The Essentials Of The Bible: Part 95 -- God Judges And Restores The People – A Divided Kingdom For Solomon’s Son Rehoboam
When Jeroboam heard that Rehoboam went to Shechem, he returned from Egypt; where he had fled when Solomon pursued him. Jeroboam and all of the leaders of Israel met with Rehoboam to ask him to lighten the harsh labor and taxes that his father Solomon had enforced. Asking for three days to seek counsel, Rehoboam sought the advise of the older counselors of his father. They advised to him to give the people a favorable answer and that they would be loyal subjects. Rehoboam rejected their counsel and went to the younger men and asked them how should he respond. Their response was harsh.
1 Kings 12:10-11 The young men replied, “This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! (11) Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!’”
So Rehoboam went back to the leaders of the tribes and said, “My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!”
The northern tribes of Israel revolted against Rehoboam and made Jeroboam King over Israel and Rehoboam remained king over only Judah; this fulfilled what the LORD told Solomon.
1 Kings 12:16-20 ESV And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, "What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David." So Israel went to their tents. (17) But Rehoboam reigned over the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah. (18) Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was taskmaster over the forced labor, and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. And King Rehoboam hurried to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. (19) So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. (20) And when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. There was none that followed the house of David but the tribe of Judah only.
The divided nations of Israel and Judah continued to try the patience of the LORD. The glory days of a united nation obeying the LORD with blessings had ended with Joshua. Through the many judges, God restored the people many times. Their backsliding days took a rest under King David and for the early reign of Solomon. But with Solomon’s turning to paganism in his older life, the LORD promised a curse for his disobedience. The kingdom would be ripped from his son, and so it was.
The timeline below lists the kings of both Israel and Judah along with the prophets who served the LORD during their time.
ISRAEL AND JUDAH BOTH COMMITTED ADULTRY & WENT OUT A WHORING
Both Israel and Judah were led by kings, many of whom were wicked in the sight of the LORD. The days of full restoration were now long since past. The LORD’s prized and chosen people just would not serve him. The LORD has looked upon Israel with such favor that she was His bride, but she went off
Ezekiel 6:4-10 KJV And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols. (5) And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars. (6) In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished. (7) And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the LORD. (8) Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries. (9) And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations. (10) And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.
Jeremiah 3:6-11 KJV The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. (7) And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. (8) And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. (9) And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. (10) And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD. (11) And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for calling me into a special relationship with you. Help me to be loyal to you and faithful to my calling, in Jesus' name, Amen.
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