Christian Education and Discipleship

A Model For Secession - Part 2 of 2

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Education and Discipleship

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2015-09-06

Synopsis: In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver continues his teaching on secession from 1 Kings 12, focusing on the means of secession. He outlines the steps leading to Israel's separation from Rehoboam: confrontation, solicitation, consultation, alienation, and separation. Weaver argues that civil corruption stems from spiritual corruption, and that secession is a lawful response to tyranny. He applies these principles to modern America, encouraging personal secession from ungodly systems and emphasizing obedience to God over man.

[John Weaver] Let's open our Bible today to 1 Kings chapter 12. 1 Kings chapter 12. And we're going to read the first 19 verses. Remember last week I began a message entitled, A Model for Secession. I want to finish that message today. But let's read 1 Kings chapter 12 beginning there with verse 1, And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.

[John Weaver] And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, for he was fled from the presence of King Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt, that they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, father made our yoke grievous. Now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us lighter, and we will serve thee.' And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed. And King Rehoboam consulted with the old men that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do you advise that I may answer this people? I may speak unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then will they be thy servants forever. But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, which stood before him.

[John Weaver] And he said unto them, What counsel give you that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, My father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us. Thus shalt thou say to them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. Now whereas my father did laid you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, King answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him, and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke. My father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

[John Weaver] Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people, for the cause was from the Lord, that he might perform his saying, which the Lord spake by Elijah the Shillanite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? Neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel, now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. But as for the children of Israel, which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute, and all Israel, stoning with stones that he died. Therefore King Rehoboam made speed to get him up in his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day."

[John Weaver] In our first message last week we talked about the motivation for secession. I only gave you one point and that was the motivation for secession. actually I pointed out under that that there were actually two parts to this, spiritual corruption and civil corruption. And I also pointed out that spiritual corruption always precedes civil corruption. Or you could say it another way that civil corruption is the fruit and the result of spiritual corruption.

[John Weaver] You have to understand that when rulers do not fear the Lord they will not follow His Word. One of the characteristics of a tyrant is that he refuses to be bound by God, His sovereignty, and His law. Let me give you just a couple of scriptures without you turning right now. But in 1 Samuel chapter 15, verses 10 and 11, the Bible says concerning King Saul, Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back from following me, and hath not kept my commandments." So here is King Saul whom God allowed to be king and yet he turned his back upon God and refused to obey God and Saul of course literally became a tyrant. Now, God rejected Saul. God took the Kingdom away from King Saul. And the reason He did so is because Saul rejected God's sovereign authority. He refused to obey God. He said, our Lord said very plainly, He has turned back from following Me, and He hath not performed My commandments.

[John Weaver] Now, you have to ask this question, what makes a man a tyrant? Stop and think about that. What makes a man a tyrant? Well, I do want you to hold 1 Kings 12, but I want you to turn to Psalm 2 because the answer is given to us very plainly in this scripture. Look in Psalm 2 beginning there with verse 1. If you want to know what really makes a man a tyrant, here it is. Psalm 2 verse 1. The question is asked, why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing?

[John Weaver] So why is there so much turmoil? Why is there so much vanity? Why is there so much raging? Here is why. The kings of the earth set themselves And the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against His anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us." And in other words, here these rulers, these tyrants, are saying, we don't recognize God. We don't recognize his restraints. We don't recognize his boundaries. We don't recognize his limitations. We don't recognize his sovereignty.

[John Weaver] He has no right to tell us what we can do or what we cannot do. So let's break all of his bands and cast his cords away from us. Obviously a tyrant then is someone who basically denies the sovereignty of God and God's absolute authority and God's law word.

[John Weaver] Now the same truth is stated in Hosea 5 and verse 10. When the Bible says, the princes of Judah were like them that removed the bound, therefore said God, I will pour up my wrath upon them like water. So listen to this, the princes of Judah were like them that removed the bound, or the boundaries. They did not like the limitations that God placed upon them so they said, we will move the boundaries. We'll deny that God gave us these limitations and we'll basically do that which we want to do. So tyranny begins when God's sovereign law word is denied and man comes to believe that he has replaced God. And he's no longer bound by God's law, but now he is a law unto himself and he's able to make up his own law.

[John Weaver] So I pointed this out last week. I'm going to say it again this week. It's impossible to have civil corruption without first having spiritual corruption. Civil corruption is always preceded by spiritual corruption. That's why in Luke 18, verse 4, that tyrant, that unjust judge said, though I fear not God, nor regard man. So, obviously the state that we're in today is because we've turned our back upon God and His law.

[John Weaver] So, let's ask this question, what is the answer to tyranny? how do we escape a tyrannical government and escape it in a biblical manner? The truth of the matter is we cannot participate in such wickedness. We cannot support such a corrupt government.

[John Weaver] Now Jehoshaphat who was a godly man basically, Jehoshaphat who happened to be the king of Judah got into very serious trouble with God for helping Ahab the reprobate king of Israel. And when Jehoshaphat returned home in 2 Chronicles 19 verse 2 the Word of God says this, And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer of the prophet went out to meet him, and said to Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, or love them that hate the Lord? Therefore is wrath upon thee from the Lord. Now how did Jehoshaphat get in trouble? By helping the ungodly and by loving those who hated the Lord. He said, therefore wrath is upon thee. You have to remember that Ephraim the whole ten tribes or the northern kingdom got into trouble with God for walking after the commandments and the statutes and the laws of man. The Bible says in Hosea 5 in verse 11, Ephraim is oppressed broken in judgment," listen now, because he willingly walked after the commandment. So, when man then turned his back upon God, that is the King, as a tyrant, and began to institute his own law, what did those ten northern tribes do?

[John Weaver] They willingly walked after the law of the man, the law of their King, rejecting God's law, and therefore they brought wrath upon themselves. Now, Judah did exactly the same thing. In fact if you look very quickly in your Bibles to 2 Kings 17 you will see how each one of these kingdoms brought the wrath and the judgment of God upon themselves. Notice 2 Kings 17 at verses 7 and 8. 2 Kings 17 verse 7, For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, walked in the statutes or in the laws of the heathen whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel and of the kings of Israel which they had made." So the children of Israel are now walking in the laws and the statutes of the heathen and in the laws and statutes of the ungodly, reprobate kings in the northern kingdom.

[John Weaver] There were no godly kings in the northern kingdom, not one. And so they've traded God's law for man's law and God is judging them.

[John Weaver] Now skip down to verse 19. You'll find that Judah did the same thing. Also Judah kept not the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. Wow! Isn't that amazing? God judged and destroyed the ten northern tribes because of their rebellion against Him. And now Judah does exactly the same thing. Anytime a people willingly and voluntarily forsake God's law and follow man's law, it is idolatry.

[John Weaver] It is the worship of man It is the worship of the state. We have to understand that government is not God. Government is a created institution just like the family, just like the church, and consequently it is answerable and responsible and accountable to the God who ordained it and set it up. And the same God that ordained civil government is the same God that placed the limitations and restrictions and boundaries upon it.

[John Weaver] Now, today I want us to consider one point and that is this, we've seen the motivation for secession. How about the means? What happens when a people secede? What are the steps? Well, here are the means of secession spelled out for us in 1 Kings chapter 12. First of all if you look in verses 1-3 was confrontation. Verse 1, And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, for he was fled from the presence of King Solomon. And Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt, and they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came and spake unto Rehoboam, saying." So here we have a confrontation. Now I want you to note this confrontation took place at Rehoboam's ascension to the throne. He was the son of Solomon.

[John Weaver] He was the grandson of David. Jeroboam was specifically called out of Egypt to confront Rehoboam. Now Jeroboam evidently was a natural leader. I don't know if you remember this or not but I pointed it out last week but if you look in 1 Kings 11 and verse 28 the Bible says this about Jeroboam, and the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious he made him rule over all the charge of the house of Joseph so at one time then Jeroboam worked for Solomon until God chose Jeroboam for the ten northern tribes and now Solomon persecutes him and to save his life he flees into Egypt So now that Solomon is dead, he's called out of Egypt, and he's now going to confront Rehoboam.

[John Weaver] Confrontation is usually distasteful, but it is necessary. And unhappily, tyrants do not like confrontation. And in all probability, made this confrontation what I would say a little bit worse is because Rehoboam is just ascending to the throne. So it should have been a time of merrymaking, and happiness, and celebration, and all of a sudden now it has turned into a very sober confrontation. Because here is Jeroboam in the face of Rehoboam saying, there are some things we need to get straight. Now, please do not say and please do not think, well Jeroboam was just one ticked off individual. He got ran into Egypt and Solomon persecuted him and so he's mad and he's upset and he just wants to get things back. No, that's not it.

[John Weaver] Look in verse 1, And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. Go to verse 3, That they sent and called him that is Jeroboam and Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel Came and spake to Rehoboam. So it's not just Jeroboam It is all the elders of Israel all have come. And by the way, I understand that Rehoboam was ascending to the throne. But please understand this.

[John Weaver] There is never an inappropriate time to discuss liberty, freedom and responsibility with those who are ruling over you or who are about to rule over you. It is right and it is necessary to confront civil rulers. They are not gods Okay, so there was confrontation Secondly, I want you to note there was solicitation look in verse 4 They come in a solicitous mode Jeroboam is not arrogant He's not demanding.

[John Weaver] He simply says this,"'Thy father made our yoke grievous. Now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father and his heavy yoke which he put upon us lighter, and we will serve thee.'" So what Israel wanted then was a benevolent ruler, someone who is going to ease the heavy burden that Solomon placed upon the people.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to understand that secession was not even in view at this particular time All they wanted to do was to get things worked out They said all we want is some relief We want to be able to enjoy our lives and our families and you just need to work with us the solicitation That is enunciated here rested upon a principle that was later enunciated in the Declaration of Independence. Listen to this, Prudence indeed will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes.

[John Weaver] And accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer while evils are sufferable. to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."

[John Weaver] Now stop and think about this. Rehoboam is ascending the throne. Did you know that Solomon reigned 40 years? David reigned 40 years. Even Saul reigned nearly 40 years. So approximately 120 years they've had a king. They've had a monarch. They have not gone up to Rehoboam and said, we are changing things whether you like it or not. They haven't done that. They haven't gone up and said, we're leaving. No.

[John Weaver] All they said is, look, we just want to work with you and we want you to work with us. So secession was not necessarily in their mind to begin with. And by the way, just stop and think about this. As much debate as there is today over the constitution, And regardless of what someone's opinion is concerning the Constitution, I've got friends who believe the Constitution should never have been. Well, whether it should have never been or not is beside the point. It is here now. And you say, well, we want to change it. Well, let me tell you something. You can't change something with nothing.

[John Weaver] And I know that God's law is perfect, and God's law should be what we should go by. But until we can come to that stage there is still the Constitution which is supposed to be the supreme law of the land. And let me tell you something, here it is. The Constitution will not solve all of our problems, I understand that. But do you realize if our leaders just simply kept their oath and observed and obeyed the Constitution, it would resolve a lot of our problems.

[John Weaver] economically because we'd have silver and gold, we wouldn't have paper money, we wouldn't have the Federal Reserve. You understand what I'm saying? So, there are some problems that could be resolved if they would just simply obey. And that's what these people wanted. They wanted Rehoboam just to do what was right, and to work with them and obey what was going on. So, there was a confrontation. There was solicitation.

[John Weaver] And thirdly there was consultation. So, look in verse 5-11, Verse 5, And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, and come again to me. And the people departed. And King Rehoboam consulted with the old men that stood before Solomon his father, while he yet lived, and said, How do you advise that I may enter this people? And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then will they be thy servants for ever. But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, which stood before him. And he said unto them, What counsel give you that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou say unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us.

[John Weaver] Thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than thy father's loins. Now whereas my father did laid you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions."

[John Weaver] Now watch, so there was confrontation, there was solicitation, now there is consultation. I want you to understand this consultation just momentarily because now it looks as if Rehoboam it's not gonna be able to rule the way he wants to rule because now he's got some people Confronting him and soliciting him. Look there are things that are not right in this kingdom And they need to be made right and they need to be made right at this present time So what is the idea of the tyrant here's the idea Let me get some counsel So I can do whatever I can to neutralize the populace. I want to keep the natives calm. Hmm.

[John Weaver] And so what does he do? He asked the old man what he should do. And the old man, by the way, give him excellent, excellent advice. And by the way, I hope you understand When I'm talking about neutralizing the populace, there is not an ounce worth of difference between Democrats and Republicans. They're both into tyranny and control. That's all. That's all. They could care less about their people.

[John Weaver] So the consultation that we get from them usually is absolutely worthless. run over us, do whatever they want to do. But here is the counsel. Look in verses 6 and 7. This is the counsel of the old people. And King Rehoboam consulted with the old men that stood before Solomon, his father, while he yet lived, and said, How do you advise that I may enter this people? Now I want you to look at verse 7. Watch carefully.

[John Weaver] And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, Will serve them and answer them and speak good words to them Then will they be thy servants forever? Ah An interesting thing is this when he says in verse 7 if that will be a servant unto this people the Hebrew word is the word ebed and And the word ebed just literally means a slave, a bondservant, or a manservant. Now look in verse 7 again.

