2nd Chronicles 12; A Tragic Commentary on Rehoboam's Wasted Years

 

"And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord"

2nd Chronicles 12:14

Rehoboam's reign commenced badly with a revolution and the division of the Kingdom.  Nevertheless, he showed great resolve and wisdom in leading a recovery and establishing Judah as an independent nation.  The eleventh chapter details a King who is leading the nation in the right direction both spiritually and practically.  He showed grace in listening to the Word of God, he was prepared to make changes and for three years knew a measure of the blessing of God.

An elderly servant of God who frequented our home often when I was a boy talked about the failures of God's people in old times with the comment, "Its not how you start, its how you finish".  When we come to the end of Rehoboam's reign the sad and tragic comment is that, not only did he finish poorly, he was as a man who "did evil because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord."

Where did it all go so very badly wrong for the grandson of David and the son of Solomon?

1:    Forgetfulness in Prosperity

Chapter 12:1

After three years of progress Rehoboam forsook the law of God.  He deliberately chose to forget the Lord as he became absorbed with self.

Blessings can be dangerous times because they have the knack of leading us into proud places where we glory in self and where we neglect our need of grace.  As Moses lectured the Israelites prior to his departure we must constantly "beware lest we forget the Lord" (Deuteronomy 6:12).  

We need to fear complacency.

But Rehoboam's neglect of God began in his soul.  His heart was not right, therefore he harboured a secret rebelliousness that in time manifested itself openly.  

As Rehoboam forsook the Lord, all Israel departed with him.  Rehoboam was now becoming a power for evil in the land and sadly the faith of many was about following the King rather than God.

2:  Chastening from God

Chapter 12:2-12

Refusing to allow this situation to persist God raised up Egypt to come against Jerusalem and occupy the land.  In the short term the people were deprived of their freedom.  In the long term they became servants of the Egyptians and they lost much of the treasurer that was found in the temple.  The Chronicler is clear that that this took place because the land "had transgressed against the LORD."  The prophet Shemaiah in bringing a word from the Lord told the King "Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Sishak".

God never allows His people to persist in sin.  There will be interventions and there will be chastening. As in the case of Rehoboam, he sometimes hands us over to the enemy as a judgment.  The church at Corinth was commanded to hand an erring brother over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh" (1st Corinthians 5:5). 

Nor will God allow a nation to persist in a course of rebellion.  Wickedness will never prosper.  There will be a day of reaping for this season of apostasy and wilful neglect of the Word of God.

We must learn that God and His law are inseparable.  When we wilfully break God's law we are openly defying the person of God Himself!  And God is not mocked.

3:    Shallow Spirituality

Chapter 12:6-7,12, v14

As a result of the ministry of Shemaiah, at a time when the threat posed by the Egyptians was at its greatest, the King and the princes of the realm humbled themselves.  Their words are noteworthy; "The Lord is righteous".  They were huddled together waiting the final crushing blow from the Egyptian forces when God's word delivered an even more formidable blow and induced a humbling of the King and his arrogant princes.  God's Word never fails to arrive at the right moment.

This humbling saved Rehoboam's life and prevented the destruction of Jerusalem.  Judah was defeated, humiliated but saved as a result of God's goodness.

Despite this encouraging sign the postscript attached to the end of his reign was that "he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord."

His humbling was about outward external reform, a religious display but it was never about a heart that sought after God.

This explains the flop-flop nature of Rehoboam's spiritual life.  There was little depth.  As the son of Solomon he could employ the language, he knew the truth but he did not experience the reality in his soul.  His fundamental flaw was an unregenerate heart.

May God deliver us from shallow, nominal and formal Christianity!

4:    Ungodly Influences

Chapter 12:13

The inspired historian draws our attention to the mother of Rehoboam; Naamah the Ammonitess.  Therefore, this woman, one of Solomon's Gentile wives had an influence upon her son that seems to have lasted beyond the death of Solomon himself.  This may explain Rehoboam's rebellion and shallow religion.  There seems to be some significance in the mentioning of this fact as his reign came to a close.

The importance of being a godly influence for the future generation weighs heavily upon us.

 5:    Continual Weakening

Chapter 12:15

As Rehoboam's dies after seventeen years upon the throne the historian simply says "there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually".  

The division that had festered during Solomon's reign and which caused the revolution at the start of Rehoboam's reign had weakened Israel and caused a continual state of war.  This was part of the judgement of God on account of the sins of Solomon.  

It is a happy thing when brethren dwell together in unity but with sin comes devision and with division comes weakness.

Let us take these things to heart and learn the sombre lessons. 

