1 Kings 11 ends with the death of Solomon, and with that, the end of a united Kingdom of Israel.
• The Kingdom will be divided into TWO – with ten tribes to be led by JEROBOAM (one of Solomon’s official), currently taking refuge in Egypt.
• And the other – the tribe of JUDAH plus Benjamin – under Solomon’s own son REHOBOAM.
This is a great turning point in Israel’s history. From this point onwards, we would have the Northern and Southern Kingdoms.
• The Northern Kingdom, comprising the TEN TRIBES, will be known as ISRAEL. Samaria will eventually become its capital.
• The Southern Kingdom, where Jerusalem is, will be known as JUDAH, led by David’s descendants.
Both Jeroboam (10 tribes) and Rehoboam (Judah), the first kings of the divided Kingdoms, no longer worship Yahweh, the God of Israel.
• We are going to read in 1 Kings 12 that both kings seek only human advice, and they are greatly motivated by their own wants.
• God is not in the picture. We are going to see them doing what they want to do, to gratify their own desires.
I entitled the sermon “Godless Delusion”. Let’s see what Rehoboam did in JUDAH.
• Next week we will look at what Jeroboam did in the Northern Kingdom.
• Read 1 Kings 12:1-14. Rehoboam made 3 foolish moves.
Rehoboam faced an uprising, led by the returning JEROBOAM from exile.
• They demanded the king to “lighten the harsh labour and the heavy yoke” that Solomon had put on the people. (12:4)
• We do not know if this was true, but it was used to get at the King.
• Rehoboam requested for 3 days to think through. He consulted the elders who had served his father. They suggested he shows some restraint and lightens their load.
It wasn’t really a very difficult suggestion, but Rehoboam’s reaction was quick.
• He has 3 days to make a decision but 12:8 “But Rehoboam REJECTED the advice of the elders, almost immediately.
• And he turned to his peers, those who grew up with him. 12:9 “How should WE answer these people…”
• Apparently in his mind, he has already decided to stand with his peers.
WHY? They are likely to think like him and say the things he wants to hear.
• Intimidate them. Exercise your power. Make them suffer and submit. Press them harder and they will fear you.
The King wasn’t ready to serve the people. He just wanted to stamp his authority and show off his power.
• He wanted to prove that he’s somebody to be reckoned with.
• He demanded respect, but respect can never be demanded. It is to be earned.
So 3 days later when he met with the people, the King answered them harshly and the people walked out on him.
• 12:16-17 16When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king: "What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse's son? To your tents, O Israel! Look after your own house, O David!" So the Israelites went home. 17But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.
• We expected this, of course. Then what do you expect, after such harsh words?
But he was not seeing it. He did the second wrong move.
• 12:18a “King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labour…” to go after them.
• What is he trying to do? Enslave the deserting tribes by force? How do you expect the people to respond to your “I will scourge you with scorpions”?
12:18b “… but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem.”
• On his coronation week, we see the King running for his life.
• And it didn’t stop there. Rehoboam made the 3rd foolish mistake.
Read 1 Kings 12:21-24. He rallied 180,000 soldiers for a fight with ten tribes!
• God stepped in. God spoke! “Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.” (12:24).
• By His grace, God stepped in, not wanting to see more bloodshed among His people. Stop it! “Go home, this is my doing.”
Without God, what we see are man’s foolishness. Paul says in 1 Cor 3:19 “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God…”
• The people LISTENED this time! This is the only wise thing in this entire chapter.
• They listened and they obeyed. 12:24b “So they obeyed the Word of the Lord and went home again, as the Lord had ordered.”
We see the FOOLISHNESS of man and the WISDOM of God.
• We see the foolishness of man’s words and the certainty and wisdom of God’s Word.
• God says, “Go home, this is MY DOING.” This split of the Kingdom, this separation; it is MY DOING. It is an OUTCOME that I have determined.
This is the 2nd time the author is emphasizing this.
The author tells us after King Rehoboam gave those harsh words to the people –
• 12:15 “So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the LORD, to fulfill the Word the LORD had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.”
• That was what we read in 1 Kings 11. That was the plan of God!
• 12:15 “for this turn of events was from the Lord, to fulfil the Word the Lord had spoken…”
We can step back and look at the whole situation and moralise it.
• We can say Rehoboam should have listened to the elders – they are Solomon’s counsellors; very likely the wiser and more experienced ones.
• Or he shouldn’t have listened to the young men, who grew up with him. They are impulsive and ignorant, arrogant and presumptuous.
• Actually these are not the important parts. Elders can make mistakes. Young men can also make good decisions.
• Whatever our take is on the situation, we cannot run away from this line – it is a fulfilment! It is a fulfilment of God’s Word!
Whatever happened, happened, because God said it.
• This was the OUTCOME that God had in mind, and He was just fulfilling what He has determined.
• This is our assurance and comfort today. God’s Word is certain. His plan is sure.
Whatever the turn of events in our lives, remember this, God is sovereign.
• God’s sovereignty did not violate Rehoboam’s free decision. He is still free to decide what he wants.
• But God’s plan and will would still be fulfilled, THROUGH his free decision.
God accomplishes His purposes through human freedom and even folly.
• That’s what we see here. Ultimately, no one can thwart God’s plan.
• This outcome may not be what we like; it’s a sad outcome but it is God’s will.
• And no one can change God’s Word. We trust Him because His Word is certain.
What is man’s part? Man’s part is to heed God’s Word and obey Him.
In the frigid waters around Greenland are countless icebergs, some little and some gigantic. If you'd observe them carefully, you'd notice that sometimes the small ice blocks move in one direction while their massive counterparts flow in another.
The explanation is simple. Surface winds drive the little ones, whereas the huge masses of ice are carried along by deep ocean currents.
When we face trials and tragedies, it's helpful to see our lives as being subject to two forces - surface winds and ocean currents. The winds represent everything changeable, unpredictable, and distressing.
But operating simultaneously with these gusts and gales is another force that's even more powerful. It is the sure movement of God's wise and sovereign purposes, the deep flow of His unchanging love.
A. W. Tozer says in his book KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY:
“The mighty liner of God’s sovereign design keeps its steady course over the sea of history. God moves undisturbed and unhindered toward the fulfilment of those eternal purposes which He purposed in Christ Jesus before the world began."
Human freedom and folly cannot thwart God’s purposes.
• We keep faith with what God has said.