[John Weaver] Let's read it like that. And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a slave, or a bondservant unto this people this day, and wilt be a bondservant unto them, and answer them and speak good words to them watch then they will be thy bond servants forever in other words this thing works both ways this thing works both ways in other words they said if you want this people to serve you you have to serve them if you don't serve them they're not going to serve you by the way based upon this verse The idea of a public servant is a biblical idea.

[John Weaver] That is probably the reason so many today despise and hate that term and designation. They're not up there to be our servants. They're up there to be our masters. And they hate the term public servant. Yet the old men gave the king excellent counsel and excellent advice. But what did he do? He turned to the young man. And they said, you tell those people, now watch this, you tell those people that your little finger is going to be thicker than your father's loins. Where your father placed upon them a heavy yoke, you're going to make it heavier. Where they were chastened with whips by your father, you're going to chase them with scorpions.

[John Weaver] In other words, you show them who's boss. You show them who has the power. You show them who has the authority. You show them who is king. Ah. Do you remember when Naboth refused to sell his garden to Ahab? answered him and said, God forbid it. In other words, he was just being obedient to God. God did forbid him selling that land. What did Ahab do? He went and turned his face to the wall and cried like a baby.

[John Weaver] And Jezebel came in and said, what's wrong with you? Aren't you king in Israel? Get up and act like it. Show them your power. Take what you want. That's exactly the attitude of a tyrant, by the way. So, obviously, Rehoboam then was taking the counsel of the young men, not the old men, because he wanted to demonstrate he's in control, he's in power, this is his kingship, he can do as he pleases.

[John Weaver] Have you ever stopped to think, listen to this, have you ever stopped to think how many churches How many kingdoms and how many nations have been destroyed because of pride, arrogance, and vanity? I could sit here today and tell you illustration after illustration of churches that I know about that have split and gone down the road just simply because of pride. I'm going to show you I'm in charge here. I'm going to show you who runs this place. it just destroys it.

[John Weaver] It is destroying our nation as well. So there was not only confrontation and solicitation and consolation, I want you to look next there was also alienation. Look in verse 15, verse 15, Wherefore the King hearkened not unto the people, for the cause was from the Lord, and he might perform his saying which the Lord spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat."

[John Weaver] Now Rehoboam in his pride and wickedness alienated the children of Israel. Do you realize that is exactly what our politicians and civil rulers have done to us today? They have alienated us. And you know what they depend upon? You know what they count upon? think that yes they are corrupt, and yes they do things that are unconstitutional, they do things that are unbiblical, they do things that are ungodly, but they are counting on the fact that we are forgetful.

[John Weaver] And it's three more years until election time and by that time we will have forgotten all their scandals. Wow. Well the truth of the matter is not everybody forgets. And consequently, they believe that they can continue to violate and usurp and confiscate, and all will be well. The American people as a whole are right now alienated from their government, and rightly so. According to some of the latest polls, Congress and the federal government rank lower than a fungus. Now, that's pretty bad. That's pretty bad.

[John Weaver] All you have to do is observe our country. Dissatisfaction, dissent, and discord abound in every city, in every county, in every state. In fact, recent polls demonstrate that most Americans believe that the biggest problem we have in this country is our government. It's kind of like Ronald Reagan said, Government is not the solution, government is the problem. And it is the problem. Our government today is vastly different than when it was set up in 1787 and 1789.

[John Weaver] Anyone with any biblical sense or constitutional knowledge and character cannot help but be alienated from such a corrupt and ungodly system. Now you find out that Planned Parenthood is not only murdering babies and selling body parts But some babies are born whole and intact and they're selling the entire baby and all funded by the federal government May I ask you How can you help not being alienated from such a corrupt, wicked government? And especially when we have all kind of economic despair because of the fraud in the economic system.

[John Weaver] Besides the communism and Marxism and socialism and everything that's going on that is rampant today. Yes, the people are alienated. I want you to notice if you would please in verses 16 and 17, next there was separation. Listen carefully, look in verse 16, so when all Israel saw that the king Harker nodded to them. Notice it is all Israel again, it is not just Jeroboam. So when all Israel saw that the king Harker nodded to them, the people answered the king saying, what portion have we in David?

[John Weaver] Neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse. your tents, O Israel.

[John Weaver] Now see to thine own house, David.' So Israel departed into their tents. But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them." Alienation always leads to separation. I'm going to repeat that. Listen carefully. Alienation always leads to separation. It did in 1776. It did in 1861. Amos 3 in verse 3 asks this question, can two walk together except they be agreed?

[John Weaver] And the answer is obviously they cannot. Therefore alienation always leads to separation. The full sense of that truth may be perceived when you consider the full scale onslaught of divorce in this country. When husbands and wives are alienated, They separate. Look, if you would, at churches. When there is alienation among the membership or between the pastor and the people or the people and the pastor, there's separation. C.C.

[John Weaver] Gowen wrote a wonderful book years ago. The title of it is Broken Churches, Broken Nations. And he shows when the churches broke up how the nation broke up. And by the way, the same is true in business. What happens to business partners when there is alienation between them? It always ends up in separation. The same thing that is true in the family and in churches and in business is also true in government. Governments are no exception. Alienation makes separation necessary.

[John Weaver] When the South seceded from the North in 1860 and 1861, the most frequently quoted paragraph from the Declaration of Independence by Southern leaders was this, listen, when in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate equal station which the laws of nature and nature's God entitle them." And in other words what they are saying is this, separation is absolutely necessary.

[John Weaver] When you understand that our government is no longer what it started out to be, and that our government today now violates every principle of right, denies and distorts justice, legislates immorality, persecutes and prosecutes for non-crimes, confiscates and taxes everything, takes from producers to give to non-producers, subsidizes laziness, kinkiness, and immorality. One is not only alienated, he's ready to separate. He's ready to depart. Israel seceded from the rule of Rehoboam and his government. Rehoboam wanted to be tyrannical and rule without the consent of the governed. Therefore, the people refused to be governed by Rehoboam.

[John Weaver] And by the way, it was exactly the same thing in 1776 when the colonists said, no, we're not going to be ruled by Georgia III, the tyrant. We're just not going to do it. It was the same thing in 1860 and 1861. the South said, no we are not going to be ruled by Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln violated the Constitution over, and over, and over, and over.

[John Weaver] And once again the Southern leaders used that expression in the Declaration, when in the course of human events it becomes necessary. And they believed it was absolutely necessary. So alienation then makes separation necessary.

[John Weaver] Now let me tell you something, What many people do not understand is that there were many secession movements in this country before the South seceded in 1860 and 1861. But what many people don't realize is this. Prior to 1860 and 1861, all of the secession movements were in the North. Did you know that the North threatened to secede over the Louisiana Purchase? Because they knew the warm water ports down south would just about nullify all the ports in the north.

[John Weaver] There was a cessation movement over the War of 1812 because the Yankees didn't like it because they were losing business because they could not have commerce with England. Not only that, let me just read you something that may really surprise you. early as 1844 the northern abolitionists were calling for secession. They wanted the north to secede from the south. William Lloyd Garrison, a rabid abolitionist and others like him, declared the Constitution to be a covenant with death and an agreement with Hell. Now listen, William Lloyd Garrison, the editor of the Liberator, wrote I'm quoting, no union with slaveholders. May 31st, 1844. At the 10th anniversary of the American Anti-Slavery Society in New York City, May the 7th, it was decided by a vote of nearly three to one of the members present that the existing national compact should be instantly dissolved, that is the Constitution, that secession from the government is a religious and political duty, and that the motto inscribed on the banner, freedom should be no union with slaveholders. And by the way, there were slaves in the North in 1844.

[John Weaver] Slavery was Constitutional until 1808, and it was to remain constitutional until those slaves died out. No more were to be imported. And by the way, while I'm mentioning this, let me mention this very clearly and concisely. Never was there one slave brought over into this country under the Confederate battle flag. It is not a flag of slavery. It was not even a national flag. It was a battle flag. It did not even come into existence until after July of 1861. Let me go further. There were no southern slave ships. No southern flag ever flew over a slave ship. All the slave ships were from the north and they all flew the stars and stripes. That's a fact. You may not like it, but that's a fact. You say, but the North got rid of their slaves. Yes, they did by selling them to the South so they can then self-righteously and hypocritically say, you need to release of it one time. And the South wanted to get rid of the slaves because it was becoming vastly unprofitable, but they were not just going to kick them out.

[John Weaver] They said they have to be educated. They have to be trained and the Lord said no No, you must do it our way or else So obviously then when we're talking about these things, you've got to understand. Hey here are these people saying we want to succeed and this is northerners and Northerners, not Southerners. So there are plenty of secession movements in the North before one ever began in the South in 1860 and 1861.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look at verse 19 because some may have trouble with this verse. I don't think you should, but here it is. Look at verse 19. So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. Well, you say there it is, it's called rebellion, secession is rebellion. No, No, it's not. You have to remember this, rebellion can only be to lawful authority. Where there is no lawful authority it is not rebellion, it is merely resistance. resistance to tyranny and corruption. Rehoboam was a tyrant.

[John Weaver] Now, understand Benjamin Franklin placed on his personal seal, rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God. Thomas Jefferson liked that so well he had it placed on his seal, rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God. Moreover, if you will look in verse 15 the Bible says,"...wherefore the king hearkened not unto them, for the cause of was from the Lord. the cause was from the Lord. Moreover, when you go back to verse 19 and you see the word rebel there, the Hebrew word is pasha which literally has the meaning of an expansion.

[John Weaver] True, it is translated in our Bibles as transgressed, offend, revolt, or rebelled. But it is exactly the same word that is used in reference to the Moabites in 2 Kings. Let me show you. Whole 1 Kings 12, but look look in 2 Kings chapter 1 and verse 1, then we'll go to chapter 3. Look in 2 Kings 1 and verse 1, then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. Now look in 2 Kings 3 and verse 5, but it came to pass when Ahab was dead that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. Let me ask you what kind of king was Ahab? He was a tyrant. He was a reprobate. He was a murderer. Would Moab, the country of Moab, be right to try to get back their own jurisdiction and their own liberty and their own freedom from a tyrannical regime? Of course they would. The word is translated here as that, but it is not necessarily the same. Notice if you would back in 1 Kings 12 verse 16, I'm not through yet.

[John Weaver] Look in verse 16. 1 Kings 12 verse 16, So when all Israel saw that the king Harker nodded to them, notice it's all Israel. When they saw that the king Harker nodded to them, the people answered the king saying, what portion have we in David? Neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse to your tents. Oh Israel now see to thine own house David you take care of yourself We'll take care of ourselves. So Israel departed unto their tents they departed the Hebrew word departed just simply means to walk away and To move away to get away to fall away. So they said look we're not trying to tear down your government Rehoboam If you want to be a tired in Judah be a tired in Judah. We're just walking away from you That's what secession is. It is a walking away by the way Tyrannical rulers Often consider anything that would destroy or diminish their usurped or imaginary authority as rebellion or treason Do you remember Queen Athaliah Queen Athaliah when her son who was king died She did a very un grandmotherly thing.

[John Weaver] I She took all of her grandchildren and murdered them just so she could be Queen. Well, thankfully Joab was a Joash, not Joab, but Joash. Joash was snuck away from her and she missed him and he was hidden in the temple. And when Jehoiada had raised him until he was seven years old, he then had him anointed king over Israel. And when Athaliah heard the noise and the trumpet, she went to the temple to see what it was. And when she saw Joash there being anointed king, what did she say? She cried, Treason! Treason! Really? She was the traitor. She was the murderer. And now here a lawful authority is anointing a lawful descendant of the king to be king, and she is crying treason.

[John Weaver] You have to understand what is going on in our country today. Why do you think that God-fearing, conservative, honest, hard-working citizens today are being labeled as domestic terrorists? I just saw recently a man in his own yard hooking up his own boat. It's on YouTube. Police car pulled up. He pulled his camera out and started filming The cop then ran his license plates Got out with his gun drone and he asked him Why are you filming me? Are you some crazy? constitutionalist Really? And the man basically had to just keep talking and say, you get away from here, I haven't done anything wrong. You put that gun up, you get back and you leave me alone. Thankfully the man did. But I'm just simply pointing out the fact, do you realize why honest, godly, hardworking, conservative people are being called domestic terrorists?

[John Weaver] Because they are a terrorist to the empire, and to the status quo, and to the Marxist, Communist, Fascist state government. federal government. That's it. States do not need permission to secede. States are the masters. The federal government is the servant. Secession is a lawful, legitimate means to prevent oppression, tyranny, and subjugation. Now listen to this. Individuals do not need permission from the federal government or state government to secede or withdraw themselves from wicked, corrupt oppression.

[John Weaver] We've been commanded to do that by God. We don't need state's permission. Let me just read some scripture. Here is Proverbs 1, 10-16. Listen to what God says, My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause. Let us swallow them up alive as the grave, and whole as those that go down into the pit.

[John Weaver] We shall find all precious substance. We shall fill our houses with spoil. Cast in my lot amongst us. Let us all have one purse. My son, walk not thou in the way with them. Refrain thy foot from their path, for their feet run to evil and make haste to shed blood." What is God saying? God is saying don't join with evil. Don't join with wickedness. Separate yourself.

