The Kingdom Divided

I Kings 12:16–33
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Due to Rehoboam’s dictatorial threat, he alienated the 12 tribes and only the closest countrymen from Judah did not abandon him. Rehoboam’s insensitivity to the Israelites’ hardships extinguished any hope they may have entertained of economic recovery. His dictatorial threat alienated his suffering subjects. Only Rehoboam’s closest countrymen from Judah did not abandon him. In order to promote peace Rehoboam sends Adoniram, the foreman of forced labor, to meet with the rebelling tribes. However, this was a mistake as the people took this as an act of force and they stoned Adoniram to death. Rehoboam was also forced to flee south to the safety of Jerusalem.

Immediate preparations for war were made. Out of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, Rehoboam was able to muster an army of 180,000 whose mission was to restore the rebellious tribes to a unified kingdom. At the same time the 10 tribes brought Jeroboam forward and made him king of Israel.  Shemaiah, a prophet, made a public announcement to Judah that civil war was not God’s will and he convinced the people to go back home.

Jeroboam had a wonderful opportunity to lead Israel in a prosperous way if he obeyed the Lord (11:38-39). However, he committed many serious sins that resulted in the Israelites turning from God rather than to Him. Having established his capital in Shechem he began immediately to consolidate and secure his new realm. One of the first things he did was to change their religious system. This included: (1.) a new manner of worship (v. 28), (2.) a new place of worship(vv. 29-31), (3.) a new leader for worship (v. 31b), and (4.) a new time for worship (vv. 32-33).

Application

Both Jeroboam and Rehoboam did what was good for themselves and not what was good for the people and thus divided the nation and turned the people from God. Making decisions for selfish reasons will cause me to be a loser. I need to do what God wants no matter what happens.