Splitsville: The events and players that led to the division of the nation of Israel

8/13/2019 Splitsville: The events and players that led to the division of the nation of Israel

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SPLITSVILLE: A kingdom torn apart

2013, Chris MacKinnon

www.chrismackinnon.com

Gateway Assembly

11 Argyle Street

Campbellton, NB E3N 1G3

www.gatewaycampbellton.com

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from Scripture taken from the New King

James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights

reserved.

Scripture quotations marked MLB are from The Modern Language Bible: The New Berkeley

Version in Modern English. Copyright 1945, 1959, 1969, 1970, 1987, HendricksonPublishers, Inc. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations noted NLT are from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright

1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All

rights reserved.

Scripture quotations designated NET are from the NET Bible copyright 1996-2006 by

Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. Scripture quoted by permission. http://netbible.com All rights

reserved.

Italics in Scripture quotations reflect the authors added emphasis.


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Table of Contents

1.One People, Two Nations 1

2.When God Tears Asunder 11

3.An Offer Accepted 21

4.Caught in the Pressure Cooker 33

5.Hatching an Old Scheme 42

6.The Long Way Down 52


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One People,

Two Nations

Israel. Gods chosen people. From all of the nations and

people groups of the Earth, God chose one man to turn into anation so that the world would be able to see what a relationship

with the one, true, living God looks like.

He called Abram out of Ur of the Chaldees, led him to a

Promised Land and changed his name to Abraham, father of a

multitude. At an impossible age to have children God blessed

Abraham and his wife with a baby boy, Isaac. Isaac had two sons

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that competed with each other until one received the inheritance

of blessing and ran away. Jacob fled from his brother, fell in loveand married, had twelve sons, and the family grew. On his way

back home Jacob encountered God and sought His special

blessing. God renamed him Israel, God prevails.

This extended family was saved from famine when they

stumbled upon a long-lost brother in the court of Pharaoh in

Egypt. Joseph, son of Jacob, was sold into slavery by his brothers,accused of rape and thrown in prison. Then God led him to

interpret a dream and give advice to Pharaoh. As a reward he was

given the greatest position available in Egypt besides the throne

itself.

As time went on, Joseph and his contributions to the life and

welfare of the Egyptian people were forgotten. The people of

Israel became workers and then slaves. In their oppression and

despair the people cried out to God. Through great judgment on

Pharaoh and Egypt, God delivered them from slavery by the hand

of Moses.

Under Joshua they began to conquer the Promised Land. Itwas their inheritance for serving the one true God. It was to be

theirs forever, for He promised it to Abraham:

Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you

arenorthward, southward, eastward, and westward;for

all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants

forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the

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earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth,

then your descendants also could be numbered. Arise,

walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give

it to you. (Genesis 13:14-17)

For years the Israelites struggled to keep the land and stand

strong against those who would oppress them. Those difficult

times were brought on them because of their sin. When they

repented and returned to Him, God called and empoweredJudges to deliver them.

Eventually, though, the people asked to be like other nations.

They wanted a king. So God chose Saul, a son of the smallest

family from the smallest tribe. He brought the people together

and conquered enemies. He built a royal court and an army with

courageous commanders. But when Saul turned away from God,

God turned from him. God gave the kingdom to a man after His

own heart: David.

David continued to conquer foes and increased the boundaries

of the kingdom. He brought the Ark of the Covenant to his new

capital, Jerusalem, and made the preparations for a permanentTemple to be built there. Though he, too, fell into sin, David

repented.

God made a special promise, a covenant with David, just as

He did to Abraham. This time the promise was not about a land

to live in but a throne to sit upon.

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Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the

sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My

people, over Israel. And I have been with you wherever

you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from

before you, and have made you a great name, like the name

of the great men who are on the earth

When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your

fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come

from your body, and I will establish his kingdom Andyour house and your kingdom shall be established forever

before you. Your throne shall be established forever.

(2 Samuel 7:7:8-9, 12, 16)

This was Gods great gift to David. The throne of Israel was

promised to him and his line of sons forever.

Collision Course

When David was near death, he gave the throne to his son

Solomon. As the new king Solomon had to learn that the promise

of God had one very great condition. David was careful to leave

his son with a vital challenge before his passing.

Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and

he charged Solomon his son, saying: I go the way of all the

earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. And

keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His

ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His

judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law

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of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and

wherever you turn; that the LORD may fulfill His word

which He spoke concerning me, saying, If your sons take

heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their

heart and with all their soul, He said, you shall not lack a

man on the throne of Israel. (1 Kings 2:1-4)

So the stage was set for Israels greatest days as a kingdom.

Days of war turned to days of peace. Days of struggle turned todays of prosperity. King Solomon was known far and wide for the

wisdom he received from God. But what seemed like Israels

greatest days were not actually so wonderful. They were on a

collision course with some of their worst days.

There was hard labor involved in keeping the wealth flowing.

To make alliances of peace Solomon married many foreignwomen who brought in their foreign gods. And again a stage was

set. Not a stage of prosperity, but of division. Gods chosen

people were about to pass through a doorway that they could not

return from.

This study is about how one nation, Gods chosen nation of

Israel, was torn apart as a result of sin. It was not just because of

sinful lifestyles or unrepentant sin that the nation was ripped in

two, but because of specific sins that came together to form the

perfect storm.

These sins and their effects on the key players in this study

were not new to them or to us. They were constructed from the

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same building blocks as all sin. The Apostle John warned us of

these building blocks when he challenged to love God and not theworld.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone

loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all

that is in the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the

eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the

world. (1 John 2:15-16)

Other translations call these lusts by a word that is a little

easier for us to understand, cravings. We all get cravings from

time to time. Maybe you crave chocolate, a really good

hamburger, Chinese food, or a tall, cold glass of milk. Sin is also a

craving. It is a craving for something to see with our eyes,something to touch and feel, or something to boast in or about.

We must face the truth that these same sins and their fates are

possible in each of our lives today. Though we are not kings or a

kingdom, we can find ourselves on that same collision course

with the consequences of division, strife and continued sin. That

is, unless we face the possibilities in our lives, drive out sin and

defend ourselves against the arrows that Satan would use to

pierce us and tear us down.

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Torn in Pieces

Just like his father, David, Solomons life was nearing its end.He had seen and accomplished much in life, though at times he

thought it empty and vain. He oversaw the building of Gods holy

Temple, wrote many proverbs and other works of literature, and

even involved himself with architecture and construction. After

Solomons death his son, Rehoboam, looked forward and

traveled to the city of Shechem where the people had gathered to

anoint him as king.

But unknown to Rehoboam was a prophecy made to a man

named Jeroboam. The prophet Ahijah came to Jeroboam and told

him how God was going to split the nation into two kingdoms.

Ten of the tribes of Israel would gather under one throne, andtwo under another. The kingdom of ten was to be given to

Jeroboam and the other two would remain as the throne of

David, according to Gods promise and covenant. (see 1 Kings

11:26-37)

After they watched Rehoboam become king, Jeroboam and

others sought to meet with him. They remembered the heavywork load that Solomon had put on the people. The silver in

Jerusalem was as common as stones (1 Kings 10:27), not just

because of gifts that were brought to him, but also on account of

the work of the people. So they made a simple request of the new

king.