[John Weaver] Here 2 Chronicles or 2 Corinthians 6 verses 14-18, Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? Or what communion hath light with darkness? What concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth in an infidel? Or what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

[John Weaver] Wherefore, come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and you shall be my sons and my daughters, saith the Lord God Almighty." So here are passages, plain passages that say, come out from among them. God has commanded us.

[John Weaver] Now, Want you to listen to this Jeff Deist is a libertarian and he Gave a speech entitled secession begins at home Secession begins at home. I'm not going to give you his speech But I'm going to show you some examples that he did give on how that you can personally individually Secede, listen to what he says. He says, first, secede from intellectual isolation. Talk to like-minded friends, family, and neighbors, whether physically or virtually, to spread liberty and cultivate relationships and alliances. The state prefers to have us atomized without a strong family structure or social network. Number two, secede from dependency.

[John Weaver] Become as self-sufficient as possible with regard to food, water, fuel, cash, firearms, and physical security at home. Resist being reliant on government in the event of a natural disaster, bank crisis, or the like.

[John Weaver] Third, secede from the mainstream media, which promotes the state in a million different ways. Ditch cable. Ditch CNN. Ditch the major newspapers. And find your own sources of information in this internet age. Take advantage of a luxury previous generations did not enjoy. Next, secede from state control of your children by homeschooling them or unschooling them. Secede from college by rejecting mainstream academia and its student loan trap.

[John Weaver] Educate yourself using online learning platforms, obtaining technical credentials, or simply by reading as much as you can. Let me just stop there. I don't know if you read this week of the 12-year-old girl in England who has a higher IQ than Einstein and Stephen Hawkins. Her IQ was 162. She's 12 years old. Can assure you she did not go to some institutional school because she's a gypsy her family's a gypsy They travel in caravans What did the kid do probably has read all of her life and Probably had a mind that God gave her to retain everything that she read but this is what he's saying. I Read as much as you possibly can.

[John Weaver] Next, he says, secede from the U.S. dollar by owning physical precious metals, by owning assets dominated in foreign currencies, and by owning assets abroad. Next, secede from the federal tax and regulatory regimes by organizing your business and personal affairs to be as tax-efficient and unobtrusive as possible. Next, secede from the legal system by legally protecting your assets from rapacious lawsuits and probate courts as much as possible. Next, secede from the state health care racket by taking control of your health and questioning medical orthodoxy. Secede from your state by moving to another with a better tax and regulatory environment, better homeschooling laws, better gun laws, or just one with more liberty-minded people. secede from political uncertainty in the United States by obtaining a second passport, or secede from the United States altogether by expatriating.

[John Weaver] Most of all, secede from the mindset that government is all-powerful and too formidable an opponent to be overcome. The state is nothing more than Bastier's great fiction or Murray's gang of thieves writ large. Let us not give it power to make us unhappy or pessimistic. All I can say is Jeff is giving good counsel. We must return to independence. We must learn to think and act and take responsibility for ourselves as we obey God and bring our lives in conformity to His Word.

[John Weaver] Let me put it like this, in his speech he said, secession begins at home. Secession begins first in our hearts and in our minds. Then it begins at home. is when we put into action that which is in our hearts and in our minds as well. We learn to become dependent upon the Lord Jesus Christ and independent of anything and everything else. So, yes, individuals may secede as far as they can by the grace of God.

[John Weaver] Now, one last thing, I want you to look in verse 18, 1 Kings 12 verse 18, There was violence. Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute. And all Israel stoned him with stones that he died. Therefore, King Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. Now, I want you to note that violence was initiated by the tyrant. It was instigated by the tyrant.

[John Weaver] The reason for Dorum's death was very simple. Rehoboam insisted that he had the right to collect taxes from a people who had seceded, who had withdrawn from him, who had walked away from him, who did not give him their consent to be governed by him. He did not have any just power over them, yet he was determined he was going to collect taxes from them. Do you realize the same was true exactly of the South in 1861? The South had legally seceded from the North. They had begun a new government, yet Lincoln decided he was going to collect taxes from a people over which he did not have power, nor did he have their consent to be governed by them. But he insisted. He insisted.

[John Weaver] The spiritual and civil corruption, oppression and tyranny that is prevalent today will ultimately drive many into secession. Thousands have already expatriated. You need to look, check it out on the internet, of how many people have already renounced their United States citizenship and have left the country and do not plan on coming back. They have fled.

[John Weaver] Now, not everybody can flee. Not everybody can leave. I understand that. But it does mean that we can secede individually and personally as far as we can by the grace of God. So, you're going to ask yourself this question. Will we have to fight? My answer would be probably. I hope not. But probably. But regardless of whether or not we would have to fight physically, We would still have to fight mentally and spiritually, emotionally, and economically. There's always a fight.

[John Weaver] Now, let me close with this. I want you to just listen to what the Apostle Paul said, and then let me ask you one question. Okay? Ephesians 6, verses 10 through 18. Paul writes, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

[John Weaver] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Now here's my question. If God did not intend for us to fight for our rights, our liberties, our freedoms, if God did not intend for us to fight for truth and righteousness, why did he give us all this armor?

[John Weaver] Put on the whole armor of God. And if you were to take Ephesians chapter 6 and look at it, when you get through, you're decked out from head to toe. You're ready for battle. You're ready for battle. But I want you to understand this. Usually when violence comes, it comes at the insistence of a tyrannical ruler and a tyrannical government. Does it stem from the people? It's forced upon them. It was forced upon the South. It was forced upon the colonists in 1776.

[John Weaver] Just remember this, secession begins in our hearts and our minds. And we have to determine, like the Apostle Peter said in Acts chapter 5, when he said, we ought to obey God rather than man. Judge you whether that's right or not. We ought to obey God rather than man. So when it comes down to it, that's the issue, whether we obey God or whether we obey man. Let's pray.

[John Weaver] Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I ask for your grace and your mercy and your goodness and your kindness. Teach us, Lord, build us up in the most holy faith. Help us understand these principles, apply them as far as we can, and live for thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

[John Weaver] you

A Model For Secession - Part 2 of 2

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	mMq_PlA6WlY
Subject	Education and Discipleship
Course	Christian Education and Discipleship
Genre	Sermon
Date	2015-09-06
Dictation Name
Book	Book 025: A Model For Secession — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	86

Formatted Transcript

Opening

Let's open our Bible today to 1 Kings chapter 12. 1 Kings chapter 12. And we're going to read the first 19 verses. Remember last week I began a message entitled, "A Model for Secession." I want to finish that message today. But let's read 1 Kings chapter 12 beginning there with verse 1,

Scripture Reading — 1 Kings 12:1-19

"And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king." "And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of King Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt,) that they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, 'Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.' And he said unto them, 'Depart yet for three days, then come again to me.' And the people departed. And King Rehoboam consulted with the old men that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, 'How do ye advise that I may answer this people?' And they spake unto him, saying, 'If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.' But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, which stood before him." "And he said unto them, 'What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?' And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, 'Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, My father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. Now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.' So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, 'Come to me again the third day.' And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, 'My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.'" "Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, 'What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David.' So Israel departed unto their tents. But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day."

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the previous message on the motivation for secession, emphasizing that spiritual corruption precedes civil corruption.

In our first message last week we talked about the motivation for secession. I only gave you one point and that was the motivation for secession. Actually I pointed out under that that there were actually two parts to this, spiritual corruption and civil corruption. And I also pointed out that spiritual corruption always precedes civil corruption. Or you could say it another way, that civil corruption is the fruit and the result of spiritual corruption. You have to understand that when rulers do not fear the Lord they will not follow His Word. One of the characteristics of a tyrant is that he refuses to be bound by God, His sovereignty, and His law. Let me give you just a couple of scriptures without you turning right now. But in 1 Samuel chapter 15, verses 10 and 11, the Bible says concerning King Saul,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 15:10-11

"Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments."

So here is King Saul whom God allowed to be king and yet he turned his back upon God and refused to obey God and Saul of course literally became a tyrant. Now, God rejected Saul. God took the kingdom away from King Saul. And the reason He did so is because Saul rejected God's sovereign authority. He refused to obey God. He said, our Lord said very plainly,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 15:10-11

"He is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments."

The Nature of Tyranny

Tyranny begins when rulers deny God's sovereignty and law, as seen in Saul and Psalm 2.

Now, you have to ask this question, what makes a man a tyrant? Stop and think about that. What makes a man a tyrant? Well, I do want you to hold 1 Kings 12, but I want you to turn to Psalm 2 because the answer is given to us very plainly in this scripture. Look in Psalm 2 beginning there with verse 1. If you want to know what really makes a man a tyrant, here it is. Psalm 2 verse 1. The question is asked, "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?"

So why is there so much turmoil? Why is there so much vanity? Why is there so much raging? Here is why. "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us." And in other words, here these rulers, these tyrants, are saying, we don't recognize God. We don't recognize his restraints. We don't recognize his boundaries. We don't recognize his limitations. We don't recognize his sovereignty.

He has no right to tell us what we can do or what we cannot do. So let's break all of his bands and cast his cords away from us. Obviously a tyrant then is someone who basically denies the sovereignty of God and God's absolute authority and God's law word. Now the same truth is stated in Hosea 5 and verse 10. When the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Hosea 5:10

"The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water."

So listen to this, the princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound, or the boundaries. They did not like the limitations that God placed upon them so they said, we will move the boundaries. We'll deny that God gave us these limitations and we'll basically do that which we want to do. So tyranny begins when God's sovereign law word is denied and man comes to believe that he has replaced God. And he's no longer bound by God's law, but now he is a law unto himself and he's able to make up his own law.

Confrontation

The first step in secession is confrontation, as Jeroboam and all Israel confronted Rehoboam at his ascension.

Now, today I want us to consider one point and that is this, we've seen the motivation for secession. How about the means? What happens when a people secede? What are the steps? Well, here are the means of secession spelled out for us in 1 Kings chapter 12. First of all if you look in verses 1-3 was confrontation. Verse 1, "And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) that they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying." So here we have a confrontation. Now I want you to note this confrontation took place at Rehoboam's ascension to the throne. He was the son of Solomon.

He was the grandson of David. Jeroboam was specifically called out of Egypt to confront Rehoboam. Now Jeroboam evidently was a natural leader. I don't know if you remember this or not but I pointed it out last week but if you look in 1 Kings 11 and verse 28 the Bible says this about Jeroboam,

Scripture Reading — 1 Kings 11:28

"And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph."

So at one time then Jeroboam worked for Solomon until God chose Jeroboam for the ten northern tribes and now Solomon persecutes him and to save his life he flees into Egypt. So now that Solomon is dead, he's called out of Egypt, and he's now going to confront Rehoboam.

Confrontation is usually distasteful, but it is necessary. And unhappily, tyrants do not like confrontation. And in all probability, what made this confrontation a little bit worse is because Rehoboam is just ascending to the throne. So it should have been a time of merrymaking, and happiness, and celebration, and all of a sudden now it has turned into a very sober confrontation. Because here is Jeroboam in the face of Rehoboam saying, there are some things we need to get straight. Now, please do not say and please do not think, well Jeroboam was just one ticked off individual. He got ran into Egypt and Solomon persecuted him and so he's mad and he's upset and he just wants to get things back. No, that's not it.

Look in verse 1, "And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king." Go to verse 3, "That they sent and called him" that is Jeroboam "and Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam." So it's not just Jeroboam. It is all the elders of Israel all have come. And by the way, I understand that Rehoboam was ascending to the throne. But please understand this.

There is never an inappropriate time to discuss liberty, freedom and responsibility with those who are ruling over you or who are about to rule over you. It is right and it is necessary to confront civil rulers. They are not gods. Okay, so there was confrontation. Secondly, I want you to note there was solicitation. Look in verse 4. They come in a solicitous mode. Jeroboam is not arrogant. He's not demanding.

Solicitation

Israel sought relief from heavy burdens, not immediate secession, reflecting a desire for benevolent rule.

He simply says this, "Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee." So what Israel wanted then was a benevolent ruler, someone who is going to ease the heavy burden that Solomon placed upon the people. Now I want you to understand that secession was not even in view at this particular time. All they wanted to do was to get things worked out. They said all we want is some relief. We want to be able to enjoy our lives and our families and you just need to work with us. The solicitation that is enunciated here rested upon a principle that was later enunciated in the Declaration of Independence. Listen to this, "Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes."

"And accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed." Now stop and think about this. Rehoboam is ascending the throne. Did you know that Solomon reigned 40 years? David reigned 40 years. Even Saul reigned nearly 40 years. So approximately 120 years they've had a king. They've had a monarch. They have not gone up to Rehoboam and said, we are changing things whether you like it or not. They haven't done that. They haven't gone up and said, we're leaving. No.

All they said is, look, we just want to work with you and we want you to work with us. So secession was not necessarily in their mind to begin with. And by the way, just stop and think about this. As much debate as there is today over the constitution, and regardless of what someone's opinion is concerning the Constitution, I've got friends who believe the Constitution should never have been. Well, whether it should have never been or not is beside the point. It is here now. And you say, well, we want to change it. Well, let me tell you something. You can't change something with nothing.