SIMON CARRYING THE CROSS; Near the Cross (3)

 

“And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon  by name: 

him they compelled to bear his cross.”

Matthew 27:32

Simon of Cyrene was at the end of a gruelling journey from North Africa to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem.  Perhaps he had been resident in the Holy City for a few days and business took him beyond the walls into the country on the eve of the Passover.  Perhaps he had been delayed in his journey only arriving at Jerusalem a few hours before the sacred festivities began.

But whatever Simon’s circumstances, he reached the gate of the old city just as a rather cruel and barbaric procession was exiting.  He could hear the shouts and the obscenities of the soldiers and he could see the beleaguered victims, crosses upon their backs being forced through the narrow streets towards the gate and upwards to Calvary.

He reached the gate just as three condemned men were being pushed through the opening.  Just then one of the men staggered.  It was obvious his blood loss was considerable.  His back bore the deep cuts inflicted by the lictor’s whip that morning.  His face was pummelled and bruised.  His brow has been pierced by something sharp; Simon didn’t know it then but we know that these were the marks of the crown of thorns.  The man could go no further with such a cruel weight pressing upon the torn and the raw flesh. 

A rough arm hauled Simon from the crowd, the cross was laid upon his back and suddenly this unassuming bystander was given a prominent place as an eye witness of the greatest event in world history.

Simon turned his head and he saw His eyes.  

Eyes filled with pain and pity, eyes that were clear and kind and true.  

How could Simon not have been moved as he carried the burden of the cross and walked step by step up Calvary with the Saviour of the World?

As the execution place was reached Simon was pushed roughly back into the crowd.  

He was there when they crucified my Lord.  

He heard the dull blow of the hammer swung low as they nailed my Lord to the tree.  

He watched as the cross was raised up, exposing the Son of God to the laughter and mockery of the callous crowd.  

But as Simon watched the horrific drama unfold he did so as  the man who carried the cross of Jesus.

Chance encounters do not happen.  God works to an orderly plan.  Simon was placed at the gate on that eventful morning because he was chosen to bear the cross.  He was chosen to be identified with Jesus Christ in His greatest agony.

Encounters with Jesus Christ take place today.  Sitting in a church service, listening to a radio programme, reading a Gospel tract, being engaged in conversation, experiencing a time of suffering or bereavement or reading this article...Jesus comes and looks on you...And you feel the power of that look...Eyes that suffered for you out of love are fixed on you today.

Your calling is to see His cross as your cross.  This is what it means to bear the cross.  It is to understand that He died for you, that He took your suffering, your torture and your Hell.  

St. Mark, when recording the life of Christ for the believers in Rome many years later referred to Simon of Cyrene as the father of Alexander and Rufus.  Obviously the readership in Rome knew Alexander and Rufus as being members of their fellowship; at least I can think of no other reason why Mark would record this detail.  This is a comforting indicator that the cross carrier became a follower and he won his boys for Jesus.  

He never forgot the encounter at the gate of old Jerusalem and the day he carried the cross.

Westminster Commissioning Abortion Services in Northern Ireland; Comment for the Tyrone Courier

As a Christian minister I hear about the plans to commission abortion services in Northern Ireland with horror and incredible sadness.

I believe the proposal to decriminalise abortion should have been considered by our representatives within the Northern Ireland Assembly, health being a devolved matter.  Likewise the intended commissioning of these services should be a matter solely for the devolved administration.  The Northern Ireland Executive’s division on this matter reflects the divisions within Northern Ireland society on this profound issue.  

The politicians from within the Northern Ireland Assembly and at Westminster who advocate abortion wilfully ignore the hundreds of thousands within this part of the UK who object, as the consultative process last year demonstrated.

I object to abortion and the intention to commission abortion services in Northern Ireland most vociferously.

My grounds for objection is based upon the humanity which the foetus has inherited from conception; a humanity which the unborn shares with those who have been born.  If killing of children after birth is a crime, then killing prior to birth is also a crime.  Biblically and morally there is no distinction between the humanity of a foetus and a new born baby apart from the fact that the foetus is enclosed and nurtured within the safety of the mother’s womb.

Abortion is often packaged as a being a health care matter for women.  From the moment a woman becomes pregnant she becomes a mother.  Therefore it is not in the interests of a woman’s health for her to abort her baby.  There are psychological and moral implications when a mother chooses to terminate her pregnancy. 