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Your father made us work too hard. Now if you lighten

the demands he made and don't make us work as hard, we

will serve you. (1 Kings 12:4 NET)

At first King Rehoboam acted wisely. He requested three days

to consider what the people asked. He sought the wisdom of his

fathers counselors and of his others closer to him in experience

and knowledge.

Rehoboam chose to follow bad advice. The request of the

people was denied. But not only was he refusing to lighten the

requirements of his father, he pledged to be far harder on them.

Certainly the people were disheartened to hear their call for

leniency denied. But to hear the hard-hearted arrogance of the

new king enraged them.

Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to

them, the people answered the king, saying:

What share have we in David?

We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.

To your tents, O Israel!Now, see to your own house, O David!

So Israel departed to their tents. But Rehoboam reigned

over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah.

(1 Kings 12:16-17)

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Two Kingdoms

From this point forward in the Old Testament books ofhistory, the kingdom of Israel no longer meant the united

chosen nation of twelve tribes. Israel is now a northern kingdom

of Gods chosen people, made up of ten tribes who rebelled

against the throne of David. Those who remained loyal to Davids

kingly line made up the southern nation of Judah.

This is why the rest of the books of First Kings and Second

Kings refer to the kings of Israel and Judah. They are all Gods

chosen people, but two separate nations.

Having defied the king in Jerusalem, the new nation of Israel

must have its own king. Jeroboam had been known to the people

for a long time. After the prophet told him of the breaking of thenation, he fled to Egypt. Solomon had heard of the prophecy and

sought to capture and kill Jeroboam to keep the nation whole in

the hands of his son. Now that Jeroboam was back the people

rallied around him, knowing him to be a capable leader.

Jeroboam was quickly made king over all Israel. As a new

capital for the northern nation, he built up the city of Shechem. Itwas in the territory of the tribe of Ephraim, one of the two sons

of Joseph. Often in the prophets God speaks to Ephraim as a

name for the northern kingdom.

It is not hard to see the roots of those building blocks of sin.

Cravings for seeing, having, and boasting all play a role in the

division of Gods holy kingdom. But there is enough blame to go

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around in Splitsville. No one is free from the sin or the

consequences.Maybe the most interesting part of the story is that God

allowed it to happen. He was never caught unaware. Remember

that He spoke to Jeroboam through the prophet years before the

split came. Looking at the text of the story it seems that God led

some events so that it wouldhappen.

At no time did any tribe or family cease to be members of thechosen people of God. God did not reject the northern tribes for

rebelling against Davids throne. Neither did He release Himself

from His covenant to David because of the foolishness of his

descendants. At all times His commands and statutes applied to

all of the people of Israel.

Still, Splitsville is a land of sin and consequences. By looking at

their failures, may we take note of potential pitfalls in our own

lives and avoid a one-way ticket to this terrible fate.

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When safety issues and impure products get through the

screening process, who do we blame? The manufacturer? Thequality checker? The man or woman at the plant who oversaw the

machine that packaged the product? There can be a lot of blame

to go around. Sometimes it is difficult to narrow down the

primary culprit.

The division of the nation of Israel is a similar situation. When

one king died and his son was anointed to take his place, whenpeople asked for leniency and received harsh words, when several

tribes decided to strike their own path instead of remain a united

people, there is a lot at work than what we can sometimes see.

Who is to Blame?

Most of the time we are told that the arrogance and lack of

wisdom of a kings son was the cause of the split between Gods

people. Rehoboam wanted to be greater than his father. When he

sought for advice about what to do, he followed the advice of his

peers and not of his fathers advisors. It is a lesson about pride and

humility that some of us have heard many times.And then there was Jeroboam. Was it his idea to gather the

people together and ask Rehoboam for a lighter load for the labor

force? He had witnessed it firsthand as he was the foreman over

the workers. How many times did he hear them curse Solomon

for his heavy demands, for the work that they had to do, and that

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Though his brothers grasped at the throne, it was finally

Solomons.Solomon was also known far and wide, mostly because of one

good decision and one enormous project. Not long into his reign

God appeared to Solomon in a dream and offered him whatever

he desired. When Solomon asked for understanding and

discernment God was so pleased that He granted Solomons

request and promised him all the things he did not ask for, bothriches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you

among the kings all your days (1 Kings 3:4-15).

The great project of Solomons reign was the glorious temple

of the Lord. For years the physical presence God had dwelt in a

tent made after the Exodus. David brought the Ark of the

Covenant to Jerusalem, but God would not allow him to build a

permanent house for His presence, even though David greatly

desired to do so out of his love for God. Though David was

allowed to plan and make preparations for the Temple, it was

Solomon who oversaw its building. History records it by the

name Solomons Temple.Early in Solomons life he loved the Lord. On the day that he

was born we are told that God loved him and by the word of a

prophet God gave him the name Jedidiah, Beloved of the Lord

(2 Samuel 12:24-25). We are told also of Solomons love for

God, and at the same time about the roots of sin that would bring

disaster.

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Now Solomon made a treaty with Pharaoh king of Egypt,

and married Pharaoh's daughter; then he brought her to the

City of David until he had finished building his own house,

and the house of the LORD, and the wall all around

Jerusalem. Meanwhile the people sacrificed at the high

places, because there was no house built for the name of

the LORDuntil those days. And Solomon loved the LORD,

walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he

sacrificed and burned incense at the high places.(1 Kings 3:1-3)

There was a great sickness in the people of Israel, one that

could be traced back throughout their history: idolatry. It was the

same sin that led them to make a golden calf at the foot of the

mountain where God spoke to Moses. It was the same sin thatjeopardized their conquest of the Promised Land. It was the same

sin that brought invaders and oppressors into the land during the

time of the Judges.

The people of God continued to worship false gods, and to

seek the Lord outside of His presence and without His chosen

priesthood. This continued even after David continually pointedhis heart and those of the people to the Lord. Here the Scriptures

seem to imply that the sacrifices on the high places were

overlooked because there was no temple built. Even Solomon

sacrificed where he should not have, yet that is where God

appeared to him.

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As the reign of Davids son continued God took notice of the

continued sin of the people, but also the sins of Solomon. FirstKings 11 points to his love for foreign women. God told His

chosen people not to intermarry with these other nations,

warning them, Surely they will turn away your hearts after their

gods (v.2; Exodus 34:16). But we are told that Solomon clung

to these [women] in love and that his wives turned away his

heart (vv.2-4).The young king who loved God and followed the ways of his

father turned his love to foreign wives and their gods. The child

once considered precious and beloved of God was now His

enemy. God was furious with Solomon. Jesus said that we are

blessed who believe and do not see Him, yet God appeared to

Solomon twice and he did not obey Gods ways.

Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, Because you have

done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes,

which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the

kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.

(1 Kings 11:11)

Solomon the Wise was tempted by sin and failed, miserably.

No amount of understanding or discernment was able to keep

him from falling. Though all of the tools were his to employ he

still gave in to emotion and personal satisfaction.