And I know that God's law is perfect, and God's law should be what we should go by. But until we can come to that stage there is still the Constitution which is supposed to be the supreme law of the land. And let me tell you something, here it is. The Constitution will not solve all of our problems, I understand that. But do you realize if our leaders just simply kept their oath and observed and obeyed the Constitution, it would resolve a lot of our problems. Economically because we'd have silver and gold, we wouldn't have paper money, we wouldn't have the Federal Reserve. You understand what I'm saying? So, there are some problems that could be resolved if they would just simply obey. And that's what these people wanted. They wanted Rehoboam just to do what was right, and to work with them and obey what was going on. So, there was a confrontation. There was solicitation.

Consultation

Rehoboam consulted old and young counselors; he rejected the wise advice to serve the people and chose harshness.

And thirdly there was consultation. So, look in verse 5-11. Verse 5, "And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed. And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us."

"Thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." Now watch, so there was confrontation, there was solicitation, now there is consultation. I want you to understand this consultation just momentarily because now it looks as if Rehoboam is not gonna be able to rule the way he wants to rule because now he's got some people confronting him and soliciting him. Look, there are things that are not right in this kingdom. And they need to be made right and they need to be made right at this present time. So what is the idea of the tyrant? Here's the idea. Let me get some counsel so I can do whatever I can to neutralize the populace. I want to keep the natives calm. Hmm.

And so what does he do? He asked the old men what he should do. And the old men, by the way, give him excellent, excellent advice. And by the way, I hope you understand when I'm talking about neutralizing the populace, there is not an ounce worth of difference between Democrats and Republicans. They're both into tyranny and control. That's all. That's all. They could care less about their people.

So the consultation that we get from them usually is absolutely worthless. They run over us, do whatever they want to do. But here is the counsel. Look in verses 6 and 7. This is the counsel of the old people. "And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?" Now I want you to look at verse 7. Watch carefully.

"And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever." Ah. An interesting thing is this: when he says in verse 7 "if thou wilt be a servant unto this people," the Hebrew word is the word ebed. And the word ebed just literally means a slave, a bondservant, or a manservant. Now look in verse 7 again. Let's read it like that. "And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a slave, or a bondservant unto this people this day, and wilt be a bondservant unto them, and answer them, and speak good words to them," watch, "then they will be thy bondservants for ever." In other words, this thing works both ways. This thing works both ways. In other words, they said if you want this people to serve you, you have to serve them. If you don't serve them, they're not going to serve you. By the way, based upon this verse, the idea of a public servant is a biblical idea.

That is probably the reason so many today despise and hate that term and designation. They're not up there to be our servants. They're up there to be our masters. And they hate the term public servant. Yet the old men gave the king excellent counsel and excellent advice. But what did he do? He turned to the young men. And they said, you tell those people, now watch this, you tell those people that your little finger is going to be thicker than your father's loins. Where your father placed upon them a heavy yoke, you're going to make it heavier. Where they were chastened with whips by your father, you're going to chastise them with scorpions.

In other words, you show them who's boss. You show them who has the power. You show them who has the authority. You show them who is king. Ah. Do you remember when Naboth refused to sell his garden to Ahab? He answered him and said, God forbid it. In other words, he was just being obedient to God. God did forbid him selling that land. What did Ahab do? He went and turned his face to the wall and cried like a baby.

And Jezebel came in and said, what's wrong with you? Aren't you king in Israel? Get up and act like it. Show them your power. Take what you want. That's exactly the attitude of a tyrant, by the way. So, obviously, Rehoboam then was taking the counsel of the young men, not the old men, because he wanted to demonstrate he's in control, he's in power, this is his kingship, he can do as he pleases.

Alienation

Rehoboam's pride alienated Israel, paralleling modern government alienation of citizens.

Have you ever stopped to think, listen to this, have you ever stopped to think how many churches, how many kingdoms and how many nations have been destroyed because of pride, arrogance, and vanity? I could sit here today and tell you illustration after illustration of churches that I know about that have split and gone down the road just simply because of pride. I'm going to show you I'm in charge here. I'm going to show you who runs this place. It just destroys it. It is destroying our nation as well. So there was not only confrontation and solicitation and consultation, I want you to look next there was also alienation. Look in verse 15, verse 15, "Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat."

Now Rehoboam in his pride and wickedness alienated the children of Israel. Do you realize that is exactly what our politicians and civil rulers have done to us today? They have alienated us. And you know what they depend upon? You know what they count upon? They think that yes they are corrupt, and yes they do things that are unconstitutional, they do things that are unbiblical, they do things that are ungodly, but they are counting on the fact that we are forgetful. And it's three more years until election time and by that time we will have forgotten all their scandals. Wow. Well the truth of the matter is not everybody forgets. And consequently, they believe that they can continue to violate and usurp and confiscate, and all will be well. The American people as a whole are right now alienated from their government, and rightly so. According to some of the latest polls, Congress and the federal government rank lower than a fungus. Now, that's pretty bad. That's pretty bad.

All you have to do is observe our country. Dissatisfaction, dissent, and discord abound in every city, in every county, in every state. In fact, recent polls demonstrate that most Americans believe that the biggest problem we have in this country is our government. It's kind of like Ronald Reagan said, "Government is not the solution, government is the problem." And it is the problem. Our government today is vastly different than when it was set up in 1787 and 1789. Anyone with any biblical sense or constitutional knowledge and character cannot help but be alienated from such a corrupt and ungodly system. Now you find out that Planned Parenthood is not only murdering babies and selling body parts, but some babies are born whole and intact and they're selling the entire baby and all funded by the federal government. May I ask you, how can you help not being alienated from such a corrupt, wicked government? And especially when we have all kind of economic despair because of the fraud in the economic system.

Besides the communism and Marxism and socialism and everything that's going on that is rampant today. Yes, the people are alienated. I want you to notice if you would please in verses 16 and 17, next there was separation. Listen carefully, look in verse 16, "So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them." Notice it is all Israel again, it is not just Jeroboam. "So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David?"

Separation

Alienation led to separation; Israel walked away, declaring no portion in David.

"Neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel." "Now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them." Alienation always leads to separation. I'm going to repeat that. Listen carefully. Alienation always leads to separation. It did in 1776. It did in 1861. Amos 3 in verse 3 asks this question, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"

And the answer is obviously they cannot. Therefore alienation always leads to separation. The full sense of that truth may be perceived when you consider the full scale onslaught of divorce in this country. When husbands and wives are alienated, they separate. Look, if you would, at churches. When there is alienation among the membership or between the pastor and the people or the people and the pastor, there's separation. C.C.

Gowen wrote a wonderful book years ago. The title of it is "Broken Churches, Broken Nations." And he shows when the churches broke up how the nation broke up. And by the way, the same is true in business. What happens to business partners when there is alienation between them? It always ends up in separation. The same thing that is true in the family and in churches and in business is also true in government. Governments are no exception. Alienation makes separation necessary.

When the South seceded from the North in 1860 and 1861, the most frequently quoted paragraph from the Declaration of Independence by Southern leaders was this, listen, "When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them." And in other words what they are saying is this, separation is absolutely necessary. When you understand that our government is no longer what it started out to be, and that our government today now violates every principle of right, denies and distorts justice, legislates immorality, persecutes and prosecutes for non-crimes, confiscates and taxes everything, takes from producers to give to non-producers, subsidizes laziness, kinkiness, and immorality. One is not only alienated, he's ready to separate. He's ready to depart. Israel seceded from the rule of Rehoboam and his government. Rehoboam wanted to be tyrannical and rule without the consent of the governed. Therefore, the people refused to be governed by Rehoboam.

And by the way, it was exactly the same thing in 1776 when the colonists said, no, we're not going to be ruled by George III, the tyrant. We're just not going to do it. It was the same thing in 1860 and 1861. The South said, no we are not going to be ruled by Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln violated the Constitution over, and over, and over, and over. And once again the Southern leaders used that expression in the Declaration, "when in the course of human events it becomes necessary." And they believed it was absolutely necessary. So alienation then makes separation necessary.

Now let me tell you something. What many people do not understand is that there were many secession movements in this country before the South seceded in 1860 and 1861. But what many people don't realize is this. Prior to 1860 and 1861, all of the secession movements were in the North. Did you know that the North threatened to secede over the Louisiana Purchase? Because they knew the warm water ports down south would just about nullify all the ports in the north.

Historical Secession Movements

Weaver notes Northern secession movements prior to 1860, including over the Louisiana Purchase and War of 1812.

There was a secession movement over the War of 1812 because the Yankees didn't like it because they were losing business because they could not have commerce with England. Not only that, let me just read you something that may really surprise you. As early as 1844 the northern abolitionists were calling for secession. They wanted the north to secede from the south. William Lloyd Garrison, a rabid abolitionist and others like him, declared the Constitution to be a covenant with death and an agreement with Hell. Now listen, William Lloyd Garrison, the editor of the Liberator, wrote, I'm quoting, "no union with slaveholders." May 31st, 1844. At the 10th anniversary of the American Anti-Slavery Society in New York City, May the 7th, it was decided by a vote of nearly three to one of the members present that the existing national compact should be instantly dissolved, that is the Constitution, that secession from the government is a religious and political duty, and that the motto inscribed on the banner, freedom should be no union with slaveholders. And by the way, there were slaves in the North in 1844.

Slavery was Constitutional until 1808, and it was to remain constitutional until those slaves died out. No more were to be imported. And by the way, while I'm mentioning this, let me mention this very clearly and concisely. Never was there one slave brought over into this country under the Confederate battle flag. It is not a flag of slavery. It was not even a national flag. It was a battle flag. It did not even come into existence until after July of 1861. Let me go further. There were no southern slave ships. No southern flag ever flew over a slave ship. All the slave ships were from the north and they all flew the stars and stripes. That's a fact. You may not like it, but that's a fact. You say, but the North got rid of their slaves. Yes, they did by selling them to the South so they can then self-righteously and hypocritically say, you need to release them at one time. And the South wanted to get rid of the slaves because it was becoming vastly unprofitable, but they were not just going to kick them out.

They said they have to be educated. They have to be trained and the Lord said no. No, you must do it our way or else. So obviously then when we're talking about these things, you've got to understand. Hey here are these people saying we want to secede and this is northerners and Northerners, not Southerners. So there are plenty of secession movements in the North before one ever began in the South in 1860 and 1861.

Now, I want you to look at verse 19 because some may have trouble with this verse. I don't think you should, but here it is. Look at verse 19. "So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day." Well, you say there it is, it's called rebellion, secession is rebellion. No. No, it's not. You have to remember this, rebellion can only be to lawful authority. Where there is no lawful authority it is not rebellion, it is merely resistance. Resistance to tyranny and corruption. Rehoboam was a tyrant.

Rebellion vs. Resistance

Secession is not rebellion against lawful authority but resistance to tyranny; the Hebrew word pasha can mean expansion.

Now, understand Benjamin Franklin placed on his personal seal, "rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." Thomas Jefferson liked that so well he had it placed on his seal, "rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." Moreover, if you will look in verse 15 the Bible says, "Wherefore the king hearkened not unto them; for the cause was from the LORD." The cause was from the Lord. Moreover, when you go back to verse 19 and you see the word rebel there, the Hebrew word is pasha which literally has the meaning of an expansion. True, it is translated in our Bibles as transgressed, offend, revolt, or rebelled. But it is exactly the same word that is used in reference to the Moabites in 2 Kings. Let me show you. Hold 1 Kings 12, but look in 2 Kings chapter 1 and verse 1, then we'll go to chapter 3. Look in 2 Kings 1 and verse 1,

Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 1:1; 3:5

"Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab."

Now look in 2 Kings 3 and verse 5, "But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel." Let me ask you what kind of king was Ahab? He was a tyrant. He was a reprobate. He was a murderer. Would Moab, the country of Moab, be right to try to get back their own jurisdiction and their own liberty and their own freedom from a tyrannical regime? Of course they would. The word is translated here as that, but it is not necessarily the same. Notice if you would back in 1 Kings 12 verse 16, I'm not through yet.

Look in verse 16. 1 Kings 12 verse 16, "So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them," notice it's all Israel. "When they saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David." You take care of yourself. We'll take care of ourselves. "So Israel departed unto their tents." They departed. The Hebrew word departed just simply means to walk away. To move away, to get away, to fall away. So they said look, we're not trying to tear down your government, Rehoboam. If you want to be a tyrant in Judah, be a tyrant in Judah. We're just walking away from you. That's what secession is. It is a walking away. By the way, tyrannical rulers often consider anything that would destroy or diminish their usurped or imaginary authority as rebellion or treason. Do you remember Queen Athaliah? Queen Athaliah when her son who was king died, she did a very un-grandmotherly thing.

She took all of her grandchildren and murdered them just so she could be queen. Well, thankfully Joash, not Joab, but Joash. Joash was snuck away from her and she missed him and he was hidden in the temple. And when Jehoiada had raised him until he was seven years old, he then had him anointed king over Israel. And when Athaliah heard the noise and the trumpet, she went to the temple to see what it was. And when she saw Joash there being anointed king, what did she say? She cried, "Treason! Treason!" Really? She was the traitor. She was the murderer. And now here a lawful authority is anointing a lawful descendant of the king to be king, and she is crying treason.

