immaculate home built by his father, Solomon. This also means he had access to, and ownership of, the massive temple built for the Lord, along with all of its costly furnishings, which you will read today are plundered by an Egyptian King.
Second, in today’s passage, you will read the “final rights”, if you will, of the reign of both Jeroboam and Rehoboam; however, at the close of each section, you will see a statement similar to “the rest of his acts are written in the book of Chronicles of the kings.” It is important to note that though both men play central roles in the narrative of the book of 2 Chronicles (more specifically 2 Chronicles 10-13), the “book of Chronicles of the kings” referenced here in 1 Kings 14 is NOT referencing the books of 1 or 2 Chronicles but a different royal record, which would have been kept by royal court historians.
So the question before us is this - if there is more about these kings and their kingdoms, why isn’t it all noted in the Bible? Why aren’t these “Chronicles of the King” also a part of the written record and account we are reading together today?
To answer that question, we must remember that the Bible is not a history book and, therefore, is not a line-by-line accounting of World history. That type of accounting would (and does) fill libraries! The Bible, however, IS the inspired word of God, holding one unified redemptive message: God is reconciling sinful mankind to Himself through the Work of Jesus Christ. It is God’s living and active “Word” (Hebrews 4:12), and it rightly confronts mankind in our sinfulness and points us toward life in the “Word” who became flesh (John 1:1, 14).
I say all of that to say that it is important to remember that the Bible is not a history book; it is a living word. But that does not discount the importance or value of the broader historical record! Just as science and faith should not be “either-or” subjects, the same is true of the Biblical record and the historical record. They go hand in hand - complementing one another and helping give us a more complete picture of the world around us. However, the ENTIRE historical record of the world is not and cannot be included in the 66 books of our Bibles; therefore, the ENTIRE reigning narrative of these kings is also not included in the God-inspired Biblical narrative.
READ
Now, with that clarification out of the way, go ahead and read 1 Kings 14, and then we will dive deeper into the text together.
REFLECT
We are told right away in verse 1 that King Jeroboam’s son, Abijah, has fallen ill, prompting Jeroboam to send his wife (the child’s mother) to the prophet Ahijah to ask whether his son would recover. Unfortunately, she does not return with good news as the prophet Ahijah confirms her son will die. However, there is a seemingly odd phrase tucked away within verse 13 that I don’t want you to overlook. Let’s reread verses 12 - 13 together:
“Arise, therefore, go to your house. When your feet enter the city, the child shall die. And 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.” (ESV)
Did you catch it? Right there, in the middle of verse 13, the Bible tells us that there is "something pleasing to the Lord” in Jeroboam's son, who is about to die.
Doesn’t that statement seem so odd?? I mean, here we have a king leading himself and an entire nation farther and farther from the Lord, and yet it is the child who is “pleasing to the Lord” that we find being struck with sickness - a sickness which will ultimately lead to his death! It seems almost cruel to take the life of the one person in Jeroboam’s family who has not turned completely away from the Lord. However, what at first sight appears to be an injustice towards this child is actually the Lord’s hand of mercy over him. How?
Remember, Ahijah’s prophecy doesn’t just reveal that the boy will die, but also that God is about to bring total destruction and a violent end upon Jeroboam’s entire family line - everyone except this single child, that is, as he has remained faithful to the Lord, despite the apostasy of his family. So God, in His divine mercy, though He does not spare the child’s physical life, spares him from witnessing or suffering through the horrific, impending judgment coming to the rest of his family.
“Additionally, out of respect for the good found in his heart, the child is the only member of Jeroboam’s family who receives a proper royal burial, as God removes him peacefully before the rest of the kingdom’s doom falls into place.*” That is why verse 13 says he is the only one of Jeroboam’s family who 'shall come to the grave.” It is not saying he is the only one who will die, but rather that he is the only member of the family who will receive the honor of a proper royal burial - for even upon his death, the Lord honors him for his faithfulness.
It’s incredibly hard to see the death of a child as an act of mercy; however, it is important to remember that not only was this faithful child spared from being witness to the horrors of judgment about to fall upon his family, but he was rewarded in full for his faithfulness! Let’s put this into perspective a bit…
Though the Bible refers to him as a child, it does not give an exact age. However, historical records estimate that he was an older child or even a young teen. So this young man was not only remaining faithful to the Lord as an older child, growing into adulthood, but also doing so after being born into a family that held no regard for the Lord and actively lived in opposition to His commands. But even amidst the shambles of the physical kingdom, the boy discovered the beauty of the spiritual kingdom found in the Lord. And I have no doubt that as he passed from this earth and stepped into heaven, he received the words we all desire to hear:
“Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:23 (ESV)
For his life echoed the words of Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7, which were penned shortly before his own death:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (ESV)
What a well-deserved reward this young man received, having faithfully followed the Lord even amidst the most unlikely of circumstances - proving both then and now that, as Romans 1:20 says:
“For since the creation of the World God’s invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (NIV)
RESPOND
Oftentimes, we can justify our lives and actions by pointing to “the hand we are dealt” in life. However, Jeroboam’s son remained faithful to God despite growing up in a home that actively rejected Him. How have the people or environments around you influenced your faith - for better or worse? In what ways are you choosing to follow God regardless of the example others set?
The Lord saw “something pleasing" in Jeroboam’s son that others may not have noticed. If God were to examine your heart today, what would He find? What areas of your life reflect genuine faithfulness, and what areas still need surrender?
Today’s passage reminded us that God’s perspective is often very different from our own. Can you think of a situation in life where something that felt painful, disappointing, or unfair later revealed God’s wisdom, protection, or mercy? What does that teach you about trusting Him today?
Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” If your life were evaluated by those words, what would need to change for you to finish your race faithfully? What is one practical step you can take this week to strengthen your walk with Christ?
Comments