David’s Legacy Persisted

Synopsis     1Kings 14:27-15:6     5/17/2019 

Rehoboam was king over Judah. But after he had ruled for only five years, Jerusalem was sacked. King Shishak of Egypt came and invaded the city. And when he departed, he looted the temple treasury and the king’s palace.

Along with much other loot, he took the ceremonial shields that Solomon had fashioned out of the gold from Sheba and Tarshish. But Rehoboam replaced the golden shields with shields made of bronze. And he continued to use these in ceremonies involving the temple.  

Rehoboam died after reigning for seventeen years. Abijam, his son, succeeded him as king over Judah. But Abijam was similarly half-hearted in his service to the Lord. And so, he reigned only three years.  

Still, God continued to allow the house of David to rule over Judah. But this was because of David’s legacy and not because of the righteousness of either Rehoboam or his son Abijam.  

David’s Legacy Persisted 

David’s grandson and great-grandson both became kings. But in neither case was their kingship founded on the virtue of the two men. Instead, both men ascended to the throne solely because of the righteousness of their common ancestor.

The Legacy of Christ 

You are an heir to Christ. Like the ancient House of David, His righteousness created the possibility of your life in grace. And so, His legacy is fully manifest in the life you choose to live. 

“But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness.” Rom 8:10