Personal Secession

Weaver shares Jeff Deist's practical steps for personal secession from dependency, media, education, and more.

Now, I want you to listen to this. Jeff Deist is a libertarian and he gave a speech entitled "Secession Begins at Home." Secession begins at home. I'm not going to give you his speech, but I'm going to show you some examples that he did give on how that you can personally, individually secede. Listen to what he says. He says, first, secede from intellectual isolation. Talk to like-minded friends, family, and neighbors, whether physically or virtually, to spread liberty and cultivate relationships and alliances. The state prefers to have us atomized without a strong family structure or social network. Number two, secede from dependency.

Become as self-sufficient as possible with regard to food, water, fuel, cash, firearms, and physical security at home. Resist being reliant on government in the event of a natural disaster, bank crisis, or the like. Third, secede from the mainstream media, which promotes the state in a million different ways. Ditch cable. Ditch CNN. Ditch the major newspapers. And find your own sources of information in this internet age. Take advantage of a luxury previous generations did not enjoy. Next, secede from state control of your children by homeschooling them or unschooling them. Secede from college by rejecting mainstream academia and its student loan trap.

Educate yourself using online learning platforms, obtaining technical credentials, or simply by reading as much as you can. Let me just stop there. I don't know if you read this week of the 12-year-old girl in England who has a higher IQ than Einstein and Stephen Hawking. Her IQ was 162. She's 12 years old. I can assure you she did not go to some institutional school because she's a gypsy. Her family's a gypsy. They travel in caravans. What did the kid do? Probably has read all of her life and probably had a mind that God gave her to retain everything that she read. But this is what he's saying. Read as much as you possibly can.

Next, he says, secede from the U.S. dollar by owning physical precious metals, by owning assets denominated in foreign currencies, and by owning assets abroad. Next, secede from the federal tax and regulatory regimes by organizing your business and personal affairs to be as tax-efficient and unobtrusive as possible. Next, secede from the legal system by legally protecting your assets from rapacious lawsuits and probate courts as much as possible. Next, secede from the state health care racket by taking control of your health and questioning medical orthodoxy. Secede from your state by moving to another with a better tax and regulatory environment, better homeschooling laws, better gun laws, or just one with more liberty-minded people. Secede from political uncertainty in the United States by obtaining a second passport, or secede from the United States altogether by expatriating.

Most of all, secede from the mindset that government is all-powerful and too formidable an opponent to be overcome. The state is nothing more than Bastiat's great fiction or Murray's gang of thieves writ large. Let us not give it power to make us unhappy or pessimistic. All I can say is Jeff is giving good counsel. We must return to independence. We must learn to think and act and take responsibility for ourselves as we obey God and bring our lives in conformity to His Word.

Violence and Conclusion

Violence was initiated by the tyrant Rehoboam; believers must put on God's armor to fight spiritual battles.

Now, one last thing, I want you to look in verse 18, 1 Kings 12 verse 18. There was violence. "Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem." Now, I want you to note that violence was initiated by the tyrant. It was instigated by the tyrant. The reason for Adoram's death was very simple. Rehoboam insisted that he had the right to collect taxes from a people who had seceded, who had withdrawn from him, who had walked away from him, who did not give him their consent to be governed by him. He did not have any just power over them, yet he was determined he was going to collect taxes from them. Do you realize the same was true exactly of the South in 1861? The South had legally seceded from the North. They had begun a new government, yet Lincoln decided he was going to collect taxes from a people over which he did not have power, nor did he have their consent to be governed by them. But he insisted. He insisted.

The spiritual and civil corruption, oppression and tyranny that is prevalent today will ultimately drive many into secession. Thousands have already expatriated. You need to look, check it out on the internet, of how many people have already renounced their United States citizenship and have left the country and do not plan on coming back. They have fled.

Now, not everybody can flee. Not everybody can leave. I understand that. But it does mean that we can secede individually and personally as far as we can by the grace of God. So, you're going to ask yourself this question. Will we have to fight? My answer would be probably. I hope not. But probably. But regardless of whether or not we would have to fight physically, we would still have to fight mentally and spiritually, emotionally, and economically. There's always a fight.

Now, let me close with this. I want you to just listen to what the Apostle Paul said, and then let me ask you one question. Okay? Ephesians 6, verses 10 through 18. Paul writes, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Now here's my question. If God did not intend for us to fight for our rights, our liberties, our freedoms, if God did not intend for us to fight for truth and righteousness, why did he give us all this armor?

Put on the whole armor of God. And if you were to take Ephesians chapter 6 and look at it, when you get through, you're decked out from head to toe. You're ready for battle. You're ready for battle. But I want you to understand this. Usually when violence comes, it comes at the insistence of a tyrannical ruler and a tyrannical government. Does it stem from the people? It's forced upon them. It was forced upon the South. It was forced upon the colonists in 1776.

Just remember this, secession begins in our hearts and our minds. And we have to determine, like the Apostle Peter said in Acts chapter 5, when he said, "We ought to obey God rather than men." Judge ye whether that's right or not. We ought to obey God rather than men. So when it comes down to it, that's the issue, whether we obey God or whether we obey man. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I ask for your grace and your mercy and your goodness and your kindness. Teach us, Lord, build us up in the most holy faith. Help us understand these principles, apply them as far as we can, and live for thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Spiritual Corruption Precedes Civil Corruption

Summary: Civil tyranny is the result of rejecting God's sovereignty and law.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'It's impossible to have civil corruption without first having spiritual corruption.'

Secession as a Biblical Response to Tyranny

Summary: Secession is a lawful means to escape oppressive government, modeled in 1 Kings 12.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Secession is a lawful, legitimate means to prevent oppression, tyranny, and subjugation.'

The Necessity of Confrontation and Separation

Summary: Confronting rulers and separating from evil are necessary steps when government becomes tyrannical.

Evidence: Weaver notes, 'Alienation always leads to separation... Governments are no exception.'

Obedience to God Over Man

Summary: Believers must obey God rather than men, even when it requires secession from ungodly systems.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Acts 5:29, 'We ought to obey God rather than men.'

Personal and Practical Secession

Summary: Secession begins in the heart and mind, and can be practiced individually through self-sufficiency and separation from corrupt systems.

Evidence: Weaver shares Jeff Deist's advice: 'Secession begins at home... secede from dependency.'

Key Arguments

Tyranny stems from denying God's law

Summary: A tyrant is one who rejects God's sovereignty and boundaries, as seen in Psalm 2 and Hosea 5:10.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Tyranny begins when God's sovereign law word is denied and man comes to believe that he has replaced God.'

Secession is not rebellion but resistance

Summary: Rebellion can only be against lawful authority; resisting a tyrant is obedience to God.

Evidence: Weaver argues, 'Rebellion can only be to lawful authority. Where there is no lawful authority it is not rebellion, it is merely resistance.'

The steps of secession in 1 Kings 12

Summary: The process includes confrontation, solicitation, consultation, alienation, and separation.

Evidence: Weaver outlines the means: 'First of all... was confrontation... secondly... solicitation... thirdly... consultation... alienation... separation.'

Historical precedent for secession in America

Summary: Northern states threatened secession multiple times before the South, showing secession is not uniquely Southern.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'Prior to 1860 and 1861, all of the secession movements were in the North.'

Violence is initiated by tyrants

Summary: Rehoboam sent Adoram to collect taxes from a seceded people, leading to violence; similarly, Lincoln insisted on taxing the South.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Violence was initiated by the tyrant... Rehoboam insisted that he had the right to collect taxes from a people who had seceded.'

Scripture References

1 Kings 12:1-19

Context: The primary text for the sermon, detailing the secession of Israel from Rehoboam.

1 Samuel 15:10-11

Context: God rejected Saul as king because he turned from following God's commandments, illustrating spiritual corruption leading to tyranny.

Psalm 2:1-3

Context: Describes rulers who rebel against God's authority, defining the heart of a tyrant.

Hosea 5:10

Context: Princes of Judah removed boundaries, showing rejection of God's limitations.

Luke 18:4

Context: The unjust judge feared not God nor regarded man, exemplifying spiritual corruption.

2 Chronicles 19:2

Context: Jehoshaphat was rebuked for helping the ungodly, showing the danger of supporting corrupt rulers.

Hosea 5:11

Context: Ephraim was oppressed because they willingly walked after man's commandment.

2 Kings 17:7-8, 19

Context: Israel and Judah walked in statutes of heathen and kings, leading to judgment.

1 Kings 11:28

Context: Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor, appointed by Solomon before fleeing to Egypt.

Amos 3:3

Context: Can two walk together except they be agreed? Used to support the necessity of separation.

2 Kings 1:1; 3:5

Context: Moab rebelled against Israel after Ahab's death; the same Hebrew word pasha is used, showing it can mean resistance to tyranny.

Proverbs 1:10-16

Context: Warning not to consent to sinners or walk in their ways; a call to separation.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Context: Command to come out from among unbelievers and be separate.

Ephesians 6:10-18

Context: The armor of God, indicating believers are to fight spiritual battles.

Acts 5:29

Context: We ought to obey God rather than men, the ultimate principle for secession.

Historical References

Declaration of Independence

Context: Quoted to support the principle that governments should not be changed for light causes, and that separation is necessary when tyranny persists.

Ronald Reagan

Context: Quoted: 'Government is not the solution, government is the problem.'

American Revolution (1776)

Context: Colonists seceded from British tyranny, paralleling Israel's secession.

Southern Secession (1860-1861)

Context: The South seceded from the North, citing the Declaration of Independence; Lincoln violated the Constitution.

Northern Secession Movements

Context: Northern states threatened secession over the Louisiana Purchase, War of 1812, and abolitionists called for secession in 1844.

William Lloyd Garrison

Context: Abolitionist who called the Constitution 'a covenant with death' and advocated 'no union with slaveholders.'

Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson

Context: Both used the motto 'Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God' on their personal seals.

Queen Athaliah

Context: She cried 'Treason!' when Joash was anointed king, though she was the usurper; illustrates how tyrants label resistance as treason.

Jeff Deist

Context: Libertarian who gave a speech 'Secession Begins at Home,' providing practical steps for personal secession.

Planned Parenthood

Context: Mentioned as an example of government-funded corruption, selling baby body parts.

Important Quotes

It's impossible to have civil corruption without first having spiritual corruption.

Significance: Core thesis that spiritual decline leads to political tyranny.

Tyranny begins when God's sovereign law word is denied and man comes to believe that he has replaced God.

Significance: Defines the root of tyranny as rejection of God's authority.

Rebellion can only be to lawful authority. Where there is no lawful authority it is not rebellion, it is merely resistance.

Significance: Distinguishes secession from sinful rebellion.

Alienation always leads to separation.

Significance: Key principle that estrangement from government necessitates withdrawal.

Secession is a lawful, legitimate means to prevent oppression, tyranny, and subjugation.

Significance: Affirms the biblical and legal right to secede.

We ought to obey God rather than men.

Significance: Ultimate justification for resisting ungodly authority.

Secession begins at home. Secession begins first in our hearts and in our minds.

Significance: Emphasizes personal, internal commitment as the starting point.

Discussion Questions

How does spiritual corruption inevitably lead to civil corruption, and what are modern examples?

Context: Weaver argues that civil tyranny is the fruit of spiritual decline.

In what ways can Christians today confront ungodly rulers without sinning?

Context: The sermon highlights confrontation as a necessary step, as Jeroboam did.

What does it mean for a ruler to be a 'servant' of the people, and how does this contrast with modern government?

Context: The old men advised Rehoboam to be a servant (ebed), a biblical concept of public service.

How should believers balance submission to government (Romans 13) with the call to separate from evil (2 Corinthians 6)?

Context: Weaver cites 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 to support separation from ungodly systems.

What practical steps of personal secession can you take in your own life?

Context: Jeff Deist's suggestions include homeschooling, financial independence, and media discernment.

Is violence ever justified in resisting tyranny, and how does the armor of God passage inform our response?

Context: Weaver notes violence was initiated by the tyrant, but believers are equipped for spiritual battle.

Applications

Examine your heart for spiritual corruption

Summary: Recognize that civil problems stem from personal and national rejection of God's law; repent and align with Scripture.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'It's impossible to have civil corruption without first having spiritual corruption.'

Confront ungodly authority biblically

Summary: When rulers act tyrannically, believers should respectfully but firmly confront them, as Jeroboam did.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'There is never an inappropriate time to discuss liberty, freedom and responsibility with those who are ruling over you.'

Practice personal secession

Summary: Take practical steps to reduce dependence on ungodly systems: homeschool, seek financial independence, and separate from corrupt media.

Evidence: Weaver shares Jeff Deist's advice: 'Secede from dependency... secede from state control of your children by homeschooling them.'

Obey God rather than men

Summary: When human laws conflict with God's commands, choose obedience to God, even at personal cost.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Acts 5:29, 'We ought to obey God rather than men.'

Put on the whole armor of God

Summary: Recognize the spiritual nature of the battle against tyranny and equip yourself with truth, righteousness, faith, and the Word.