Abortion is described as pro-choice…that a woman has the right to decide what happens to her own body.  This is a red herring.  Do any of us have the right to mutilate our own bodies?  It would be entirely unethical for the NHS or a private health practice to assist us in self harm.  Therefore no-one has the right to do what they please with their bodies if it is harmful or injurious.  On this logic it is equally wrong to choose to deprive the growing infant within the womb, of the most sacred of all rights - the right to life.  I often reflect upon the enormous loss to society…the thousands and millions of people deprived of life with talents and energy and commitment which they could have offered to all of us.  But abortion has tragically and cruelly robbed both them and us.  

I call upon all our politicians with pro-life convictions to bring a motion before the Northern Ireland Assembly to prohibit abortion.  If the motion is lost then I appeal to them to continually bring this matter before the legislature as often as the procedures allow.  This is the greatest moral crusade of our generation.  Where a past generation was defined by opposition to slavery this generation must be defined by a campaign to give our children not yet born the freedom to live and to be protected within the womb.  

Among David Livingstone’s last writings, recorded on his tomb in Westminster Abbey is the description of Africa, on account of the slave trade, as being “the open sore of the world”.  He longed for the healing of the open sore and we are grateful to be living in an age when society is slowly being healed of the curse of racism.  

But discrimination against children in the womb continues.  Abortion is the open sore of the world in this 21st Century.  Our lawmakers have turned our proud and noble NHS into a killing factory with the implementation of abortion.  Society is horrified when children are murdered, trafficked and abused yet we are numb to the plight of the babies in the womb when the pregnancy is ‘terminated’.  The world continues to be traumatised by the Nazi death camps as those deemed weak and unfit for life were exposed to the ‘final solution’, yet we turned a blind eye and many chose to justify the slaughter of the innocent known as abortion.  

I have the greatest of sympathy for women who feel that this is their only option.  It is our lawmakers, our medical ethics and the attitude of millions in society which have made this tragic choice possible.  Abortion is a societal issue and as a society we share in the collective guilt.  But to those women whose circumstances are bringing them to the place where they feel this tragic choice must be made I say - STOP…there are other options…there is help and support…there is a positive, loving and caring alternative BUT abortion is not the solution…not for you and not for your baby.  

To those who are living with this tragic choice feeling and experiencing the guilt - I bring a message of comfort.  Bring your confession to God, He is forgiving, He will hear you and bring peace to your troubled soul.

I pray for God’s mercy and for an end to this cruel practice.

Peter McIntyre

23rd March 2021

BARABBAS SAVED BY THE CROSS; Near the Cross (2)

 

Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas.  Now Barabbas was a robber.

John 18:40

I don’t know if Barabbas ever looked into the eyes of the crucified Christ.  Perhaps he did and saw the love of one who died in his place.  But even if he didn’t no man alive at the time ever owed so much in a physical sense, to Jesus Christ, as this pardoned criminal.

Barabbas had spent a restless night chained in a dark dungeon.  His years of crime had come to a sad end.  The morning light would herald the day of his death.  He knew enough of the torture of crucifixion to understand the intense pain and suffering that lay ahead of him.

Unknown to this tragic prisoner an intense debate was ongoing at the Jerusalem residence of Pilate, the Roman Governor.  With the crowd baying for the blood of Jesus and with Pilate recognising His innocence Barabbas is introduced as a bargaining chip.  With the Romans traditionally pardoning a condemned prisoner at Passover Pilate presented the crowd two prisoners and one would be released; Barabbas the criminal or Jesus the miracle worker.  

As lighted flooded Barabbas’ dungeon the guards unclamped his chains and announced that he was free to leave.  Piece by piece he established the story of his freedom.

Did Barabbas make his way to Calvary and watch those three crosses being raised up?

Did Barabbas offer a simple prayer of prayer of gratitude for the man on the middle cross who died for him?

No man owed as much to the cross as Barabbas because Jesus died in his place.

Like Barabbas we are condemned.  

Teaching Nicodemas sometime earlier Jesus said that those who do not believe are condemned already.  The sinner sits in death row awaiting the sentence of eternal death.  By nature we deserve the condemnation of God for all eternity in the darkness of hell.

But let us today stand in Barabbas’ shoes, gaze upon the middle cross because Jesus died for us.  As darkness descended upon that lonely hill at midday He would pass through the wrath of God for our sins.  

He did more than die for us.  He took our judgement, our condemnation, our hell.  We owe more to the Son of God than ever we could realise.

As Barabbas walked away that day a free man there is a message of liberty for all those that look by faith to the middle cross, accepting Christ as Saviour.

Is he your Saviour?

Are you saved by what Christ did for you on that cross?

He died for you!

