The Houses of the Lord
READ 1 Chronicles 17:3-6
Where has the Lord dwelt in Israel?
From tent to tent.
From tabernacle to tabernacle
(could be “the” Tabernacle or could be people, as your body is an earthly
tabernacle).
READ 1 Chronicles 17:10-14
What house will the Lord build for David?
A family.
What was the House of the Lord that Christ was to build
and who is to build it?
It is a House or Family of God
- those who become His sons and daughters to sit on His throne forever.
Solomon (raise up thy seed… he
shall build me a house).
Christ (came from David’s
lineage; establish his kingdom; establish his throne forever; he shall be my
son; settle him in my house and in my kingdom forever).
How is the House of the Lord established?
Through the covenants of the
Temple that lead sealed men and women back into the presence of God in the
flesh.
This is not referring to the
establishment or construction of a building, although the rites of the building
enable the establishment of the true house or family of the Lord – on earth as
it is in heaven.
READ 1 Kings 9:2-7
What will happen if the House of Israel forsakes the
Lord and refuses to be adopted into His House?
They will lose the land.
They will lose the temple/tabernacle.
They will lose their exaltation.
They will not enter into the
rest or presence of the Lord (“this house, which I have hallowed for my name,
will I cast out of my sight” - see v7).
The Division of Israel from
Judah
Watch for how Israel’s fate is
bound up with how they regard both of these “Houses” of the Lord
Who was Jeroboam?
A servant of King Solomon.
An Ephraimite (see 1 Kings
11:26).
A skilled worker and leader
(see 1 Kings 11:28).
Ajijah, a prophet, tells Jeroboam
that the Lord will rend the Kingdom of Israel out of Solomon’s hands and give
ten of the tribes to him. This was due
to Solomon’s idol worship and forsaking of the Lord.
READ 1 Kings 11:37-38
What will the Lord give Jeroboam if he walks in His
ways?
The Lord will be with him.
He will build for Jeroboam a
“sure house”.
He will give Israel to him.
Solomon finds out about this
and tries to kill Jeroboam, who flees to Egypt until the death of Solomon.
READ 1 Kings 12:1-4
What does this action tell us about Jeroboam?
His vow to submit to Rehoboam
seems honest.
The terms (lower taxes) seem
reasonable.
He has received a promise from
the Lord that if he is righteous, he will be blessed with a kingdom, but he is
willing to put that to the side for the good of the people (lower taxes for
all).
READ 1 Kings 12:6-7
What are the old councilors teaching Rehoboam?
How to have power in the
priesthood (READ D&C 121:41-46).
How to lead like Christ did -
a “servant leader” (READ John 13:4-16).
What is the Lord’s approach to leadership?
Serve.
Love.
Guide/advise.
Sacrifice for/intervene on
behalf of.
How do servant leaders, like Christ, influence people?
We love them because they
first love us; that love is shown in their sacrifices for us.
They guide people to a place
they (the leader) have already arrived at – they are out in front and have
valuable knowledge.
READ 1 Kings 12:13-14
Why would Rehoboam chose to rule like this?
It is the nature and
disposition of almost all men… to exercise unrighteous dominion (READ D&C
121:39).
Arrogance and pride - the
natural man.
What do you think will happen?
The northern tribes will rebel
(see 1 Kings 12:16).
The prophesy regarding
Jeroboam is realized (see 1 Kings 12:20).
The Apostasy of Both Israel and Judah
READ 1 Kings 12:26-28
What is the biggest threat to Jeroboam’s power in the
Northern Kingdom?
The temple is a critical part
of the religion and is located in Jerusalem – which is now part of the
“Southern” kingdom of Judah.
If people go down there to
worship, they might actually live their religion, become one with their
brothers in the South and reconcile with Judah politically; and then the power
of the South Kingdom’s priests, particularly if they were under the sway of his
rival king, could be the ruin of his Northern Kingdom independence.
Why would Jeroboam do this?
While he seemed to believe in
God to some degree, his heart was with either retaining the Kingdom or it
changed to be that - nothing would be allowed to get in the way of his
kingship, even God.
READ 1 Kings 12:32
Who is Jeroboam worshipping in Beth-el?
Himself!
He invented the golden calf
idea from Israelite history but he knows that the idol had nothing to do with
bringing the people of Israel out of Egypt.
This is really a feast for the
king.
He needs to wrest religious
control from the Southern Kingdom priests and their temple.
READ 1 Kings 14:22-24
Who are they worshipping in Judah?
Baal = the high places and
images.
Ashtoreth = the groves.
How is Judah’s apostasy different from Israel’s?
In Judah the people choose to
go back to the Canaanite gods.
In Israel, the King entices
the people with new gods.
But the outcome of both is the
same - apostasy from the true and living God.
A Righteous Leader
READ 2 Chronicles 14:2-5
How was a righteous king like Asa able to get the
people to repent and turn to God?
They command or compel them to
seek the Lord God of Israel (2 Chronicles 14:4).
They use their military/power
to destroy the sacred sites of the false religions (2 Chronicles 14:2).
People have to submit (2
Chronicles 14:5).
What is wrong with this approach?
The righteousness is on the
head of the king, not the individual.
It violates the plan of god,
which requires agency for beings to progress in light (you cannot compel
righteousness).
READ 2 Chronicles 17:9
How is this a better approach for the King to take?
Honors free will.
Scriptures contain the Word of
God.
Gives individuals an
opportunity to understand the saving doctrines.
Gives individuals an
opportunity to connect with God themselves.
READ Alma 42:27
What is the Lord’s approach to repentance?
You are free to choose.
He will entice and warn you to
follow Him (just as the Adversary tries to entice you to follow him).
There are natural consequences
to your choices.
But it is up to you – it is
non-compulsory.