Evidence: Weaver reads Ephesians 6:10-18 and asks, 'If God did not intend for us to fight... why did he give us all this armor?'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T21:52:01Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T13:40:37Z

Clean Transcript

A Model For Secession - Part 2 of 2

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Let's open our Bible today to 1 Kings chapter 12. 1 Kings chapter 12. And we're going to read the first 19 verses. Remember last week I began a message entitled, "A Model for Secession." I want to finish that message today. But let's read 1 Kings chapter 12 beginning there with verse 1, "And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king."
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"And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of King Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt,) that they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, 'Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.' And he said unto them, 'Depart yet for three days, then come again to me.' And the people departed. And King Rehoboam consulted with the old men that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, 'How do ye advise that I may answer this people?' And they spake unto him, saying, 'If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.' But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, which stood before him."
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"And he said unto them, 'What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?' And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, 'Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, My father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. Now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.' So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, 'Come to me again the third day.' And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, 'My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.'"
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"Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, 'What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David.' So Israel departed unto their tents. But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day."
#4 | 2:38 to 3:27 | cleaned
In our first message last week we talked about the motivation for secession. I only gave you one point and that was the motivation for secession. Actually I pointed out under that that there were actually two parts to this, spiritual corruption and civil corruption. And I also pointed out that spiritual corruption always precedes civil corruption. Or you could say it another way, that civil corruption is the fruit and the result of spiritual corruption.
#5 | 3:28 to 4:00 | cleaned
You have to understand that when rulers do not fear the Lord they will not follow His Word. One of the characteristics of a tyrant is that he refuses to be bound by God, His sovereignty, and His law. Let me give you just a couple of scriptures without you turning right now. But in 1 Samuel chapter 15, verses 10 and 11, the Bible says concerning King Saul, "Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments." So here is King Saul whom God allowed to be king and yet he turned his back upon God and refused to obey God and Saul of course literally became a tyrant. Now, God rejected Saul. God took the kingdom away from King Saul. And the reason He did so is because Saul rejected God's sovereign authority. He refused to obey God. He said, our Lord said very plainly, "He is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments."
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Now, you have to ask this question, what makes a man a tyrant? Stop and think about that. What makes a man a tyrant? Well, I do want you to hold 1 Kings 12, but I want you to turn to Psalm 2 because the answer is given to us very plainly in this scripture. Look in Psalm 2 beginning there with verse 1. If you want to know what really makes a man a tyrant, here it is. Psalm 2 verse 1. The question is asked, "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?"
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So why is there so much turmoil? Why is there so much vanity? Why is there so much raging? Here is why. "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us." And in other words, here these rulers, these tyrants, are saying, we don't recognize God. We don't recognize his restraints. We don't recognize his boundaries. We don't recognize his limitations. We don't recognize his sovereignty.
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He has no right to tell us what we can do or what we cannot do. So let's break all of his bands and cast his cords away from us. Obviously a tyrant then is someone who basically denies the sovereignty of God and God's absolute authority and God's law word.
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Now the same truth is stated in Hosea 5 and verse 10. When the Bible says, "The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water." So listen to this, the princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound, or the boundaries. They did not like the limitations that God placed upon them so they said, we will move the boundaries. We'll deny that God gave us these limitations and we'll basically do that which we want to do. So tyranny begins when God's sovereign law word is denied and man comes to believe that he has replaced God. And he's no longer bound by God's law, but now he is a law unto himself and he's able to make up his own law.
#10 | 6:40 to 7:32 | cleaned
So I pointed this out last week. I'm going to say it again this week. It's impossible to have civil corruption without first having spiritual corruption. Civil corruption is always preceded by spiritual corruption. That's why in Luke 18, verse 4, that tyrant, that unjust judge said, "Though I fear not God, nor regard man." So, obviously the state that we're in today is because we've turned our back upon God and His law.
#11 | 7:33 to 8:07 | cleaned
So, let's ask this question, what is the answer to tyranny? How do we escape a tyrannical government and escape it in a biblical manner? The truth of the matter is we cannot participate in such wickedness. We cannot support such a corrupt government.
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Now Jehoshaphat who was a godly man basically, Jehoshaphat who happened to be the king of Judah got into very serious trouble with God for helping Ahab the reprobate king of Israel. And when Jehoshaphat returned home in 2 Chronicles 19 verse 2 the Word of God says this, "And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD." Now how did Jehoshaphat get in trouble? By helping the ungodly and by loving those who hated the Lord. He said, therefore wrath is upon thee. You have to remember that Ephraim the whole ten tribes or the northern kingdom got into trouble with God for walking after the commandments and the statutes and the laws of man. The Bible says in Hosea 5 in verse 11, "Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment," listen now, "because he willingly walked after the commandment." So, when man then turned his back upon God, that is the king, as a tyrant, and began to institute his own law, what did those ten northern tribes do?
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They willingly walked after the law of the man, the law of their king, rejecting God's law, and therefore they brought wrath upon themselves. Now, Judah did exactly the same thing. In fact if you look very quickly in your Bibles to 2 Kings 17 you will see how each one of these kingdoms brought the wrath and the judgment of God upon themselves. Notice 2 Kings 17 at verses 7 and 8. 2 Kings 17 verse 7, "For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, and walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made." So the children of Israel are now walking in the laws and the statutes of the heathen and in the laws and statutes of the ungodly, reprobate kings in the northern kingdom.
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There were no godly kings in the northern kingdom, not one. And so they've traded God's law for man's law and God is judging them.
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Now skip down to verse 19. You'll find that Judah did the same thing. "Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made." Wow! Isn't that amazing? God judged and destroyed the ten northern tribes because of their rebellion against Him. And now Judah does exactly the same thing. Anytime a people willingly and voluntarily forsake God's law and follow man's law, it is idolatry.
#16 | 11:15 to 11:46 | cleaned
It is the worship of man. It is the worship of the state. We have to understand that government is not God. Government is a created institution just like the family, just like the church, and consequently it is answerable and responsible and accountable to the God who ordained it and set it up. And the same God that ordained civil government is the same God that placed the limitations and restrictions and boundaries upon it.
#17 | 11:47 to 12:17 | cleaned
Now, today I want us to consider one point and that is this, we've seen the motivation for secession. How about the means? What happens when a people secede? What are the steps? Well, here are the means of secession spelled out for us in 1 Kings chapter 12. First of all if you look in verses 1-3 was confrontation. Verse 1, "And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) that they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying." So here we have a confrontation. Now I want you to note this confrontation took place at Rehoboam's ascension to the throne. He was the son of Solomon.
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He was the grandson of David. Jeroboam was specifically called out of Egypt to confront Rehoboam. Now Jeroboam evidently was a natural leader. I don't know if you remember this or not but I pointed it out last week but if you look in 1 Kings 11 and verse 28 the Bible says this about Jeroboam, "And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph." So at one time then Jeroboam worked for Solomon until God chose Jeroboam for the ten northern tribes and now Solomon persecutes him and to save his life he flees into Egypt. So now that Solomon is dead, he's called out of Egypt, and he's now going to confront Rehoboam.
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Confrontation is usually distasteful, but it is necessary. And unhappily, tyrants do not like confrontation. And in all probability, what made this confrontation a little bit worse is because Rehoboam is just ascending to the throne. So it should have been a time of merrymaking, and happiness, and celebration, and all of a sudden now it has turned into a very sober confrontation. Because here is Jeroboam in the face of Rehoboam saying, there are some things we need to get straight. Now, please do not say and please do not think, well Jeroboam was just one ticked off individual. He got ran into Egypt and Solomon persecuted him and so he's mad and he's upset and he just wants to get things back. No, that's not it.
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Look in verse 1, "And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king." Go to verse 3, "That they sent and called him" that is Jeroboam "and Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam." So it's not just Jeroboam. It is all the elders of Israel all have come. And by the way, I understand that Rehoboam was ascending to the throne. But please understand this.
#21 | 15:22 to 15:55 | cleaned
There is never an inappropriate time to discuss liberty, freedom and responsibility with those who are ruling over you or who are about to rule over you. It is right and it is necessary to confront civil rulers. They are not gods. Okay, so there was confrontation. Secondly, I want you to note there was solicitation. Look in verse 4. They come in a solicitous mode. Jeroboam is not arrogant. He's not demanding.
#22 | 15:55 to 16:31 | cleaned
He simply says this, "Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee." So what Israel wanted then was a benevolent ruler, someone who is going to ease the heavy burden that Solomon placed upon the people.
#23 | 16:32 to 16:55 | cleaned
Now I want you to understand that secession was not even in view at this particular time. All they wanted to do was to get things worked out. They said all we want is some relief. We want to be able to enjoy our lives and our families and you just need to work with us. The solicitation that is enunciated here rested upon a principle that was later enunciated in the Declaration of Independence. Listen to this, "Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes."
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"And accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
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Now stop and think about this. Rehoboam is ascending the throne. Did you know that Solomon reigned 40 years? David reigned 40 years. Even Saul reigned nearly 40 years. So approximately 120 years they've had a king. They've had a monarch. They have not gone up to Rehoboam and said, we are changing things whether you like it or not. They haven't done that. They haven't gone up and said, we're leaving. No.
#26 | 17:52 to 18:21 | cleaned
All they said is, look, we just want to work with you and we want you to work with us. So secession was not necessarily in their mind to begin with. And by the way, just stop and think about this. As much debate as there is today over the constitution, and regardless of what someone's opinion is concerning the Constitution, I've got friends who believe the Constitution should never have been. Well, whether it should have never been or not is beside the point. It is here now. And you say, well, we want to change it. Well, let me tell you something. You can't change something with nothing.
#27 | 18:22 to 19:03 | cleaned
And I know that God's law is perfect, and God's law should be what we should go by. But until we can come to that stage there is still the Constitution which is supposed to be the supreme law of the land. And let me tell you something, here it is. The Constitution will not solve all of our problems, I understand that. But do you realize if our leaders just simply kept their oath and observed and obeyed the Constitution, it would resolve a lot of our problems.
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Economically because we'd have silver and gold, we wouldn't have paper money, we wouldn't have the Federal Reserve. You understand what I'm saying? So, there are some problems that could be resolved if they would just simply obey. And that's what these people wanted. They wanted Rehoboam just to do what was right, and to work with them and obey what was going on. So, there was a confrontation. There was solicitation.
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And thirdly there was consultation. So, look in verse 5-11. Verse 5, "And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed. And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us."
#30 | 19:58 to 20:56 | cleaned
"Thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions."
#31 | 20:56 to 21:11 | cleaned
Now watch, so there was confrontation, there was solicitation, now there is consultation. I want you to understand this consultation just momentarily because now it looks as if Rehoboam is not gonna be able to rule the way he wants to rule because now he's got some people confronting him and soliciting him. Look, there are things that are not right in this kingdom. And they need to be made right and they need to be made right at this present time. So what is the idea of the tyrant? Here's the idea. Let me get some counsel so I can do whatever I can to neutralize the populace. I want to keep the natives calm. Hmm.
#32 | 21:12 to 22:07 | cleaned
And so what does he do? He asked the old men what he should do. And the old men, by the way, give him excellent, excellent advice. And by the way, I hope you understand when I'm talking about neutralizing the populace, there is not an ounce worth of difference between Democrats and Republicans. They're both into tyranny and control. That's all. That's all. They could care less about their people.
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So the consultation that we get from them usually is absolutely worthless. They run over us, do whatever they want to do. But here is the counsel. Look in verses 6 and 7. This is the counsel of the old people. "And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?" Now I want you to look at verse 7. Watch carefully.
#34 | 22:49 to 23:17 | cleaned
"And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever." Ah. An interesting thing is this: when he says in verse 7 "if thou wilt be a servant unto this people," the Hebrew word is the word ebed. And the word ebed just literally means a slave, a bondservant, or a manservant. Now look in verse 7 again.
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Let's read it like that. "And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a slave, or a bondservant unto this people this day, and wilt be a bondservant unto them, and answer them, and speak good words to them," watch, "then they will be thy bondservants for ever." In other words, this thing works both ways. This thing works both ways. In other words, they said if you want this people to serve you, you have to serve them. If you don't serve them, they're not going to serve you. By the way, based upon this verse, the idea of a public servant is a biblical idea.
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That is probably the reason so many today despise and hate that term and designation. They're not up there to be our servants. They're up there to be our masters. And they hate the term public servant. Yet the old men gave the king excellent counsel and excellent advice. But what did he do? He turned to the young men. And they said, you tell those people, now watch this, you tell those people that your little finger is going to be thicker than your father's loins. Where your father placed upon them a heavy yoke, you're going to make it heavier. Where they were chastened with whips by your father, you're going to chastise them with scorpions.
#37 | 24:44 to 25:29 | cleaned
In other words, you show them who's boss. You show them who has the power. You show them who has the authority. You show them who is king. Ah. Do you remember when Naboth refused to sell his garden to Ahab? He answered him and said, God forbid it. In other words, he was just being obedient to God. God did forbid him selling that land. What did Ahab do? He went and turned his face to the wall and cried like a baby.
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And Jezebel came in and said, what's wrong with you? Aren't you king in Israel? Get up and act like it. Show them your power. Take what you want. That's exactly the attitude of a tyrant, by the way. So, obviously, Rehoboam then was taking the counsel of the young men, not the old men, because he wanted to demonstrate he's in control, he's in power, this is his kingship, he can do as he pleases.
#39 | 26:07 to 26:38 | cleaned
Have you ever stopped to think, listen to this, have you ever stopped to think how many churches, how many kingdoms and how many nations have been destroyed because of pride, arrogance, and vanity? I could sit here today and tell you illustration after illustration of churches that I know about that have split and gone down the road just simply because of pride. I'm going to show you I'm in charge here. I'm going to show you who runs this place. It just destroys it.
#40 | 26:39 to 27:18 | cleaned
It is destroying our nation as well. So there was not only confrontation and solicitation and consultation, I want you to look next there was also alienation. Look in verse 15, verse 15, "Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat."
#41 | 27:19 to 27:47 | cleaned
Now Rehoboam in his pride and wickedness alienated the children of Israel. Do you realize that is exactly what our politicians and civil rulers have done to us today? They have alienated us. And you know what they depend upon? You know what they count upon? They think that yes they are corrupt, and yes they do things that are unconstitutional, they do things that are unbiblical, they do things that are ungodly, but they are counting on the fact that we are forgetful.
#42 | 27:48 to 28:17 | cleaned
And it's three more years until election time and by that time we will have forgotten all their scandals. Wow. Well the truth of the matter is not everybody forgets. And consequently, they believe that they can continue to violate and usurp and confiscate, and all will be well. The American people as a whole are right now alienated from their government, and rightly so. According to some of the latest polls, Congress and the federal government rank lower than a fungus. Now, that's pretty bad. That's pretty bad.
#43 | 28:18 to 29:00 | cleaned
All you have to do is observe our country. Dissatisfaction, dissent, and discord abound in every city, in every county, in every state. In fact, recent polls demonstrate that most Americans believe that the biggest problem we have in this country is our government. It's kind of like Ronald Reagan said, "Government is not the solution, government is the problem." And it is the problem. Our government today is vastly different than when it was set up in 1787 and 1789.