PILATE ORDERING THE CROSS; Near the Cross (1)

 

“Pilate delivered Jesus to be crucified” 

Mathew 27:26

Pilate the Roman Governor of Judaea was anxious.  He was tasked with keeping order in one of the most troublesome of all the Roman territories.  He was entering Passover time when hundreds of thousands of Jews were flooding into Jerusalem.  Nationalistic fervour would be at its highest and mixed with religious energy this was a heady cocktail.  He was aware of the stories of a Messiah, the great deliverer whom the Jews longed for.

As day broke on the eve of Passover Pilate was approached by a delegation from the Sanhedrin.  However much he despised these Jewish leaders he could not ignore them.  If unrest broke out during Passover his soldiers would never be able to hold back the mobs and he would lose his credibility.  These Priests and Pharisees were demanding that Pilate execute a man who claimed to be the Messiah, the miracle worker called Jesus who hailed from Nazareth.

Knowing the Sanhedrin as he did, Pilate recognised their jealous motivation and the innocence of Jesus.  On interviewing Jesus Pilate became increasingly convinced of His innocency.  All that morning he laboured to find a way to set Jesus free.  He offered another prisoner to the people, a murderer called Barabbas thinking that the choice would be for Jesus.  But the demand from the increasingly angry mob was that Barabbas must be released that Passover.  He remonstrated but his words could not prevail.  His wife had a disturbing dream and warned her husband against executing this just man.  Cleverly, the Jewish leadership threatened the Governor by the warning him that acquitting Jesus would put him at odds with Caesar; in other words ‘there will be a heavy price to pay for going against us’.  Pilate finally made his fateful decision washing His hands in a public show of defiance passing the guilt onto the Jews.  

But still it was him that made the choice.  He crucified Jesus.

He crucified Jesus after looking into his eyes of love and pity.

He crucified Jesus after seeing the pain his soldiers had already inflicted in the torture chamber.

He crucified Jesus sinning against his conscience and pressurised by the crowd.

And so Pilate delivered Jesus to be crucified.

Just as Pilate is defined by his tragic choice so men and women in their millions are eternally defined by their response to Jesus Christ.  Some accept Him as Saviour while others reject Him.

What is your choice?

Can you look into those eyes of love, can you look into the face of one who embraced

 that fearful death for you and refuse Him as your Saviour? 

Don’t make the tragic choice which Pilate made!

Accept Christ as your Saviour today.

2nd Chronicles 11; ESTABLISHING JUDAH AS AN INDEPENDENT NATION

Studies in Chronicles

2nd Chronicles 11

 ESTABLISHING JUDAH AS AN INDEPENDENT NATION

Having lost the majority of his Kingdom almost as soon as he was crowned, Rehoboam was tasked with the rather sad duty of consolidating Judah's new position as an independent nation.  This was a responsibility he did not relish nor was it one that he chose but reality dictated that he must must face this circumstance and provide good and wise leadership.

As a result of God's judgement and providential dealings we too are called to face situations which we would have rather avoided but from which we cannot run away.  We are called to serve God and be a light in a society which has become increasingly dark and ungodly.  Like Rehoboam we must face reality and play our part for the good of our people.

1:    Listening to the Voice of God    

Verses 1-4

Rehoboam's instant reaction was to go to war.  He amassed an army of 180,000 warriors to fight against Jeroboam with a view to reclaiming the ten tribes under the headship of David's lineage.  

Rehoboam's 'gut' reaction seemed to be the right the thing to do, yet it was rash and thoughtless.  He did not consider the immense loss of life and the further weakening of the nation.  Above all he never considered that this division of the kingdom was part of God's plan even though it was most damaging.

Sometimes we react to situations according to what seems and feels right at a given point in time.  We do not consider the effect of our words and actions together with the long term consequences.  We can build up a logical argument as to why we are behaving appropriately yet we fail to reflect upon the will of God and how He would have us to respond.

Many people have acted and spoken in the name of God without the blessing of God, like Peter who rashly severed the servant's ear!

Rehoboam, however, was blessed with a man of God called Shemaiah who had the courage to tell the King to stop because this war was not of God.

At this point Rehoboam had the grace to accept his circumstances and the army was stood down.  This was an act of great humility which makes me think rather highly of the young king.

It is a blessing to take advice, to change course, to act with humility.  It is a blessing when God gives us a Word and when he presents us with advice, which is faithful and true, even if goes against what we are planning.

2:    Attending to the Defence of the Realm

Verses 5-12

Rather than go to war Rehoboam spent his energy, time and money fortifying the borders of Judah, therefore protecting his people against attack.

The defence of any nation is a serious business and is one one that governments dare not take lightly.

