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Rehoboam’s Folly
Solomon’s death marks another important turning point in Israel’s history. The strong-handed administrative approach, the labor-conscription laws, and the experiments in religious pluralism all led to great tension at the beginning of the reign of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon.
Read 1 Kings 12:1–16 and try to capture the drama of the situation. Looking at Rehoboam’s leadership, what can we learn from this story about our own attitudes toward whatever power we possess in various life situations? What can we learn from his mistake?
After the division of Judah and Israel, God’s once-united people begin to go different ways. Seeing that the center of worship, sacrifice, and adoration was located in Judah, King Jeroboam I of Israel had two golden calves made (1 Kings 12:26–29) and set up two places of worship with altars—one in Bethel and the other in Dan. Things did not look good for Israel, and over the next two hundred years the Israelites had a roller-coaster experience. Some kings followed (at least half-heartedly) God’s call to repentance; others stubbornly refused to listen to the prophets. Dynasties changed, and political assassination abounded. Twenty kings reigned from Jeroboam I to the last king of Israel in Samaria, Hoshea, signaling the unstable condition of the kingdom. Finally, in 722 B.C., Samaria was captured by the Assyrians and Israel was taken into captivity.
On the other side of the border, things did not look much better. The Davidic dynasty was maintained, but not all the descendants of David could emulate the faith of their forefather. Some kings, such as Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah, tried to return to the Lord and in the process also bring Judah as a whole to repentance. Their efforts were aided by scores of prophets who spoke to particular situations and specific spiritual and social needs in Judah.
In 586 B.C. Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians. The leadership and much of the city’s population are taken to Babylon. The temple is destroyed. The royal “experiment” has come to an end.
One would think that, with the disaster of the Babylonian destruction and captivity, that was the end of the Jewish people. What does their restoration after this calamity tell us about God’s patience and grace? In what ways have you seen that same patience and grace in your own life? What should your reaction to this grace be?
| THURSDAY | September 30 |
Solomon’s death marks another important turning point in Israel’s history. The strong-handed administrative approach, the labor-conscription laws, and the experiments in religious pluralism all led to great tension at the beginning of the reign of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon.
Read 1 Kings 12:1–16 and try to capture the drama of the situation. Looking at Rehoboam’s leadership, what can we learn from this story about our own attitudes toward whatever power we possess in various life situations? What can we learn from his mistake?
After the division of Judah and Israel, God’s once-united people begin to go different ways. Seeing that the center of worship, sacrifice, and adoration was located in Judah, King Jeroboam I of Israel had two golden calves made (1 Kings 12:26–29) and set up two places of worship with altars—one in Bethel and the other in Dan. Things did not look good for Israel, and over the next two hundred years the Israelites had a roller-coaster experience. Some kings followed (at least half-heartedly) God’s call to repentance; others stubbornly refused to listen to the prophets. Dynasties changed, and political assassination abounded. Twenty kings reigned from Jeroboam I to the last king of Israel in Samaria, Hoshea, signaling the unstable condition of the kingdom. Finally, in 722 B.C., Samaria was captured by the Assyrians and Israel was taken into captivity.
On the other side of the border, things did not look much better. The Davidic dynasty was maintained, but not all the descendants of David could emulate the faith of their forefather. Some kings, such as Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah, tried to return to the Lord and in the process also bring Judah as a whole to repentance. Their efforts were aided by scores of prophets who spoke to particular situations and specific spiritual and social needs in Judah.
In 586 B.C. Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians. The leadership and much of the city’s population are taken to Babylon. The temple is destroyed. The royal “experiment” has come to an end.
One would think that, with the disaster of the Babylonian destruction and captivity, that was the end of the Jewish people. What does their restoration after this calamity tell us about God’s patience and grace? In what ways have you seen that same patience and grace in your own life? What should your reaction to this grace be?
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