1 Kings 12: A Kingdom Divided

1 Kings 12 is the defining chapter for the rest of 1 Kings and Most of 2 Kings.  In this chapter the division of Israel occurs.  Chapter 12 begins just after King Solomon’s rule comes to an end.  Rehoboam comes to Israel to be crowned king, and Jeroboam, who had fled to Egypt to escape King Solomon, now returns to Rehoboam in Israel to make peace.  What ultimately ends up happening is Rehoboam, instead of making nice with Jeroboam, decides to act harshly and not be lenient with Jeroboam, forcing him to move away and take all of the tribes of Israel with him except for the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin.

The kingdom of Israel then becomes two nations: Israel to the North, and Judah to the South.

Even though Israel is divided, the author really focuses on the unfaithfulness of these two kings.  Rehoboam decides to heed the advice of his young friends instead of the older, wiser council.  Jeroboam builds two golden calves for Israel to worship so that his people would not have to go down Jerusalem which resided within Judah’s territory.  Because Rehoboam decided to be prideful and act tough, he drove a wedge between the nation. 

It is true what they say, how pride goes before the fall.  Do not allow your pride to get in the way of reconciliation.  As disciples of Christ, we are called to be one together.  When pride gets heavy, a wedge can be put in place that can literally drive people and churches apart.  Far too many times church communities and relationships become severely damaged.  This can happen over small or important matters, but either way, pride is always involved. 

Another piece of wisdom found within this passage, is heed the advice of the older council that has experience.  If Rehoboam had listened to his council instead of his friends, the nation of Israel would not have split and Jeroboam would not have taken ten tribes with him to the North. 

Of course God orchestrated all of this for a purpose, but we can learn from Rohoboam and Jeroboam to not become filled with pride and to heed the advice of our elders.