The defence of the church against backsliding, error and apostasy is a more serious nature which weighs heavily upon the spiritual leadership of the church.

For protection against backsliding and error we fervently preach the Word, attend to means of grace including the place of prayer, we exhort, rebuke, we listen to the Word by responding positively with humility and we administer fair and godly discipline. These aspects of church life are our spiritual bulwarks given to us for our protection.  Let us not tare them down.

Against the onset of apostasy we have erected the bulwark of doctrinal standards, as embodied in the Westminster Standards and our Articles of Faith.  These are statements articulating the principles and truth of Scripture which cannot be shifted.  To do so would be to render us guilty of apostasy, which is total departure from the faith.  We must gather behind these fortifications abiding within the safety of truth.

By the grace of God let us be determined to maintained these bulwarks for our spiritual protection in a wicked day.

3:    Making Jerusalem a Spiritual Centre for all Israel

Verses 13-17

Rehoboam seized an opportunity which was presented to him by the influx of Levites who came to Judah having been unable to remain in the northern territory. These priests of God populated Judah and enabled Rehoboam to establish Jerusalem as the spiritual centre of all Israel.

The Levites under the terms of settlement under Joshua were not given a specific territory.  They were rather dispersed throughout the entire nation.  

When Jeroboam, established the ten tribes as as one nation, known as Israel, he cast off the Levites and in so doing abandoned the worship of Jehovah according to the principles of the Law.  He ordained priests of his own choosing who conducted pagan worship in two centres, which revolved around the worship of golden calves.  No-one in Israel was encouraged to go to Jerusalem for worship because Jeroboam had two new very convenient temples in the north, Dan, and in the south, Bethel.

Jeoboam's unique and man-made religion was devised to create an identity for the northern kingdom which was separate from Judah.  This religion was a strange mixture between the worship of Jehovah and the pagan worship of the Gentile peoples.  It was a new way of doing things.  We must always beware of those who try to introduce new ways into the church of Christ. While we move with the times in terms of external things such as publications and broadcasting we must remain on remain on the same ground in terms of how we worship God and what we believe.  Modernism within the church has been a apostate curse.

Ultimately Jeroboam, afraid lest the lure of Jerusalem and the prestige of the temple would draw the people back to Rehoboam, employed this religious tactic for the preservation of his new kingdom.  Similarly within the evangelical church there are some who believe we must provide the innovations of unreliable translations of Scripture and of modern man-centred music and song into the church to appeal to the culture of this age.  I even heard the simple plain preaching of the Gospel described on one occasion as a 'hard sell'.  Let us never ever sacrifice truth for the sake of popularity! 

The Levites, however, being the spiritual cream of Israel, recognised these innovations as being an apostate religion of convenience. Being bereft of their ministry and purpose they made the journey in their thousands to Judah where Rehoboam welcomed them.   These exiled Levites teach us today regarding the importance of separating from error and putting our faith in God and our loyalty to His kingdom before all other affiliations.

I would suggest also, that these Levites, as a people who naturally had their affiliation  throughout the entire territories of the Hebrew people, were a spiritual bridge that joined the hearts of the faithful in the two nations.

Therefore in Rehobam's early years Jerusalem was established as the spiritual home of the entire nation.  Verse 16 records that many followed these Levites, coming to Jerusalem to offering sacrifices.  This remnant from the ten tribes had a positive effect upon Rehoboam's kingdom in the early years.  

In the following centuries, although there were days of backsliding and apostasy, the fact that the temple remained at the heart of true worship for everyone would in itself be a symbol of unity and a basis for the great revivals that periodically occurred.  This is a most encouraging outcome of the division of the kingdom - a token for good that God in wrath does not forget to be merciful. 

4:    Acting Wisely for his People

v18-23

The final verses of the chapter comment that Rehoboam acted with wisdom in his early administration of the kingdom.  Perhaps he learned the harsh lesson when he dealt so aggressively with the men of Israel at his coronation.  He learned never to take his supporters for granted.  It is a lesson that every leader must learn; that support is borrowed and never claimed as a right.  

Therefore Rehoboam rewarded those who supported him in those difficult days when Jerobam seized his kingdom such as his son Abijah the son of Maachah.  In so doing he prepared Abijah for the throne as his successor.  Although Rehoboam was only forty years of age on becoming King, he acted with considerable foresight considering the welfare of his kingdom.

He also dispersed his family throughout the nation in an effort to make the ruling family friendly and relevant to the people.  In so doing he promoted the unity of his nation.  We must cherish, consolidate and promote the unity of the church, ever fearing the tragic consequences of disunity.