#44 | 29:02 to 29:46 | cleaned
Anyone with any biblical sense or constitutional knowledge and character cannot help but be alienated from such a corrupt and ungodly system. Now you find out that Planned Parenthood is not only murdering babies and selling body parts, but some babies are born whole and intact and they're selling the entire baby and all funded by the federal government. May I ask you, how can you help not being alienated from such a corrupt, wicked government? And especially when we have all kind of economic despair because of the fraud in the economic system.
#45 | 29:46 to 30:38 | cleaned
Besides the communism and Marxism and socialism and everything that's going on that is rampant today. Yes, the people are alienated. I want you to notice if you would please in verses 16 and 17, next there was separation. Listen carefully, look in verse 16, "So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them." Notice it is all Israel again, it is not just Jeroboam. "So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David?"
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"Neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel."
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"Now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them." Alienation always leads to separation. I'm going to repeat that. Listen carefully. Alienation always leads to separation. It did in 1776. It did in 1861. Amos 3 in verse 3 asks this question, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"
#48 | 31:19 to 31:55 | cleaned
And the answer is obviously they cannot. Therefore alienation always leads to separation. The full sense of that truth may be perceived when you consider the full scale onslaught of divorce in this country. When husbands and wives are alienated, they separate. Look, if you would, at churches. When there is alienation among the membership or between the pastor and the people or the people and the pastor, there's separation. C.C.
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Gowen wrote a wonderful book years ago. The title of it is "Broken Churches, Broken Nations." And he shows when the churches broke up how the nation broke up. And by the way, the same is true in business. What happens to business partners when there is alienation between them? It always ends up in separation. The same thing that is true in the family and in churches and in business is also true in government. Governments are no exception. Alienation makes separation necessary.
#50 | 32:35 to 33:07 | cleaned
When the South seceded from the North in 1860 and 1861, the most frequently quoted paragraph from the Declaration of Independence by Southern leaders was this, listen, "When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them." And in other words what they are saying is this, separation is absolutely necessary.
#51 | 33:09 to 33:51 | cleaned
When you understand that our government is no longer what it started out to be, and that our government today now violates every principle of right, denies and distorts justice, legislates immorality, persecutes and prosecutes for non-crimes, confiscates and taxes everything, takes from producers to give to non-producers, subsidizes laziness, kinkiness, and immorality. One is not only alienated, he's ready to separate. He's ready to depart. Israel seceded from the rule of Rehoboam and his government. Rehoboam wanted to be tyrannical and rule without the consent of the governed. Therefore, the people refused to be governed by Rehoboam.
#52 | 33:52 to 34:45 | cleaned
And by the way, it was exactly the same thing in 1776 when the colonists said, no, we're not going to be ruled by George III, the tyrant. We're just not going to do it. It was the same thing in 1860 and 1861. The South said, no we are not going to be ruled by Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln violated the Constitution over, and over, and over, and over.
#53 | 34:45 to 35:11 | cleaned
And once again the Southern leaders used that expression in the Declaration, "when in the course of human events it becomes necessary." And they believed it was absolutely necessary. So alienation then makes separation necessary.
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Now let me tell you something. What many people do not understand is that there were many secession movements in this country before the South seceded in 1860 and 1861. But what many people don't realize is this. Prior to 1860 and 1861, all of the secession movements were in the North. Did you know that the North threatened to secede over the Louisiana Purchase? Because they knew the warm water ports down south would just about nullify all the ports in the north.
#55 | 35:27 to 36:07 | cleaned
There was a secession movement over the War of 1812 because the Yankees didn't like it because they were losing business because they could not have commerce with England. Not only that, let me just read you something that may really surprise you. As early as 1844 the northern abolitionists were calling for secession. They wanted the north to secede from the south. William Lloyd Garrison, a rabid abolitionist and others like him, declared the Constitution to be a covenant with death and an agreement with Hell. Now listen, William Lloyd Garrison, the editor of the Liberator, wrote, I'm quoting, "no union with slaveholders." May 31st, 1844. At the 10th anniversary of the American Anti-Slavery Society in New York City, May the 7th, it was decided by a vote of nearly three to one of the members present that the existing national compact should be instantly dissolved, that is the Constitution, that secession from the government is a religious and political duty, and that the motto inscribed on the banner, freedom should be no union with slaveholders. And by the way, there were slaves in the North in 1844.
#56 | 36:08 to 37:33 | cleaned
Slavery was Constitutional until 1808, and it was to remain constitutional until those slaves died out. No more were to be imported. And by the way, while I'm mentioning this, let me mention this very clearly and concisely. Never was there one slave brought over into this country under the Confederate battle flag. It is not a flag of slavery. It was not even a national flag. It was a battle flag. It did not even come into existence until after July of 1861. Let me go further. There were no southern slave ships. No southern flag ever flew over a slave ship. All the slave ships were from the north and they all flew the stars and stripes. That's a fact. You may not like it, but that's a fact. You say, but the North got rid of their slaves. Yes, they did by selling them to the South so they can then self-righteously and hypocritically say, you need to release them at one time. And the South wanted to get rid of the slaves because it was becoming vastly unprofitable, but they were not just going to kick them out.
#57 | 37:33 to 38:54 | cleaned
They said they have to be educated. They have to be trained and the Lord said no. No, you must do it our way or else. So obviously then when we're talking about these things, you've got to understand. Hey here are these people saying we want to secede and this is northerners and Northerners, not Southerners. So there are plenty of secession movements in the North before one ever began in the South in 1860 and 1861.
#58 | 38:54 to 39:22 | cleaned
Now, I want you to look at verse 19 because some may have trouble with this verse. I don't think you should, but here it is. Look at verse 19. "So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day." Well, you say there it is, it's called rebellion, secession is rebellion. No. No, it's not. You have to remember this, rebellion can only be to lawful authority. Where there is no lawful authority it is not rebellion, it is merely resistance. Resistance to tyranny and corruption. Rehoboam was a tyrant.
#59 | 39:22 to 40:00 | cleaned
Now, understand Benjamin Franklin placed on his personal seal, "rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." Thomas Jefferson liked that so well he had it placed on his seal, "rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." Moreover, if you will look in verse 15 the Bible says, "Wherefore the king hearkened not unto them; for the cause was from the LORD." The cause was from the Lord. Moreover, when you go back to verse 19 and you see the word rebel there, the Hebrew word is pasha which literally has the meaning of an expansion.
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True, it is translated in our Bibles as transgressed, offend, revolt, or rebelled. But it is exactly the same word that is used in reference to the Moabites in 2 Kings. Let me show you. Hold 1 Kings 12, but look in 2 Kings chapter 1 and verse 1, then we'll go to chapter 3. Look in 2 Kings 1 and verse 1, "Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab." Now look in 2 Kings 3 and verse 5, "But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel." Let me ask you what kind of king was Ahab? He was a tyrant. He was a reprobate. He was a murderer. Would Moab, the country of Moab, be right to try to get back their own jurisdiction and their own liberty and their own freedom from a tyrannical regime? Of course they would. The word is translated here as that, but it is not necessarily the same. Notice if you would back in 1 Kings 12 verse 16, I'm not through yet.
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Look in verse 16. 1 Kings 12 verse 16, "So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them," notice it's all Israel. "When they saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David." You take care of yourself. We'll take care of ourselves. "So Israel departed unto their tents." They departed. The Hebrew word departed just simply means to walk away. To move away, to get away, to fall away. So they said look, we're not trying to tear down your government, Rehoboam. If you want to be a tyrant in Judah, be a tyrant in Judah. We're just walking away from you. That's what secession is. It is a walking away. By the way, tyrannical rulers often consider anything that would destroy or diminish their usurped or imaginary authority as rebellion or treason. Do you remember Queen Athaliah? Queen Athaliah when her son who was king died, she did a very un-grandmotherly thing.
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She took all of her grandchildren and murdered them just so she could be queen. Well, thankfully Joash, not Joab, but Joash. Joash was snuck away from her and she missed him and he was hidden in the temple. And when Jehoiada had raised him until he was seven years old, he then had him anointed king over Israel. And when Athaliah heard the noise and the trumpet, she went to the temple to see what it was. And when she saw Joash there being anointed king, what did she say? She cried, "Treason! Treason!" Really? She was the traitor. She was the murderer. And now here a lawful authority is anointing a lawful descendant of the king to be king, and she is crying treason.
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You have to understand what is going on in our country today. Why do you think that God-fearing, conservative, honest, hard-working citizens today are being labeled as domestic terrorists? I just saw recently a man in his own yard hooking up his own boat. It's on YouTube. Police car pulled up. He pulled his camera out and started filming. The cop then ran his license plates. Got out with his gun drawn and he asked him, "Why are you filming me? Are you some crazy constitutionalist?" Really? And the man basically had to just keep talking and say, you get away from here, I haven't done anything wrong. You put that gun up, you get back and you leave me alone. Thankfully the man did. But I'm just simply pointing out the fact, do you realize why honest, godly, hardworking, conservative people are being called domestic terrorists?
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Because they are a terrorist to the empire, and to the status quo, and to the Marxist, Communist, Fascist state government. Federal government. That's it. States do not need permission to secede. States are the masters. The federal government is the servant. Secession is a lawful, legitimate means to prevent oppression, tyranny, and subjugation. Now listen to this. Individuals do not need permission from the federal government or state government to secede or withdraw themselves from wicked, corrupt oppression.
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We've been commanded to do that by God. We don't need state's permission. Let me just read some scripture. Here is Proverbs 1:10-16. Listen to what God says, "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit."
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"We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood." What is God saying? God is saying don't join with evil. Don't join with wickedness. Separate yourself.
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Here 2 Corinthians 6 verses 14-18, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
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"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." So here are passages, plain passages that say, come out from among them. God has commanded us.
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Now, I want you to listen to this. Jeff Deist is a libertarian and he gave a speech entitled "Secession Begins at Home." Secession begins at home. I'm not going to give you his speech, but I'm going to show you some examples that he did give on how that you can personally, individually secede. Listen to what he says. He says, first, secede from intellectual isolation. Talk to like-minded friends, family, and neighbors, whether physically or virtually, to spread liberty and cultivate relationships and alliances. The state prefers to have us atomized without a strong family structure or social network. Number two, secede from dependency.
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Become as self-sufficient as possible with regard to food, water, fuel, cash, firearms, and physical security at home. Resist being reliant on government in the event of a natural disaster, bank crisis, or the like.
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Third, secede from the mainstream media, which promotes the state in a million different ways. Ditch cable. Ditch CNN. Ditch the major newspapers. And find your own sources of information in this internet age. Take advantage of a luxury previous generations did not enjoy. Next, secede from state control of your children by homeschooling them or unschooling them. Secede from college by rejecting mainstream academia and its student loan trap.
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Educate yourself using online learning platforms, obtaining technical credentials, or simply by reading as much as you can. Let me just stop there. I don't know if you read this week of the 12-year-old girl in England who has a higher IQ than Einstein and Stephen Hawking. Her IQ was 162. She's 12 years old. I can assure you she did not go to some institutional school because she's a gypsy. Her family's a gypsy. They travel in caravans. What did the kid do? Probably has read all of her life and probably had a mind that God gave her to retain everything that she read. But this is what he's saying. Read as much as you possibly can.
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Next, he says, secede from the U.S. dollar by owning physical precious metals, by owning assets denominated in foreign currencies, and by owning assets abroad. Next, secede from the federal tax and regulatory regimes by organizing your business and personal affairs to be as tax-efficient and unobtrusive as possible. Next, secede from the legal system by legally protecting your assets from rapacious lawsuits and probate courts as much as possible. Next, secede from the state health care racket by taking control of your health and questioning medical orthodoxy. Secede from your state by moving to another with a better tax and regulatory environment, better homeschooling laws, better gun laws, or just one with more liberty-minded people. Secede from political uncertainty in the United States by obtaining a second passport, or secede from the United States altogether by expatriating.
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Most of all, secede from the mindset that government is all-powerful and too formidable an opponent to be overcome. The state is nothing more than Bastiat's great fiction or Murray's gang of thieves writ large. Let us not give it power to make us unhappy or pessimistic. All I can say is Jeff is giving good counsel. We must return to independence. We must learn to think and act and take responsibility for ourselves as we obey God and bring our lives in conformity to His Word.
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Let me put it like this, in his speech he said, secession begins at home. Secession begins first in our hearts and in our minds. Then it begins at home. It is when we put into action that which is in our hearts and in our minds as well. We learn to become dependent upon the Lord Jesus Christ and independent of anything and everything else. So, yes, individuals may secede as far as they can by the grace of God.
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Now, one last thing, I want you to look in verse 18, 1 Kings 12 verse 18. There was violence. "Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem." Now, I want you to note that violence was initiated by the tyrant. It was instigated by the tyrant.
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The reason for Adoram's death was very simple. Rehoboam insisted that he had the right to collect taxes from a people who had seceded, who had withdrawn from him, who had walked away from him, who did not give him their consent to be governed by him. He did not have any just power over them, yet he was determined he was going to collect taxes from them. Do you realize the same was true exactly of the South in 1861? The South had legally seceded from the North. They had begun a new government, yet Lincoln decided he was going to collect taxes from a people over which he did not have power, nor did he have their consent to be governed by them. But he insisted. He insisted.
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The spiritual and civil corruption, oppression and tyranny that is prevalent today will ultimately drive many into secession. Thousands have already expatriated. You need to look, check it out on the internet, of how many people have already renounced their United States citizenship and have left the country and do not plan on coming back. They have fled.
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Now, not everybody can flee. Not everybody can leave. I understand that. But it does mean that we can secede individually and personally as far as we can by the grace of God. So, you're going to ask yourself this question. Will we have to fight? My answer would be probably. I hope not. But probably. But regardless of whether or not we would have to fight physically, we would still have to fight mentally and spiritually, emotionally, and economically. There's always a fight.
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Now, let me close with this. I want you to just listen to what the Apostle Paul said, and then let me ask you one question. Okay? Ephesians 6, verses 10 through 18. Paul writes, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
#81 | 55:16 to 55:41 | cleaned
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Now here's my question. If God did not intend for us to fight for our rights, our liberties, our freedoms, if God did not intend for us to fight for truth and righteousness, why did he give us all this armor?
#82 | 55:42 to 56:48 | cleaned
Put on the whole armor of God. And if you were to take Ephesians chapter 6 and look at it, when you get through, you're decked out from head to toe. You're ready for battle. You're ready for battle. But I want you to understand this. Usually when violence comes, it comes at the insistence of a tyrannical ruler and a tyrannical government. Does it stem from the people? It's forced upon them. It was forced upon the South. It was forced upon the colonists in 1776.
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Just remember this, secession begins in our hearts and our minds. And we have to determine, like the Apostle Peter said in Acts chapter 5, when he said, "We ought to obey God rather than men." Judge ye whether that's right or not. We ought to obey God rather than men. So when it comes down to it, that's the issue, whether we obey God or whether we obey man. Let's pray.
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Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I ask for your grace and your mercy and your goodness and your kindness. Teach us, Lord, build us up in the most holy faith. Help us understand these principles, apply them as far as we can, and live for thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
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You.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T21:52:01Z