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None of the good that we find in Solomons youth made up

for the evil that filled his later life. The wise request he madeearly in his reign did not lessen Gods judgment. The wonder and

splendor of the Temple in Jerusalem were not credited to him as

righteousness in place of his other acts. Within Gods word of

judgment there was one silver lining, but it was not because of

Solomon.

Nevertheless I will not do it in your days,for the sake of

your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son.

However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will

give one tribe to your sonfor the sake of my servant David,

and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen.

(1 Kings 11:12-13)

For the sake of David who loved God and served Him, God

would keep a portion of Israel for David. It was the fulfillment of

the everlasting covenant that God made with David, to have a

man on the throne of His people forever.

Evidence of Separation

The throne of David was spared only because of the devotion

of David. Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba, was a symbol

of the life that follows repentance of sin. David repented before

God, and though he also had to live with the consequences of sin,

he was spared greater judgment. Surely God gave Solomon a

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chance to turn from sin just as He gives to all of us. Yet for all of

the wisdom that he received from God, Solomon would notchange.

Rather than follow the repentant ways of his father,

Solomons life emulated the ways of another king of Israel. The

first king of Israel was Saul, who had the opportunity to serve

God and the chosen people, and have for himself a royal line of

kings. Yet he chose to fulfill his own desires and pressures of thepeople, rather than stand in the anointing of God.

When God rejected Saul, He looked and found a man after

His own heart, David. God chose and anointed David as king

while Saul still lived and reigned over the nation. The favor of

God was upon David, and as he served the king and the people of

God, he was blessed. After one victory, the women of Israel sang

about the greatness of David, and named him greater than Saul.

That day Saul recognized that David might be given the throne

over his own sons, and he watched David from that day forward

(1 Samuel 18:5-9). Saul envied and hated David. He set ambushes

and traps for David that God spared him from. When David ranand hid, Saul took the whole army and hunted for him. Saul

would do anything to keep the throne for his sons.

Knowing the judgment of God was coming, Solomon must

have watched for signs that the fulfillment was on its way.

Somehow word came to him of the visit of a prophet to

Jeroboam. Jeroboam was the man Solomon considered so highly

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as mighty, valiant and capable, that he placed him in charge of the

laborers from the tribes of Joseph.All respect Solomon had for Jeroboam was tossed aside when

he heard that the prophet had promised to this man the throne of

a split nation, a nation that his sons were supposed to rule and

reign over. Just like Saul hunted his father, Solomon sought to

kill Jeroboam (1 Kings 11:40).

Could there be any more obvious separation between the sonof David and the God whom David loved? Where was the

wisdom, the discernment and knowledge? Where were the

lessons of the past? Solomon fell from such a great height. He was

the man of wisdom, known throughout the world for the gift and

power of God in his life. And as he fell, his crash would tear the

nation apart.

Gods hopes and dreams for Solomon and the kingdom of

Israel were plain. Solomon was the first to inherit the throne of

David. It should have been easier for him to follow the ways of

David than any other king after him. Yet Solomon was tempted

by the cravings of the eye and of the flesh.You have probably heard the words of Jesus, Therefore what

God has joined together, let not man separate or put asunder

(Matthew 19:6). God chose Abraham and promised him a people

and a land of their own. He delivered them from slavery and

called them to serve Him alone. God brought them to the land

and conquered their enemies. He found for Himself a king, a man

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loyal to Him, a man after His own heart.

But the sin of Solomon and the people shattered that plan ofGod. He could not let the sin continue unjudged. Though God

would have seen His people live in peace and prosperity in the

land of promise, it was He who tore them asunder.

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An Offer Accepted

Because of the devotion, humility and surrender of one man

God promised an everlasting throne. Gods heart was moved tobless David with an incredible promise. In less than one lifetime

after Davids death, God was ready to tear that throne from his

descendants.

Solomons sins set the nation on a trajectory towards Splits-

ville. What was strong, united and prosperous was going to be

wrapped in division, struggle and the judgment of God. For

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Davids sake and because God cannot leave His promises

unfulfilled, a throne remained for the house of David. Yet Godchose to give the rest of the kingdom to another.

This was the third time that God chose a man to serve and

lead His people as their king. Saul was chosen first, but because of

his sin and rebellion God removed Sauls family from the throne

and gave it to David. Before Davids own son finished his reignGod was ready to take the throne and give it to another.

Each time God chose a new man to be king over His people

He chose a common man. Though Saul was tall and handsome, he

was fearful. David was a shepherd boy considered small and

useless in the eyes of his brothers and even his father, for when

Samuel came looking for the next Davids father left him out in

the field.

Jeroboam was another common man. He is not mentioned in

Scripture until Solomon makes him the head of a labor forcemade up of men from the tribe of Joseph. We are told that

Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor but there are no records of

his battles and triumphs.

This young man made a great impression on Solomon,

winning for himself this foreman-like position over his

countrymen. Different versions describe Jeroboam with words to

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describe his value and ability. They tell us how he was

industrious (NKJV), talented (NET), energetic (MLB), andcapable (NLT).

It was to this working man that God planned to make the offer

of a lifetime. More than a simple promotion or the winning of a

lottery, God was going to give Jeroboam a throne.

Ten PiecesOne day Jeroboam was going about his regular business. He

was leaving Jerusalem, probably at the end of a work day. The

path that he took that day was not on a regular road but through a

field. As he crossed the field a man wearing new clothes came up

to him.

This was not just an ordinary man on the street. He was

Ahijah, the prophet of the Lord, and the new garment he was

wearing was very important. Here they were, out in a field, all

alone. And God delivered an important message to a common

man in a place away from the crowds, following the same formula

He used with Saul and David.We do not know have any record of a greeting or

conversation before Ahijah delivered Gods offer to Jeroboam. As

the two came together, he took off his new garment and tore it

into twelve pieces. The garment represented the kingdom of

Gods people, and each of the twelve pieces symbolized one of

the twelve tribes.

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Take for yourself ten pieces, he told Jeroboam. God

described the division of the kingdom as tearing it out of thehands of Solomon. As we looked at before, it was Solomons sin

that caused the split. It was because he led the people to forsake

the one true God for the worship of false gods and refused to

follow Gods ways (v.33).

But not all of the kingdom would be torn from Solomon, for

two tribes would remain loyal to him. Just as God told Solomon,His word through the prophet revealed the reason for the

continuance of Solomons throne. It was not because of anything

good or great that Solomon said or did, but for the sake of My

servant David, whom I chose because he kept My commandments

and my statutes (vv.34).

An Incredible Offer

When David was anointed king of Israel he probably had little

expectation of what that meant. Although Saul was King of Israel,

he was their first king. There were few precedents set by Saul, as

most of his reign involved leading the army of Israel against theinvading Philistines time and again.

The anointing of David as king in Sauls place actually set a

very strange precedent. No king or royal line is safe from being

replaced by the will of God. If that king fell out of favor with

God, even if God chose him to serve as king, God could at any

time choose another in his place.

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you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David,

and will give Israel to you. (1 Kings 11:37-38)

Jeroboam had a chance to be the next David. His descendants

had the opportunity to have their own throne forever through the

promise of God. All he had to do was walk in Gods ways, obey

His commands and do what was right. Before Jeroboam could

object that this was a difficult challenge God put a witness before

him that proved it could be done: David. God was telling

Jeroboam that if he lived as David did, God would give him the

same reward He gave to David.