Another example of Rehoboam's wisdom was his choice of wives.  Choosing brides from the House of David he took a different course than that which his father took in marrying Gentile women.  The very reason why the nation was divided was because of the influence of Solomon's brides.  Therefore, it seems that a lesson had been learned, to some degree.

Nevertheless, although Rehoboam learned from his father's sad choice of wives he did follow his father's example in the practice of polygamy.  Such immorality would never enjoy the blessing of God.

For three years Rehoboam did well, acted wisely and laid a decent foundation for future blessings.  But the corrupting influences were never far away.

So it is for each of us individually and collectively.  Let us be aware of our sin and our need of grace.

Restarting In-Person Services - Responding to the Tyrone Courier

 

“Clogher Valley Free Presbyterian Church in common with the policy of our governing body, the Presbytery of Ulster, has been taking the Covid-19 pandemic very seriously in light of the sixth commandment which requires us to protect our own lives and the lives of our neighbours.  As a Church, however, we view the public act of worship as something that is essential for our spiritual as well as our mental health.  Therefore throughout this pandemic we have been endeavouring to strike a balance by taking all sensible and practical precautions, observing the regulations laid down by law while caring for the spiritual and mental health of our people.

Since the onset of the pandemic a year ago Clogher Valley Presbyterian Church has been in a constant state of restriction and we do not foresee a return to normal worship anytime soon.  

On occasions the restrictions have involved a regrettable pausing of in person meetings. During these periods, as was the case in the Spring of 2020 and more recently in January and February of 2021 worship continued through online ministry and Zoom prayer meetings.  Rev Peter McIntyre also hosts a weekly Sunday radio broadcast on Radio Star Country and has produced a series of videos entitled “Hope for the Journey” which received thousands of views.  Despite the challenges of lockdown more people have been reached with the message of the Gospel than would have been the case in normal times.

On the occasions when we are able to gather in-person Clogher Valley Free Presbyterian Church adheres to all Government and health regulations in accordance with our risk assessments.  Only a portion of the congregation can gather each Sunday morning with attendees coming on a rota basis to ensure social distancing.  With hand sanitising while entering and leaving the building, with designated seating and exits, with mask wearing required (except for those who are exempt), with no hymn books in use to avoid contamination and with a fog machine sanitising the building afterwards these are far from normal times.  For those who cannot attend, the services are streamed live.  Sunday school, Children’s Bible Club and Youth Fellowship continue to operate remotely via Zoom.  The Church has invested in order to minister via online in these challenging times.   Therefore we are able, for example, to combine an in-person mid-week Bible Study & Prayer Meeting with a Zoom prayer meeting enabling those who cannot attend to share personally with those who can.

During the course of the pandemic the congregation has been meeting in-person from July 2020 to January 2021 (except for the two week lockdown imposed by the Northern Ireland Executive in November / December 2020) and from 3rd March 2021.  The Northern Ireland Executive has not imposed a lockdown upon churches during this current phase of the pandemic, which we wholeheartedly agree with because as Christians we are absolutely committed to acting with due care and attention balancing our responsibility to pastorally nurture the physical, spiritual and mental well being of our people.  Our return to restricted in-person meetings from the beginning of March was based upon the reductions in infections, of hospitalisations and of deaths as well the “R” rate - all of which we considered to be an answer to prayer.  The worshippers in Clogher Valley are supportive of this approach.  In person meetings are missed greatly and the opportunity to personally gather is greatly appreciated despite the restrictions we are under.

If the Northern Ireland Executive extends restrictions in the future, according to the health and scientific advice, Clogher Valley Free Presbyterian Church will abide by the rule of the Presbytery of Ulster which will consider this matter with the utmost care and attention.  We take our duty as Christian citizens very seriously as the Apostle Paul teaches us so to do in Romans 13.

We are much in prayer that our nation will turn to God, that the sick and bereaved will be comforted, that our doctors and nurses will 

be strengthened, that our businesses will be able to return to some normality and that there will be a merciful conclusion to this most difficult time."

Peter McIntyre

19th March 2021

2nd Chronicles 10; Rehoboam’s Hour of Crisis

                                                                     Studies in Chronicles

2nd Chronicles 10

REHOBOAM’S HOUR OF CRISIS

The shoes of leaders who have been powerful and dominant over a prolonged period of time are exceptionally difficult to fill.  This is true in every walk of life whether that be soccer management, business ownership and political authority as well as in church affairs.  Very often the one who follows immediately after a successful and good leader is destined for failure because the comparisons will prove to be his or her undoing.  