A Model For Secession - Part 2 of 2

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver continues his teaching on secession from 1 Kings 12, focusing on the means of secession. He outlines the steps leading to Israel's separation from Rehoboam: confrontation, solicitation, consultation, alienation, and separation. Weaver argues that civil corruption stems from spiritual corruption, and that secession is a lawful response to tyranny. He applies these principles to modern America, encouraging personal secession from ungodly systems and emphasizing obedience to God over man.

Opening

Scripture Reading — 1 Kings 12:1-19

"And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king." "And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of King Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt,) that they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, 'Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.' And he said unto them, 'Depart yet for three days, then come again to me.' And the people departed. And King Rehoboam consulted with the old men that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, 'How do ye advise that I may answer this people?' And they spake unto him, saying, 'If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.' But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, which stood before him." "And he said unto them, 'What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?' And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, 'Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, My father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. Now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.' So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, 'Come to me again the third day.' And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, 'My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.'" "Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, 'What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David.' So Israel departed unto their tents. But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day."

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the previous message on the motivation for secession, emphasizing that spiritual corruption precedes civil corruption.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 15:10-11

"Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments."

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 15:10-11

"He is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments."

The Nature of Tyranny

Tyranny begins when rulers deny God's sovereignty and law, as seen in Saul and Psalm 2.

Scripture Reading — Hosea 5:10

"The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water."

Confrontation

The first step in secession is confrontation, as Jeroboam and all Israel confronted Rehoboam at his ascension.

Scripture Reading — 1 Kings 11:28

"And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph."

Solicitation

Israel sought relief from heavy burdens, not immediate secession, reflecting a desire for benevolent rule.

Consultation

Rehoboam consulted old and young counselors; he rejected the wise advice to serve the people and chose harshness.

Alienation

Rehoboam's pride alienated Israel, paralleling modern government alienation of citizens.

Separation

Alienation led to separation; Israel walked away, declaring no portion in David.

Historical Secession Movements

Weaver notes Northern secession movements prior to 1860, including over the Louisiana Purchase and War of 1812.

Rebellion vs. Resistance

Secession is not rebellion against lawful authority but resistance to tyranny; the Hebrew word pasha can mean expansion.

Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 1:1; 3:5

"Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab."

Personal Secession

Weaver shares Jeff Deist's practical steps for personal secession from dependency, media, education, and more.

Violence and Conclusion

Violence was initiated by the tyrant Rehoboam; believers must put on God's armor to fight spiritual battles.

A Model For Secession - Part 2 of 2

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	mMq_PlA6WlY
Subject	Education and Discipleship
Course	Christian Education and Discipleship
Genre	Sermon
Date	2015-09-06
Dictation Name
Book	Book 025: A Model For Secession — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	86

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review: Weaver reviews the previous message on the motivation for secession, emphasizing that spiritual corruption precedes civil corruption.
The Nature of Tyranny: Tyranny begins when rulers deny God's sovereignty and law, as seen in Saul and Psalm 2.
Confrontation: The first step in secession is confrontation, as Jeroboam and all Israel confronted Rehoboam at his ascension.
Solicitation: Israel sought relief from heavy burdens, not immediate secession, reflecting a desire for benevolent rule.
Consultation: Rehoboam consulted old and young counselors; he rejected the wise advice to serve the people and chose harshness.
Alienation: Rehoboam's pride alienated Israel, paralleling modern government alienation of citizens.
Separation: Alienation led to separation; Israel walked away, declaring no portion in David.
Historical Secession Movements: Weaver notes Northern secession movements prior to 1860, including over the Louisiana Purchase and War of 1812.
Rebellion vs. Resistance: Secession is not rebellion against lawful authority but resistance to tyranny; the Hebrew word pasha can mean expansion.
Personal Secession: Weaver shares Jeff Deist's practical steps for personal secession from dependency, media, education, and more.
Violence and Conclusion: Violence was initiated by the tyrant Rehoboam; believers must put on God's armor to fight spiritual battles.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Tyranny stems from denying God's law

A tyrant is one who rejects God's sovereignty and boundaries, as seen in Psalm 2 and Hosea 5:10.

Weaver says, 'Tyranny begins when God's sovereign law word is denied and man comes to believe that he has replaced God.'

Secession is not rebellion but resistance

Rebellion can only be against lawful authority; resisting a tyrant is obedience to God.

Weaver argues, 'Rebellion can only be to lawful authority. Where there is no lawful authority it is not rebellion, it is merely resistance.'

The steps of secession in 1 Kings 12

The process includes confrontation, solicitation, consultation, alienation, and separation.

Weaver outlines the means: 'First of all... was confrontation... secondly... solicitation... thirdly... consultation... alienation... separation.'

Historical precedent for secession in America

Northern states threatened secession multiple times before the South, showing secession is not uniquely Southern.

Weaver states, 'Prior to 1860 and 1861, all of the secession movements were in the North.'

Violence is initiated by tyrants

Rehoboam sent Adoram to collect taxes from a seceded people, leading to violence; similarly, Lincoln insisted on taxing the South.

Weaver says, 'Violence was initiated by the tyrant... Rehoboam insisted that he had the right to collect taxes from a people who had seceded.'

Scripture References

1 Kings 12:1-19: The primary text for the sermon, detailing the secession of Israel from Rehoboam.
1 Samuel 15:10-11: God rejected Saul as king because he turned from following God's commandments, illustrating spiritual corruption leading to tyranny.
Psalm 2:1-3: Describes rulers who rebel against God's authority, defining the heart of a tyrant.
Hosea 5:10: Princes of Judah removed boundaries, showing rejection of God's limitations.
Luke 18:4: The unjust judge feared not God nor regarded man, exemplifying spiritual corruption.
2 Chronicles 19:2: Jehoshaphat was rebuked for helping the ungodly, showing the danger of supporting corrupt rulers.
Hosea 5:11: Ephraim was oppressed because they willingly walked after man's commandment.
2 Kings 17:7-8, 19: Israel and Judah walked in statutes of heathen and kings, leading to judgment.
1 Kings 11:28: Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor, appointed by Solomon before fleeing to Egypt.
Amos 3:3: Can two walk together except they be agreed? Used to support the necessity of separation.
2 Kings 1:1; 3:5: Moab rebelled against Israel after Ahab's death; the same Hebrew word pasha is used, showing it can mean resistance to tyranny.
Proverbs 1:10-16: Warning not to consent to sinners or walk in their ways; a call to separation.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18: Command to come out from among unbelievers and be separate.
Ephesians 6:10-18: The armor of God, indicating believers are to fight spiritual battles.
Acts 5:29: We ought to obey God rather than men, the ultimate principle for secession.

Historical References

Declaration of Independence: Quoted to support the principle that governments should not be changed for light causes, and that separation is necessary when tyranny persists.
Ronald Reagan: Quoted: 'Government is not the solution, government is the problem.'
American Revolution (1776): Colonists seceded from British tyranny, paralleling Israel's secession.
Southern Secession (1860-1861): The South seceded from the North, citing the Declaration of Independence; Lincoln violated the Constitution.
Northern Secession Movements: Northern states threatened secession over the Louisiana Purchase, War of 1812, and abolitionists called for secession in 1844.
William Lloyd Garrison: Abolitionist who called the Constitution 'a covenant with death' and advocated 'no union with slaveholders.'
Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson: Both used the motto 'Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God' on their personal seals.
Queen Athaliah: She cried 'Treason!' when Joash was anointed king, though she was the usurper; illustrates how tyrants label resistance as treason.
Jeff Deist: Libertarian who gave a speech 'Secession Begins at Home,' providing practical steps for personal secession.
Planned Parenthood: Mentioned as an example of government-funded corruption, selling baby body parts.

Important Quotes

It's impossible to have civil corruption without first having spiritual corruption.

Core thesis that spiritual decline leads to political tyranny.

Tyranny begins when God's sovereign law word is denied and man comes to believe that he has replaced God.

Defines the root of tyranny as rejection of God's authority.

Rebellion can only be to lawful authority. Where there is no lawful authority it is not rebellion, it is merely resistance.

Distinguishes secession from sinful rebellion.

Alienation always leads to separation.

Key principle that estrangement from government necessitates withdrawal.

Secession is a lawful, legitimate means to prevent oppression, tyranny, and subjugation.

Affirms the biblical and legal right to secede.

We ought to obey God rather than men.

Ultimate justification for resisting ungodly authority.

Secession begins at home. Secession begins first in our hearts and in our minds.

Emphasizes personal, internal commitment as the starting point.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does spiritual corruption inevitably lead to civil corruption, and what are modern examples?

[Context]

Weaver argues that civil tyranny is the fruit of spiritual decline.

[Question]

In what ways can Christians today confront ungodly rulers without sinning?

[Context]

The sermon highlights confrontation as a necessary step, as Jeroboam did.

[Question]

What does it mean for a ruler to be a 'servant' of the people, and how does this contrast with modern government?

[Context]

The old men advised Rehoboam to be a servant (ebed), a biblical concept of public service.

[Question]

How should believers balance submission to government (Romans 13) with the call to separate from evil (2 Corinthians 6)?

[Context]

Weaver cites 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 to support separation from ungodly systems.

[Question]

What practical steps of personal secession can you take in your own life?

[Context]

Jeff Deist's suggestions include homeschooling, financial independence, and media discernment.

[Question]

Is violence ever justified in resisting tyranny, and how does the armor of God passage inform our response?

[Context]

Weaver notes violence was initiated by the tyrant, but believers are equipped for spiritual battle.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T13:40:37Z