OVERVIEW: Rehoboam becomes king; the kingdom is divided; Jeroboam is made king of Israel and institutes false worship; the prophet of God rebukes Jeroboam; God judges Jeroboam’s house; the temple is looted under Rehoboams’ reign; the reigns of Abijam and Asa in Judah; the reign of Nadab and Baasha in Israel.
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
As we ended yesterday’s reading in 1 Kings 11, we were able to witness a distinct turning point in Solomon’s life and reign as king. He was overtaken by the same four things that overtake believers to this day:
- PREOCCUPATION of SELF. (2 Tim. 3:2; Phil 2:21)
- ATTRACTION to WOMEN. (Matt. 5:27-28; 2 Pet. 2:14)
- ACCUMULATION of WEALTH. (Col. 3:1-2; Matt. 6:19-21)
- CONNECTION to EGYPT (or, the WORLD). (Jam. 4:4; 2 Cor. 6:14-18)
As we come into chapter 12 today, Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, becomes the king after his father’s death. If he will exercise wisdom, he sits in a position to win the affection of the people and establish his leadership in the kingdom. Certainly, the temple building project had given the nation of Israel great notoriety, but the taxes to fund it had become burdensome to the people. As Rehoboam seeks the counsel of the old men, they tell him that if he will be a servant-leader to the people, the people would follow him to the ends of the earth. The counsel he receives from the young men was the exact opposite. They tell him that the way to establish his leadership was to be a dictator, and to increase the burden of their taxes. Rehoboam foolishly follows the counsel of the young men.
Chapter 12, therefore, marks a key division in the Book of 1 Kings, not to mention a key division in the kingdom. There are 22 chapters in the Book. The first 11 chapters detail the incredible 40 years of Solomon’s reign in the UNITED kingdom in Israel. The second 11 chapters detail the first 80 years of the DIVIDED kingdom. From this point in the Old Testament, these two kingdoms will be known as Israel and Judah, respectively. Jeroboam becomes the king of Israel, comprised of 10 of the 12 tribes, while Rehoboam is left to be the king of the two remaining tribes, Judah and Benjamin. The 10 tribes (Israel) become the NORTHERN kingdom with Samaria as its capital, while the two tribes (Judah) become the SOUTHERN kingdom, maintaining Jerusalem as its capital.
As has already been mentioned, Rehoboam foolishly followed the wrong counsel in increasing the severities upon the people. As Jeroboam begins to lead the northern kingdom, he, likewise, exercises of major lack of wisdom that seals its doom. Fearing that if the people were forced to go to Jerusalem to participate in the annual feasts he would begin to lose his jurisdiction over the people, he reaches back into one of the nation of Israel’s “bag of biggest blunders,” and follows the sinful example of Aaron in making a golden calf of all things! To make it convenient for the people to “worship,” he sets up one golden calf in Dan, and another one in Bethel. The demonic worship of these golden calves in these two places included an entire blasphemous priesthood, with Jeroboam himself burning incense at the altar as if he were a priest!
Rehoboam and Jeroboam paint a very graphic picture of leaders throughout history, right up to this present day, who seek to lead from a position of power and pride, rather than a position of service and humility. Once a leader feels the need to protect his “position” and/or “power,” there seems to be no limit to the carnal absurdities that will issue forth. Pray that your pastor will humbly follow Jesus’ leadership style, and that he will be passionate about seeking to protect Christ’s glory in the church, rather than his own.
The remainder of the Book of 1 Kings (Chapters 12-22) records the next 86 years of the reign of the kings in the divided kingdom. The king’s names, the length of their reign, and the scripture’s verdict concerning them is as follows:
In JUDAH (4 kings in approximately 86 years)
- Rehoboam (17 years)… EVIL.
- Abijam (3 years)… EVIL.
- Asa (41 years)… GOOD.
- Jehosophat (25 years)… GOOD.
In ISRAEL (8 kings in approximately 86 years)
- Jeroboam (22 years)… EVIL.
- Nadab (2 years)… EVIL.
- Baasha (24 years)… EVIL.
- Elah (2 years)… EVIL.
- Zimri (1 week)… EVIL.
- Omri (12 years)… EVIL.
- Ahab (22 years)… EVIL.
- Ahaziah (2 years)… EVIL.
CHRIST IS REVEALED:
In the prophecy concerning JOSIAH. Another child shall come that shall judge the false gods and false worship of this world — 1 Kings 13:2 (2 Thess. 1:7-10; Rev. 18:1-2, 10, 21)