Is It Worth It?

How does someone respond when God offers them more thanthey ever dreamed of? Sure, it involves Gods judgment upon

someone else. But they deserve it; they earned that judgment

because of their sin. Would you let the harm that another person

would endure hold you back from the blessing that you would

receive?

That is exactly what God is offering Jeroboam here. He will

bring division to the throne of David and setup a throne for

Jeroboam. He will rip ten tribes away from serving Solomon and

his sons and give them to Jeroboam as their new king. On one

side there is harm and hurt, pain and division. On the other there

is greatness, promotion and prosperity. Is Jeroboams advance-

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ment worth the judgment of Solomon?

Here is a decision that we must face. It is the question ofwhether we will give in to the craving of the pride of life. This

was not the first time that God posed this question, offering to

bring judgment on one group of people with a promise to start

over with another.

After God delivered the people of Israel out of slavery from

Egypt, He led them to the mountain of the Lord in the wilderness

of Sinai. For three months the people were free and served only

the Lord who appeared in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of

fire by night. They followed the Lord and saw miracles and

victory.

God had brought judgment on Egypt and their false gods

through the ten plagues. He stopped the waters of the Red Sea,

the people crossed over on dry ground, and the waters closed and

consumed Pharaohs army. The bitter waters of a river were

made sweet when Moses threw a tree into it. Manna appearedeach morning as bread to eat. In a desolate place water sprang

forth from a rock. When the Amalekites attacked God brought a

military victory.

How much had the people seen God work on their behalf? Yet

so often they grumbled. They often wished to return to Egypt.

God appeared to them at the mountain and they asked Moses to

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speak to Him alone because they feared Him. So Moses went and

spoke to God, receiving His commandments and laws.And the days passed. No word was received from Moses. The

people became anxious and afraid. They wondered what

happened to Moses but dared not climb the mountain in fear that

God would strike them. Of all the options that they could have

chosen, the people decided to give up on God.

Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming

down from the mountain, the people gathered together to

Aaron, and said to him, Come, make us gods that shall go

before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us

up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has

become of him. (Exodus 32:1)

Aaron, who should have known better and tried to convince

the people to wait and trust in God, led them to gather some gold

together. He then took it, made a golden calf and presented it to

the people as their god. The next day they sacrificed to it, made

offerings before, feasted in front of it, and rose up to play.

God was furious. In the middle of His directions to Moses Hepromised to wipe out these people that He knew were stiff-

necked. If Moses would leave His presence God would kill them

all. And to Moses he made a special offer:

Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot

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against them and I may consume them. And I will make of

you a great nation. (Exodus 32:10)

Moses pleaded with God and His wrath was turned away from

destroying His people. But not long after the people were staring

at the Promised Land and God was ready to destroy them again.

Moses had sent spies into the land to gather information about

the strength of the people, what the cities were like and if the

land was good and rich (Numbers 13). When they returned they

spoke of the greatness of the land. As the spies offered their

reports there was a clear division between those who wanted to

proceed and those who were too afraid and did not want to risk

their lives in obtaining what God promised them.

The ten spies that did not want to enter the land sent wordthroughout the camp to scare the people. Only two spies spoke

up and believed Gods promised to give them the land as they too

possession of it. The campaigning of those who did not want to go

in was so effective that when Joshua and Caleb talked of taking

the land, all the congregation said to stone them with stones

(Exodus 14:10).Again God appeared, full of wrath and the intention to

destroy the chosen people of Israel.

Then the LORDsaid to Moses: How long will these people

reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all

the signs which I have performed among them? I will strike

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themwith the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make

of you a nation greater and mightier than they.

(Numbers 14:11-12)

One Mans Choice

Each time God promised to destroy the people and build a

new nation through Moses, Moses would have struggled with the

same question that Jeroboam should have faced. Is the pain andtrouble that they will face worth the promise and blessing that I

will receive?

In both cases Moses moved God to remain faithful to the

people He had delivered from slavery in Egypt. Moses recalled

the promises God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to multiply

their descendants and give to them the Promised Land (Exodus

32:13). He appealed to God to continue to show Himself mighty

and merciful in the eyes of the Egyptians who might otherwise

consider God to be weak and unloving (Exodus 32:12; Numbers

14:13-16).

Moses was more concerned with the welfare of the people

and the fame of the Name of the LORD than he was excited and

hopeful about the nation that could be started anew through him.

In Moses heart and mind, his fame and promotion was nothing

compared to those of God.

What about Jeroboam? He was made an incredible offer by

God. There was already one everlasting throne in the nation of

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Israel because of the obedience of David. If Jeroboam was willing

to do the same God offered to do the same for him.We have no record of any response from Jeroboam. In his

heart he must have accepted Gods offer for we know that it

comes to pass just as God said it would. The nation was torn in

two. Ten tribes made Jeroboam king, and two remained faithful

to the line of David.

But maybe it did not have to happen as it did. It could havebeen different if Jeroboam had responded more like Moses.

Would God have reallydestroyed the people of Israel and made a

new nation out of Moses? Or was it a test? If God was willing to

tear a kingdom in two because one man chose to accept His offer,

then we must understand that when God says He will do some-

thing He fully intends to do it.

Which begs the question, if Moses was able to turn from the

craving of pride and choose to seek the good of the people over

himself, could Jeroboam have done the same? Jeroboam could

have responded to God by saying that it was better for all to

remain as one people under the throne of David that God alreadypromised would last forever. Maybe God would have put off His

judgment for another time or brought it in a different way as He

did with the people of Israel at Mount Sinai and the edge of the

Promised Land.

Instead Jeroboam gave in to his sinful cravings for pride and

power. He accepted Gods offer and sped along the tearing apart

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of the chosen people. For him, someone elses judgment was

worth his personal gain. What will we choose to do when thequestion comes to us?

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Caught in the

Pressure Cooker

Part of the circle of life is change. A famous quote says,

There is nothing permanent except change. Even five hundredyears before the before Christ, in a world that changed far less

and much slower than our own, a Greek philosopher understood

that change is always occurring.

We have all experienced change. The supervisor over your

team is promoted to the head of a department. A machine

operator finishes his tenure of service to the company and rides

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off into the sunset of retirement. In sports there are line changes

in hockey and individual substitutions in everything from baseballto football, soccer to basketball.

Filling another persons shoes is hard to do. Whether the

substitution is temporary or permanent, there are expectations

on the one who steps in place to fill the shoes of the one who is

being replaced.

Many of the changes that we are used to in life are voluntary

changes, we choose when and why they occur. Should we keep

our house or look for another one? Is this car good enough or do I

need something newer? Do I need to renew my magazine

subscription or my cell phone contract?

Other times the change comes because it must. An elderly

man is prone to heart attacks and strokes. He cannot walk around

or take of himself. His lifestyle must change. A woman in a five

bedroom home gets to be a stay-at-home mom to her children.

One day she comes home to a note that her husband has left herfor his secretary and the house is going to be repossessed. Her life

has to change.

