Death, Rampant Evil, and Defeat

1 Kings 14:19-31
    19 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he made war and how he reigned, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 20 The period that Jeroboam reigned was twenty-two years. So he rested with his fathers. Then Nadab his son reigned in his place.
    21 And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king. He reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there. His mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonitess. 22 Now Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked Him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, more than all that their fathers had done. 23 For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and wooden images on every high hill and under every green tree. 24 And there were also perverted persons in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
    25 It happened in the fifth year of King Rehoboam that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. 26 And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king's house; he took away everything. He also took away all the gold shields which Solomon had made. 27 Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who guarded the doorway of the king's house. 28 And whenever the king entered the house of the LORD, the guards carried them, then brought them back into the guardroom.
    29 Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 30 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days. 31 So Rehoboam rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. His mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonitess. Then Abijam his son reigned in his place.

The end of both Jeroboam and of Rehoboam reflected the state of God’s people in sliding further away from Him.  Jeroboam who ruled Israel was one who sinned and who made Israel sin.  The son of Solomon, Rehoboam, ruled Judah gave the example and Judah did immense evil in the sight of the LORD, worshiping false gods and engaging in the ungodly practices of the nations who did not know the true and living God.  This led to defeat by Egypt who once enslaved God’s people in the symbolic bondage of sin, but points us all as His people to Christ and a New Covenant of grace (Hebrews 8:8-10).  The promises through Abraham to us all (Hebrews 6:17-19) are unchangeable and absolute in Him.  The failure of Israel in their downward spiral begun here proved that man cannot work the righteousness of God, but that we stand in Christ’s righteousness alone.  Our own efforts only lead to death, rampant evil, and ultimate defeat, but His work is effectual and eternal.  In this grace we therefore stand.  Amen.