Rehoboam wasn’t  exactly a failure as king, his reign had some commendable aspects particularly in the early years.  History, however, has the habit of judging leaders on one incident  which will be seen as the definition their tenure.  

Rehoboam’s crisis moment came early in his reign.  He was challenged almost soon as he was  crowned.  This challenge would require an incredible amount of diplomatic skill on the part of the young king.  This was Rehoboam’s hour of crisis.  

Times of crisis visit everyone in their journey through life.  

They are defining points along the journey which test us and depending upon our response, we will stand justified or condemned for posterity.

1:  A Providential Crisis

The crisis that Rehoboam as presented with was a problem, which like most problems, had been brewing for some time.  Last week we noted the relevance of the ministry of Ahijah and his message of judgement that Solomon’s family would lose a portion of the kingdom to Jeroboam the son of Nebat who at one time was Solomon’s trusted advisor.  This loss would be the outcome of Solomon’s sin in failing to withstand the  encroachments of idolatry into the kingdom and compromising with the religions of his wives.   Therefore, it was determined by the providence of God that Rehoboam would face this moment. 

Every crisis we face in life is providential.  While we would much rather life did not involve challenges and tests they are part of the fabric of humanity and society.  They strike us personally as well as in our domestic, business, social and church affairs.  But ultimately God is in control and we must accept that he is unfolding a purpose in the darkest of circumstances.

Our society presently is passing through a crisis.  While it is not for us to guess the intentions of God in afflicting the world at this time we must be alive to the fact that we deserve judgement as a society and that we deserve collectively a judgement greater than Covid-19.  At the very least the speaking voice of God must be heard through this plague of suffering.

Tragically such is the manner in which our society is intoxicated with evil and wickedness the voice of God is unrecognised.  The liberal agenda continues to move ahead with its plans to implement abortion and further promote the LGBT agenda in our schools.  There seems to be no end to the depths of depravity to which our society is willing to plummet.  This deluge of evil is a greater judgement, however, than the virus which has caused such mayhem because it feels like the restraining hand of God has been removed.

(Please read this post which I have written this week upon this very subject:

https://cvfpc.blogspot.com/2021/03/depraved-contradictions.html )

We are in days of mounting crisis and the indications are that the darkness is encroaching...but we are called and chosen by God to face this time.

We need wisdom, we require spiritual discernment and we must have an understanding of these very challenging times -  because the Church has a most important role for these times in which we find ourselves.

2:  An Opportune Crisis

 The crisis faced by Rehoboam presented him with an opportunity to deal with the grievances that had been festering in the nation.  Solomon, in order to finance his great and ambitious schemes had imposed a significant tax burden on the people.  This situation could not continue.  When Jeroboam came out of hiding he challenged the king on this very issue.  Rehoboam could have averted the crisis by listening to the wise old men of Israel who understood the grievances.  They encouraged the young king to negotiate, to compromise, to win the heart of the nation by promising a fairer fiscal system.  Such an approach would without doubt have taken the wind from Jeroboam’s sails and enabled the kingdom to remain as one unit.

Crises are opportunities for us to make the correct judgement calls.  On occasions we are called to stand firmly on the side of truth while on other occasions standing for God means wisdom and discretion.  Beyond doubt the older men brought a message of hope based on their long experience.  The capacity to listen to others, to think about the voice of reason and experience is of great benefit in the time of trouble.  God in providence gives us others that we can lean on and consult who can help us through days of turmoil.  Let us not neglect wise counsel.

3:  A Tragic Crisis 

But the younger men fuelled by pride and a sense of self persuaded Rehoboam to impose a stricter regime and tax the nation even more.  These were men with whom the young King was most familiar.  They were ambitious and they feared lest Rehoboam would begin his reign by looking weak.  Their arguments won the heart of Rehoboam and they had tragic consequences that would forever define his monarchy.

They warn us against a proud spirit and an ambitious attitude which fails to assess the situation aright.  Rehoboam’s error was one of pride and shortsightedness which did not listen to the considered voice of reason and experience.  It led to a civil war, loss of life and a divided kingdom with Jeroboam ruling over ten tribes.

Bad decisions have bad consequences.  Let us learn to face our challenges and our crises in a considered way with prayer that God would show us His mind.

But even though the nation was divided God was in control...working out all events in spite of man’s incompetence.

Where we fail...God never fails...let us be comforted by that thought today.

DEPRAVED CONTRADICTIONS

 THE DEPRAVED CONTRADICTIONS 

OF 21ST CENTURY SOCIETY

There is no section of our society more vulnerable, yet more precious than our children.   Christ Himself prized highly the little ones, telling the disciples that they must be allowed to come to Him and condemning those who harmed the children with the strongest of words.

