1 Kings

1 Kings 12:1-15

Of all of Solomon's wives, as far as we know he had only one son, Rehoboam.  It should have been automatice that the tribes would acknowledge him as their king at the death of Solomon.  However, Rehoboam went to Shechem and all of Israel was there to make him king.  It seems as though Rehoboam was going to them.  This could definitely be a sign of weakness. 

Jeroboam, who had fled Solomon in Egypt, heard of this and went and stood before him and made his complaint of how hard Solomon had been to them.  If he lightened the load, then the nation could be restored as one and they would serve him.  Rehoboam wanted 3 days to consider the matter.  He consulted the elders and they gave him an amicable answer to appease the people and maintain peace.  The advice was sound in that it reflected the Lord in having a servant's heart.  Rehoboam disregarded their advice.  The young men's advice almost sounded like a joke that he took seriously.  You almost have to poke out your chest just to read it.  This bad advice split the kingdom. 

And while in verse 15 we see this "turn of events" was from the Lord, it doesn't excuse the foolishness of Rehoboam.  Jeroboam took the 10 northern tribes and Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem to rule Judah and Benjamin. 

1 Kings 12:16-24

Rehoboam was determined to restore the nation under his reign by starting a civil war and forcing the people to follow his poor leadership.  He was getting ready to go to war when a prophet told him he was not to go.  Almost surprisingly, Rehoboam obeyed the word of the Lord.

1 Kings 12:25-

Jeroboam was already mindful of the fragile kingdom.  He sought to stablize his reign and authority.  But, he's already forgotten the promise of 1 Kings 11:38.  He should have followed the Lord and trusted in Him. 

Instead he came up with his own plan to insure the people didn't go to Jerusalem to sacrifice.  He set up golden calves in Dan and Bethel and told folks these were their gods and to go sacrifice there.  I have to wonder, how naïve were these folks that they would sacrifice to a golden calf?  How could Jeroboam be so short sighted when it was God who set him up as king.  Then, he directed the people's attention away from God and credited the work of God to golden calves.  He assigned priests from every tribe with no consideration to the law and the priests of the tribe of Levites.  He even set up a feast day similar to the Lord's feast days.  But the entire thing was counterfeit; devised in his own heart (33) and it would not stand up. 

©2016 Doug Ford