Tuesday, April 24, 2012

1 Kings 12 - Israel Divided

Solomon has gone to "sleep with his fathers" and Rehoboam, his son, is now king.  Apparently, Israel was not so enamored with King Solomon's power over them as one might suppose.  The people go to Rehoboam and ask him to lighten the yoke upon them.  But, King Rehoboam, in his arrogance will not.  Instead, he increases their yoke and the people rebel. 

The promise, the threat, that the LORD made to Solomon to divide the kingdom under his son's rule because of Solomon's disloyalty to God is fulfilled.  Israel is divided.  Rehoboam reigns in Jerusalem.  Only the tribe of Judah follows him.  Jeroboam becomes king over the rest of Israel. 

But, what is it that these kings with worshipping idols.  Jeroboam doesn't want the people to go to Jerusalem to worship because he's afraid their hearts might turn to Rehoboam.  So what does he do?  He builds 2 golden calves, 2 false gods, for them to worship.  Not good!  So what's to become of Jeroboam?  What's to become of the people who follow after him and his false gods?

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