There is one constant that continue changes the shape of our

lives and our world. Death impacts us all. It leaves a hole, from

the loss of a family member to the seat left vacant across a church

aisle. In many ways that hole is never filled, neither should we

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seek to fill it. Sometimes, unless that hole is filled and someone

else steps into those shoes, greater damage will occur to the livesthat are impacted by the loss.

To Fill A Throne

So it is with a king. For a king to die and the throne remain

empty is dangerous to all who depend on the guidance and

leadership of the king. Rebellion and anarchy would bring

division and strife. Outsiders would come in and ravage a

defenseless people. So when the king passes on, the void that is

left behind is quickly filled.

When King Solomon son of David died, the nation of Israel

prepared to make his son, Rehoboam, their king. They traveled

to the city of Shechem. This was a strange move since a king is

normally crowned in his own capital, just as Solomon was

anointed king in Jerusalem (1 Kings 1:38-40). For some reason a

change was made that invited the new king into the land of the

tribe of Ephraim, one of the sons of Joseph.

The people were gathered all together. A legitimate heir tothe throne was going to be made king. With the exception of the

change of venue, everything looked normal and good. Rehoboam

was about to find out that there was more than meets the eye

about this gathering.

Rehoboam probably rode into Shechem with his head high and

full of thoughts of the great years to come. Solomon was the first

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son of a king to take the throne of Israel. Rehoboam was

following those footsteps. In doing so he was strengthening theline of David and continuing the fulfillment of the promise God

made to David of an everlasting throne.

At the same time he must have felt the pressures of what was

happening to him. Solomon was known far and wide for his

wisdom and accomplishments. The kingdom was wealthy, strong

and at peace. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he becameking (1 Kings 14:21), which means that he lived through all of

Solomons forty year reign (1 Kings 11:42). As the heir to the

throne the expectations on his shoulders were great. The least

that was required of him was to be as great as Solomon, and there

was the added pressure that he become even greater.

Perhaps it was as a show of good faith that Rehoboam went to

Shechem to be made king. The throne was secure. The promise

of God was that Davids house would reign. What did he have to

fear? Yet there was fear and insecurity in the mind and heart of

this new king.

During the final years of Solomons reign he likely broughtRehoboam in on the threat to the throne of David. A prophet had

spoken to Jeroboam and promised him the larger part of the

kingdom. As Solomon hunted for Jeroboam, considering his age

and the strength of his claim to the throne, odds are high that

Rehoboam was part of the hunt.

So when he waited in Shechem to be made king and Jeroboam

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walked through the door with the leaders of Israel beside him,

how much terror flooded through Rehoboams veins? With thisbackground in mind we begin to see the events in Shechem

unfold in a new light.

A Not-So-Simple Request

We already know about the request the people made of

Rehoboam that day in Shechem.

Then Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel came and

spoke to Rehoboam, saying, Your father made our yoke

heavy; now therefore, lighten the burden-some service of

your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we

will serve you. (1 Kings 12:3-4)

This not a simple request that the people of Israel made. It

came with Jeroboam as their mouthpiece, the man his father had

hunted because God had promised him a throne in Israel. They

were in the city of Shechem in the land of Ephraim, the tribe of

Israel that Jeroboam came from. It was the beginning of his reign,

making every decision a precedent for the rest of his days on the

throne.

And the pressure mounted and built. Was Rehoboams head

spinning? Did he feel the early signs of a panic attack? With the

first signs of wisdom, he decided not to answer when all of the

scrutiny and pressures were piled upon him. Rehoboam asked for

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three days to consider the peoples question.

Amazingly, Rehoboam stayed put in the city of Shechem. Heneither saw nor understood that a threat that was unfolding in

front of him. The storm clouds were rolling in, yet he could not

hear the rumblings of disaster.

From two very different groups of advisors Rehoboam

acquired two very different suggestions for a route to navigate

these treacherous waters. The elders advised him to serve thepeople and answer them with good words. The young men he

grew up with suggested that he threaten the people by promising

to be stronger than his father, adding to their burden.

True Parental Guidance

Having heard two opposite, polarizing responses from his

advisors, the new king probably looked for the advice of one

more voice.

For years Rehoboam heard the words and saw the actions of

one whose influence was very great and extremely applicable to

this situation: Solomon. While we talk about asking ourselves,What would Jesus do, Rehoboam may wondered, What would

Solomon do?

Anyone that spends much time around children can easily see

how children learn from those around them. A little girl repeats

Mommys words to the family dog. A young boy pretends to hunt

like Daddy in the woods. Our good and bad habits, phrases and

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attitudes flow to our children.

We would be so blessed if our sons and daughters only latchedon to the good that they see in us. But the truth is that they

usually pick up more of the bad. An abundance of good apples

cannot change a bad apple; but one bad apple can ruin them all.

Solomons later years were bad apple years. They were

filled with doubt and wanderings. He strayed away from serving,

obeying and worshiping the one true God of Abraham, Isaac andJacob. When God warned him of the judgment to come he

refused to repent, and instead sought to kill the man God had

chosen.

Though we do not know what his deathbed conversation was

with Rehoboam, Solomons last words were probably a warning

to be vigilant. If that Jeroboam returns that man that I

promoted who wants to divide our nation and take the rest for

himself if he comes back from Egypt, when you see him, dont

give him an inch. Dont listen to a word he says. Anything he says

or does will be to take what he believes is his. But it is yours. You

hold on to it. Squash any rebellion. Teach them submission. Showthem who is boss. Never appear to be weak. Youare the king!

How can we say that Rehoboam followed his fathers evil

ways instead of Gods ways? Scripture makes it plain for us later

in Rehoboams story.

When Shishak, king of Egypt, attacked the southern nation,

God spoke through a prophet to Rehoboam and the leaders of

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Judah how God was punishing them because they had forsaken

Him (2 Chronicles 12:1-5).When the Chronicler closed his report on the reign of

Rehoboam, he wrote:

Now Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became

king; and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city

which the LORDhad chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to

put His name there And he did evil, because he did notprepare his heart to seek the LORD.

(2 Chronicles 12:13-14)

Where did he learn the value of the guidance of God? Who

taught him the source of power and strength? Solomon turned

from God to follow the idols of other nations. He taughtRehoboam that the key to strength and security was to eliminate

those who would stand against them.

It is not a far stretch to say that Rehoboam rejected the

peoples request, not because he did not want to listen to the

advice of the elders, but because he listened to the bad advice of

his own father. Solomon was strong and burdensome, and Israelsaw peace and prosperity. Perhaps Rehoboam thought the key to

continued peace and prosperity was to be just as hard. And so

Solomon, though he was dead and buried, continued to drive the

bus on its way to Splitsville.

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Unfortunately for the kingdom, Rehoboam fell prey to the

craving of the eyes. Normally we think of the lust of the eyes aspertaining to what we see. In this case it is turned around to be

the lust of how Rehoboam wanted to be seen.

Stresses and pressures weighed on him from the beginning.

He was the successor of the greatest king Israel had ever known,

at least in the physical sense. They were successful, prosperous

and at peace. His father was recognized and respected throughoutthe world. Rehoboam desired to walk into that same respect and

submission, but he had not taken the time to step into it properly.

