DAY 247 - BIG PICTURE IN A YEAR - THE UNITED MONARCHY

by Gillian D'achada October 14, 2021

“NOW IT CAME TO PASS WHEN ALL ISRAEL HEARD THAT JEROBOAM HAD COME BACK, THEY SENT FOR HIM AND CALLED HIM TO THE CONGREGATION, AND MADE HIM KING OVER ALL ISRAEL. THERE WAS NONE WHO FOLLOWED THE HOUSE OF DAVID, BUT THE TRIBE OF JUDAH ONLY” (NKJV).

1 Kings 12:20

Reading: 1 Kings 12:1-24

Today we look at the split of the northern and southern kingdoms under Rehoboam’s rule. Rehoboam was the legitimate ruler over the United Kingdom of Israel. Unfortunately, he did not have the wisdom of his father and he didn’t listen to the people of Israel, nor did he listen to the advice of the elders. He chose to follow the advice of his young buddies and made the fateful decision to exert his leadership by force and treat the tribes of Israel roughly.

This led to 10 of the tribes rejecting him as king. They split from the South, called Judah, and instead chose to follow Jeroboam as their new king over the northern Kingdom, called Israel. To a large extent be unknown to them, they were actually just walking out a decision that had been taken earlier, by the LORD, as a result of Solomon’s sin of idolatry. Rehoboam now ruled over the 2 tribes of Judah in the South and Jeroboam ruled over the 10 tribes of Israel in the North.

Looking forward, we see dark days ahead for the now divided kingdoms of Judah and Israel. Disobedience to the Covenant (see Deuteronomy 28) had brought about this judgment in the Promised Land, and things were to get a lot worse, leading to subjugation by their enemies and exile from the land.

Prayer

Dear Father, help us not to follow poor decision-makers but rather to seek Your will. Give us loyal, wise, and loving hearts that bring about unity and peace amongst Your people we pray.

For the family

Watch this family video together about how Jeroboam became king over Israel

Jeroboam becomes king. Click here to watch