SCRIPTURE: 1 KINGS 12
ISRAEL REBELS AGAINST REHOBOAM (vs. 1-24)
After Solomon died, Rehoboam succeeded him as king. Then Jeroboam and the people asked him to lighten their harsh labor and the heavy yoke. He told them to come back 3 days after. King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served King Solomon and they told him to give the people a favorable answer. But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders. He consulted young men’s advices and they said: “Tell them, my little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions” (vs. 10-11)
Three days later, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam. When they heard that their request has been rejected, they rebelled against Rehoboam. Rehoboam sent Adoniram who was in charged of forced labor but he was stoned to death by the Israelites. So the people made Jeroboam king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah and Benjamin remained with Rehoboam. Rehoboam mustered 180 thousand fighting men to make war against the house of Israel but God sent word to Shemaiah to tell Rehoboam and whole house of Judah not to fight against their brothers. So they obeyed the word of the Lord and went home.
GOLDEN CALVES AT BETHEL AND DAN (vs. 25-33)
For fear of people going up to the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem, Jeroboam made two golden calves one set in Bethel and the other in Dan. The people went there to worship. Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priest from all sorts of people even though they were not Levites. He instituted a festival on the 15th day of the eight month and offered sacrifices on the altar at Bethel.
THOUGHTS:
Rehoboam did not seek wisdom from God. Instead, he turned to men for guidance. He grew up in luxury and did not care about the burdens of the common people. Had he listened to the advice of the older leaders, he would have won the hearts of the people. But he listened to the younger men who lacked experience. As a consequence, his foolish decision divided the nation. Use your discernment to listen to those more experience people’s advices.
All Jewish men were required to travel to the temple three times each year. Afraid that his people might give allegiance to Rehoboam and his authority undermined, Jeroboam established a religion of convenience. He abandoned the true God of Jehovah and set up his own worship centers for people to worship false god. He repeated Aaron’s sin and made calves of gold in Dan and Bethel and organized his own priesthood with his men. He told his people it was too much trouble to travel all the way to Jerusalem. Don’t let practical ideas or suggestions lead you away from God. Seek counsel from those more experience and wiser. Be sure that the advice is consistent with God’s standard.