Sitting on a throne with oil dripping down your face does not

make you kingly, it only makes you a king. It takes time to build

relationships. It takes time to grow and move in the right

direction. Some days of that journey are wonderful, full of

victory and celebration. Others are painful failures.

To be a good king had nothing to do with strength or power,

riches or large labor forces. The only measure that mattered was

whether the king followed the commands and statutes of God.

Rehoboam wanted to be great and strong in the eyes of thepeople. Instead he should have prepared his heart and sought

God, for it is Gods opinion that matters above all others.

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Hatching an

Old Scheme

Most of us have heard the line, Time heals all wounds.

Though we give this counsel to friends who are in pain and haveheard it ourselves over the years, few can say that it has proven

true in their lives. Spiritual sickness operates much the same way

that physical sickness. When it is left untreated, not only does it

grow worse with time, but it even allows other sicknesses and

diseases to enter the body.

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When we read quickly through the happenings in Splitsville

that tore the nation of Israel apart, it is easy for us to get caughtup in the events of the day. So much took place in those few days

at the beginning of Rehoboams reign that the key forces at work

seem obvious.

So often the blame is placed squarely on Rehoboams

shoulders, yet we saw that there was more at work behind the

scenes than we give much notice to. Early in our study weidentified the root of the split to be Solomons sin, going back as

long as decades before it came to pass. There is one element at

work that goes back even further.

There is another quote about the power of time that is well-

known among fans of Science Fiction. It comes from a warrior

race that cherishes honor and loyalty, and seeks to maintain pride

and superiority. For them, Revenge is a dish best served cold.

After it has had time to fester and grow, when the other party is

undefended and vulnerable, strike and make the most of your

opportunity.

Setting the Board

Among the players here in Splitsville there is one who, by all

appearances, appears to be innocent and caught in the middle.

They were just trying to make life a little better for themselves.

When they were rejected they felt like they could not take

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another course of action. What looked innocent was actually the

most recent incarnation of an old scheme.Every move of the people of Israel was planned in advance. It

was the equivalent of pre-meditated murder, though the harm

came to a nation and not an individual.

The first three verses of 1 Kings 12 reveal the work they put

into creating the perfect environment for everything to fall apart.

And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to

Shechem to make him king. So it happened, when

Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it (he was still in Egypt,

for he had fled from the presence of King Solomon and had

been dwelling in Egypt), that they sent and called him

(1 Kings 12:1-3a)

The Place: Shechem

For Israels kingmaking to take place in the city of Shechem

was out of step with the pattern set by the first kings. Saul was

chosen and anointed as king by the prophet Samuel. Though it

happened at a gathering of all the people it occurred in the place

where God spoke to the people through Samuel, at the town of

Mizpah (1 Samuel 7:5, 16; 10:17-24). David was made king in his

first capital, Hebron in Judah (2 Samuel 2:1-4a). Solomon was

anointed and declared king at the Gihon spring outside of

Jerusalem, the capital of the nation (1 Kings 1:38-40

So why go out to Shechem?

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What drew the people of Israel out the distance to this city?

Shechem was a city in the territory of the northern tribes ofIsrael. Actually, it was part of the tribe of Ephraim, the same

tribe that Jeroboam was from.

Bringing the soon-to-be king and the people of Israel all to

Shechem in Ephraim was to put make the leaders of the nation the

away team on someone elses turf. The northern tribes had

home field advantage. They knew how to speak to the hearts ofthe people, how to get supplies and information spread among

them, and how to prepare a response for the man who wanted to

be their king.

The Man: Jeroboam

Another piece on the chess board was the man Jeroboam.

Here was a man that was so respected by the previous king that

Solomon made him the head of the labor force from the tribe of

Israel. Having worked alongside him through many projects the

people were confident in this man, knew and trusted him. He

also knew all about their struggles and complaints, familiar withtheir hopes and dreams.

When the prophet came and told Jeroboam that God was

going to give him ten tribes of Israel to rule over, Solomon

eventually found out about it. Who spilled the beans? It was

probably Jeroboam. He likely went home and began telling his

tribesmen about what was coming and how God was going to

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promote not just him, but even the entire tribe of Ephraim. God

was promoting them over their brothers, just as Jacob hadprophesied to Ephraims father, Joseph (Genesis 48:17-20).

Solomon sought to destroy Jeroboam so that the kingdom

would remain intact in the hands of his son, so Jeroboam ran off

to Egypt. The words of the prophet probably rang in his head

every day as he waited to see it happen. Surely there was

someone back in Ephraim that kept contact with their brother inexile. When Solomon neared his death Jeroboam was brought

back to see if it was time to see the fulfillment of Gods promise.

The Request: Leniency

In the confidence of being on their own playing field, and led

by the man that God had spoken to, the people of Ephraim and

the rest of the northern tribes put their request on Rehoboams

desk.

Then Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel came and

spoke to Rehoboam, saying, Your father made our yoke

heavy; now therefore, lighten the burden-some service ofyour father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we

will serve you. (1 Kings 12:3b-4)

The people came as the innocent, tired workers of a man who

treated them harshly and unfairly. They wanted to keep serving

the throne of David, but Solomon was just so hard on them.

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Couldnt Rehoboam lighten their load?

Rehoboam is often dragged over the coals as an example ofthe young man who did not have the wisdom to listen to his

elders. He could not humble himself and serve the people as they

made a simple request of him. Yet it may also be true that the

advice of the elders was as poor as that of their younger

competitors.

The northern people were clearly aligned in an offensiveposition. Based on their posturing and preparation how small was

their intention of honoring their pledge to serve Rehoboam if he

gave in to the demands?

Sitting in their city, surrounded by their people, led by the

prophesied ruler of theirthrone, the people made it clear that this

was not a small renegotiation of a labor contract. This was full,

outright intimidation of the man they were supposed to submit to

as king.

On the third day the people returned for Rehoboams answer

to their request. His words were harsh. He sounded like a tyrant.

After hearing two very different words of counsel, he chose tobring down the gauntlet to remind the people of Israel that hewas

their rightful king, and he would rule them as hesaw fit. Enraged,

the people tossed aside all loyalty to the throne of David.

Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to

them, the people answered the king, saying:

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To your tents, O Israel!

Now, see to your own house, O David!

So Israel departed to their tents. But Rehoboam reigned

over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah.

(1 Kings 12:16-17)

In one quick move the northern tribes were done with

Rehoboam and Davids line of kings, Jerusalem, and their own

countrymen. The chosen people of God were ripped in two. It

was the culmination of a division that existed long before

Solomons death and Rehoboams clueless journey to Shechem.

A History of Division

The only throne that previously existed in Shechem was setup

by the hands of Abimelech (Judges 9). He was the son of Gideon,

who miraculously led an army of three hundred men to destroy

the army of the Midianites. Abimelech saw an opportunity to

make more of himself than he deserved when Gideon refused to

be made king.