Last week television presenter, Lorraine Kelly, was a part of an excellent ITV production which looked back at the Dunblane massacre, twenty-five years ago, when almost an entire class of primary one children and their teacher were gunned down by a lone psychopath.  In this tearful encounter with the parents of these children the event was called the slaughter of the innocent.

Society quite rightly wrings its hands in despair at such barbarity while at the same time promoting and defending the depravity which will cause untold harm to our children and young people.  Herein lies the wicked contradictions of this generation.

Last week a report commissioned by the Department of Communities looking at a gender equalities strategy for Northern Ireland was published.  This department which is led by Sinn Fein Minister Deirdre Hargey received the report from the advisory panel made up of “experts” in the field.   

The report made some recommendations which I find most disturbing.  It concluded that sex education in Northern Ireland was insufficient because it was not inclusive of the experiences of all young people.  In a manner of speaking the report is recommending that LGBT experiences are included as part of the school curriculum, as well as abortion.  The panel recommended that the delivery of these proposals should not be dependent on the ethos of the school and to achieve this the teaching should be conducted by an outside body and not by the local teachers.  Therefore the principals and local governors would be disregarded and presumably the wishes of parents as well.

In a statement the DUP pointed out that the delivery of education in this way would need to be approved by the Department of Education and by the Northern Ireland Executive.  This certainly appears to be over reach by the Department of Communities and we are grateful that there are those in Government who will oppose these moves but it is troubling that there  are some who want to push such an extreme agenda of perversion and legalised murder onto the most vulnerable in our society.  

There seems to be no end to the liberal juggernaut and its depraved ambition to control and manipulate every part of our lives and to mould the thinking of our children.

Of those who would would dare to promote such a programme aimed at distorting young minds the words of Christ are as true as they were for the Dunblane gunman:

"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."  (Matthew 18:6)

As a church and as parents we must be vigilant and pray much that the Lord would shelter our little ones.  

The most cruel contradiction of all, however, is the murderous act of abortion itself. Already more than 1,000 little babies have been slaughtered in Northern Ireland since the introduction of abortion less than one year ago.  People weep because of the deaths of sixteen primary one children in Dunblane twenty five years ago, plus their teacher who died trying to protect her “wee” class, but are completely without emotion when the law murders children who have a right to life, in the very place God designed for their nurture and safety.  Abortion in the western world, has strange depraved echoes of the Nazi death camps and gas chambers and it fills me with horror.  If there is one sin that will bring God’s wrath upon this United Kingdom, it is the slaughter of the innocent, approved by Parliament, consented to by our Queen and funded by our NHS.  

I am grateful that there is a push back against abortion in the Northern Ireland Assembly led by Paul Givan  MLA.  His Private Members Bill is designed to give disabled children in the womb the same rights as disabled people outside the womb.  If passed abortion will be illegal up to term on the basis of disability.  Our lives are greatly enriched by the disabled children who are blessed with the opportunity to live and contribute to the well being of society.  Nazism saw the disabled as a hindrance and sent them to their deaths with millions of others.  While we want to see abortion abolished all together, if Mr Givan can see his Bill through the Northern Ireland Assembly to Royal Assent, it will provide a platform for arguing against all abortion in totality.  If disabled children have a legal right to protection why not all children?

In the wake of the Sarah Everard murder in London, there has been a huge outpouring of grief, together with a highlighting  of the threats that many women face when walking alone. We rightly defend the rights of our ladies to feel safe and we share in the grief and thoughts that have been expressed.  

But we also must point out the cruel contradiction - we wish to defend the innocent against attack and murder while the same time millions of innocent babies have been robbed of life and little revulsion is expressed.  

While men are responsible for violence against women, which we rightly abhor, it is women who make the choice to have their unborn babies “terminated”.  Men, however, are responsible too , having fathered the children, and in many cases refusing to take responsibility for them, therefore persuading mothers that they have little option.  Depravity crosses the gender barrier and encompasses people of all generations and ethnic backgrounds reminding us that “all have sinned”.  Yet we must be sympathetic at the plight that some of these women find themselves in and accept that the moral and legal structures of society make it possible for them to make this tragic choice.  This is absolutely a society wide problem which we collectively must take ownership of.  We must stand up and say - Abortion is not the solution.

These cruel contradictions are symptomatic of a society sickened by selfish and heartless brutality. They illustrate most graphically the brokenness of a people who have ignored God and risks being abandoned by Him.

As a church we must must face the challenge biblically and prayerfully for the sake of the next generation.

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” ( 2nd Chronicles 7:14).