His mother was a Canaanite slave taken from the area of

Shechem. He schemed with the men of the city, offering to

become their king so that they could be ruled by someone of their

own family instead of the sons of Gideon. They agreed and

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financed his private mercenaries who killed all but one of

Gideons other seventy sons.He later destroyed the city of Shechem when they began to

listen to the words of another schemer who wanted to remove

Abimelech as king. In his wrath he pursued the would-be rebels

to another town and forced them into the tower of refuge. As he

prepared to set the tower on fire, a woman dropped a millstone

on his head.

The northern tribes had also rejected David as their king

before. In a battle with the Philistines, King Saul and his son

Jonathan were killed. But this was not the end of the house of

Saul. The commander of Sauls army, Abner, took Sauls son

Ishbosheth and made him king over Israel. Eleven tribes followed

Ishbosheth while Judah crowned David as king (2 Samuel 2:1-10).

For two years the chosen people of God were in a state of civil

war. As they fought, David grew stronger and stronger, and the

house of Saul grew weaker and weaker (2 Samuel 3:1).Eventually Abner and Ishbosheth fought over what may not have

happened. Abner, the real power of Ishbosheths throne, planned

to give all Israel into the hands of David, but was killed before he

could complete his self-appointed mission (2 Samuel 3:12-27).

When word spread of Abners death, two of the captains of the

army murdered Ishbosheth in his bed (2 Samuel 4:5-7).

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Then the northern tribes sent messengers to David. They

made peace and then made him their king (2 Samuel 5:1-3). Yeteven the covenant they made before the Lord in Hebron that day

did not stop them from turning from David again.

Late in his reign Davids son Absalom ousted David from the

throne. Heartbroken and humble, David fled. He preferred to

live in hiding than fight a bloody war against his son. After

Absalom was killed David began his approach back to the throne.Along the way the men of Judah escorted their king, and the

men of the northern tribes became angry with them because they

didnt invite them to join the escort. They questioned the men of

Judah, who answered that they were close relatives of David. To

the men of Judah is not an issue. But the northern men said, We

have ten shares in the king because of their ten tribes, and they

believed they had more right to David than the men of Judah (2

Samuel 19:40-43).

Because they were furious at the men of Judah, the men of

Israel chose to walk away from David and his throne. When the

people of Israel cried out against the house of David at the time ofthe split they quoted the rallying cry of the men who led this

rebellion.

And there happened to be there a rebel, whose name was

Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. And he blew a

trumpet, and said:

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We have no share in David,

Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse;

Every man to his tents, O Israel! (2 Samuel 20:1)

A character from the playA Moon for the Misbegottenby Eugene

ONeill said, There is no present or future, only the past,

happening over and over again, now. Should the wise in Israel

have heard that quote as they sped down the road to Splitsville,

they may have cried out a hearty, Amen.

Those who wear the coat of division rarely change their

clothes for very long. Eventually their appetite will grow for the

power, the rush, the feeling of being in control on their own

terms.

It should not have surprised the king or the people of Judah

that the northern tribes would walk away from the throne that

God established in Israel. Rebellion exploded throughout their

history, often led by this same tribe of Ephraim. Time and again

they sought to fulfill the craving of the flesh, to hold on to

everything they believed rightfully belonged to them.

One nation became two. From this day forward the chosenpeople of the one true God were divided. If only this was the end

of the division caused on that day, reconciliation may have come.

Instead the people and their leaders took step after step to draw

and broaden the lines of division, widening the gap between

them.

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The Long Way Down

Have you ever seen a long fall in a television show or a movie

and wondered what was going through the mind of the person onthe way down? Between the top of the cliff and the ocean below.

Passed all of the windows from the rooftop to the street. The

horizon, the roads and houses, the fields and forests between the

plane and the ground.

They say the hardest step is the first one. How much more

does that apply when you face a long drop? How do we convince

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ourselves to step away from what we know to be safe? Is it easier

to know there is an air-filled landing pad waiting for you and anabundance of safety equipment protecting you?

When the nation of Israel tears through Splitsville all of the

safety measures are gone. They bypassed all protection when they

committed to the drop. Maybe they did not have a sense of how

far the drop was. Sometimes we warn friends and neighbors,

Watch out for that first step. What an appropriate warning forthe chosen people of God when the nation became two.

To say that these leaders were unaware of what they were

doing would be to dismiss all of the evidence to the contrary.

Each party had a choice to make that drove them closer and closer

to the brink. Perhaps they all had different pictures of what

awaited them over the edge of the cliff. But they all jumped in

their own way.

The Clueless King

No one knows the motivation behind Rehoboams choice to

journey away from Jerusalem to Shechem to be made king. Hewas the grandson of David, the one who made Jerusalem the

capital of the kingdom. Everything should have gone well for him

in his own city.

The journey north took the new king, his advisors and any

soldiers he had with him into hostile territory, though he

probably never knew it. The northern tribes set a stage for

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intimidation and control, and when the situation finally fell over

the edge into the chasm of division, Rehoboam was unpreparedfor it.

It seems that Rehoboam had no understanding of what had

happened in the hills outside of Shechem that day. Outraged at his

heavy-handedness towards them the ten northern tribes rebelled

in response to a rallying call used in a similar rebellion by these

same tribes in the past.



To your tents, O Israel!

Now, see to your own house, O David!

(1 Kings 12:16)

Unable to grasp the seriousness of the situation, Rehoboam

returned to his tent. He did not pack up and leave. There was no

immediate retreat to the safety of Jerusalem. No guard was set

around his tent or camp. Instead, Rehoboam went back to

business as usual. And then he made a terrible mistake. In his

ignorance the clueless king sent a terrible signal by sending the

worst man possible into the frying pan.

The request of the northern tribes had appeared simple. All

they asked for was a lighter load, for the burdens upon them to be

lessened. It was one thing for Rehoboam to say he was going to

be more demanding than his father. But when these disgruntled

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workers and countrymen saw Adoram approaching, Rehoboams

head of labor and taxes, they chose to make their message clearby stoning him to death (1 Kings 12:18).

Rehoboam finally understood and lost any hope of regaining

control as he camped near Shechem. Afraid, he jumped into his

chariot and returned to Jerusalem. And the gulf between the

tribes grew wider and the depth of Israels fall increased.

Averting Disaster

Along his return to Jerusalem, bouncing along in a chariot,

Rehoboam determined his next course of action. He knew within

himself that the people of Israel were meant to be one nation

under God. The reign of Solomon proved that it was possible and

that a stable union affected the nations politics, safety and

prosperity. They must remain one.

Like many who faced similar situations throughout history,

Rehoboam resolved to use whatever means necessary to return

Gods nation to unity. He gathered together fighting men from

Judah and Benjamin, the only two tribes loyal to the throne ofDavid. These men were chosen from among the ranks as

warriors, fierce and battle-hardened. When the time came to slay

their countrymen they would not hesitate to follow orders.

With a force of 180,000 chosen warriors Rehoboam set out

from Jerusalem to make war on the northern tribes. The army

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halted its journey when a prophet came to Rehoboam with a

word from God.

But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God,

saying, Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of

Judah, to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the

rest of the people, saying, Thus says the LORD: You shall

not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of

Israel. Let every man return to his house, for this thing isfrom Me. (1 Kings 12:22-24)

This was not the first time God spoke to one of the primary

players in Splitsville. He appeared to Solomon and laid His case for

Solomons sin and the judgment that would follow. It was

Solomons chance to repent and seek Gods mercy, though henever did. Afterwards God spoke through the prophet to

Jeroboam about the throne that would be his and the legacy he

might have if he served God as David did.

Each time God spoke it was an opportunity for man to choose

a path. For Rehoboam the choice was clear. He could ignore the

word of the man of God and continue on the road to war, orchoose to hear and accept Gods word. For the first time in all of

the events of Splitsvillea player chose to take the high road.

Did the words of the prophet stir up the truth that already

rested within Rehoboam? His father, Solomon, would have

shared with him about the prophecy to Jeroboam. He may have

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even participated in the hunt for the man. Maybe Solomon gave

him a word of warning on his deathbed. The seed of truth wasalready planted within his heart, this thing was from God.

So when God reminded Rehoboam of this truth he could not

help but hear and obey. Open war was taken off the table.

Without the shedding of each others blood these tribes might

still have a chance to reunite under one throne as Gods chosen

people.

Jeroboams Paranoia

All of that changed when paranoia took root in Jeroboams

mind and heart. We do not know how long Jeroboam ran and hid

from Solomons wrath after the king learned about Ahijahs

prophecy and torn garment. Though Jeroboam did not openly

rebel against Solomon the kings hate for his labor foreman was

great. Jeroboam fled to Egypt, only to return after Solomons

death.

How many nights did he lie awake, holding a sword or dagger

ready for any who might sneak up behind him? Did he havenightmares in Egypt, thinking about what could be if the prophet

was right and how terribly it would be for him to fall into

Solomons waiting hands? He was a fugitive and an exile. Surely

his mind was prone to imagining threats that were not there and

sought to bolster any defensive measure he had.

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As King of Israel in his northern nations capital of Shechem,

Jeroboams heart began to betray him. Something inside told himthat the people might leave him and return to Rehoboam. He was

scared they would kill him, maybe remembering the events that

led to the death of the last king in Shechem.

To save his neck and hold on to his throne Jeroboam devised a

drastic change that drove an enormous wedge between the

people. He planned to lead the people into a new religioussystem.

Therefore the king asked advice, made two calves of gold,

and said to the people, It is too much for you to go up to

Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought

you up from the land of Egypt! (1 Kings 12:28)

Jeroboam led the northern kingdom into idolatry. He

followed the same pattern of sin that the people fell into at the

foot of Mount Sinai. There God considered destroying the

faithless people of Israel and starting over with Moses. Now God

had given a kingdom to Jeroboam, only to be flatly rejected by

him.

But Jeroboam did not stop there. His plan was much larger

than setting up golden images and keeping people away from

Jerusalem. Wherever there was a high place he setup a shrine of

worship. He rejected the Levites as priests, allowing anyone who

wanted to be priest. According to Scripture this decision led the

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faithful priests and Levites to pack up everything and leave the

northern kingdom (2 Chronicles 11:13-17). Jeroboam created anew feast for his new gods that just happened to fall on the same

days as the feast of God in Jerusalem. He even presented burnt

offerings and sacrifices.

The Beginning of the End

If only Jeroboam had learned the lesson that God has spoken

to Rehoboam. This thing was from the Lord. It was set and done.

If only he trusted in Gods word to give him a throne and

establish it forever. The evidence was clear with Davids throne.

He only had to believe and obey.

But Jeroboams fear got the best of him. His imaginations and

his desire to hold on to what he had drove him to over-

compensate. It was not enough to remain faithful to God and hope

God would remain faithful to him. He wanted to be sure, to be

able to sleep at night knowing that there was no possibility for his

throne to be taken from him.

What he did not realize was that Jeroboam led the people offof another cliff. This time it was far worse than walking away

from a throne or a person. Its repercussions were more than just

bad blood and division. It was the beginning of the end for a

paranoid king. Jeroboam brought judgment on himself for his evil

leadership. From that day forward evil kings were compared to

Jeroboam, until the Bible describes Ahabs sin as being far worse

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(1 Kings 16:31). Gods promise was to destroy the house of

Jeroboam for doing more evil than all before him (1 Kings14:9).

It was also the beginning of the end for the tribes who refused

to submit to authority from generation to generation. A man of

God came to Bethel, to one of the golden calf altars setup by

Jeroboam. He declared Gods judgment upon that place of idol

worship and upon those who served as priests (1 Kings 13:1-3).Because the people continued in their sin of idolatry from king to

king, the nation would one day be conquered by the Assyrians,

who treated them ruthlessly.

Ripples of Sin

When something as devastating as Splitsvilleoccurs it tears at

the fabric of a people. Whether it is a kingdom, a family or a

church, division takes a toll on everyone it touches. The

consequences of sin and selfishness ripple for generations.

Though open war was averted by the word of God at the time

of the split, war continued between the nations. Both kingsfortified cities to watch and defend the border. The Chronicler

tells us there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all

their days (2 Chronicles 12:15).

The strife between the nations continued, even to the time of

Jesus. The Jews were the descendants of the southern nation of

Judah made up of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and those

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priests and Levites that escaped south from Jeroboam. The

Samaritans were the descendants of the northern nation. TheJews despised them, considering them a half-breed of people,

racially mixed with the Assyrians and other nations who were

brought to breed them out.

There would not be a return to the glory days that Israel

enjoyed under Solomon. No road would bring them back. Not

until the day when God raises up His banner and makes Hischosen people one again. And we the saints of Jesus Christ will

join them.

But until that day we must guard ourselves against the sin that

pulled a nation apart.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone

loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all

that is in the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the

eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the

world. (1 John 2:15-16)

Learn from the failure of Solomon. When we are faced with

our sin through the word of God, either through a Scripture, a

sermon or the conviction of the Holy Spirit, we must choose to

humble ourselves in repentance.

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Learn from the failure ofJeroboam, who had a better example

to follow than the one he chose to leave. When there are timeswhen we have the opportunity to pursue greatness and personal

gain at the cost of another we should put others first.

Learn from the failure of Rehoboam. There are many voices

that call out to us, drawing us to their desires. They will stamp us

with their approval if we will only listen to them. But the only

opinion and approval of us that matters is Gods, so we mustchoose to follow His voice over all others.

Learn from the failure of the northern tribes of Israel. Rebellion

cycled its way from generation to generation. They desired to

take advantage of every opportunity to take what they thought

they deserved. God says that those who exalt themselves will be

humbled, and the only path to true greatness is through humility.

Every one of us is in danger of falling over the edge. The

precipice awaits its next victim. Will it swallow you and your

family? What about your church? Avoid the path that leads you to

taking the step over the line to your own disastrous end.

Then one of the scribes came, and asked Him, Which

is the first commandment of all?

Jesus answered him, "The first of all the command-

ments is: Hear, O Israel, the LORDour God, the LORDis

one. And you shall love the LORDyour God with all your

heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all

your strength. This is the first commandment. And the

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second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as

yourself. There is no other commandment greater than

these. (Mark 12:28-31)

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Splitsville: The events and players that led to the division of the nation of Israel

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Transcript of Splitsville: The events and players that led to the division of the nation of Israel