Through insolence comes nothing but strife, but wisdom is with those who receive counsel. - Proverbs 13:10
Today we are beginning a new sermon series titled, “The Divided Church: The Northern and Southern Kingdoms”. This series will cover a span of about 370 years, from approximately 954-586 BC. Our primary texts will come from 1 and 2 Kings, however we will supplement them with related portions of 2 Chronicles.
I’ve intentionally equated the New Testament church with Old Testament Israel in the title of this sermon series. This is not to suggest or teach that the 2 groups are the same, as I believe they are distinctly different in many ways. My purpose for equating them, as I’ve stated before in other similar series, is to emphasize the continuity of purpose between the people of God in the Old Testament and those in the New Testament. Both were and have been chosen by God to be His witnesses and ambassadors to the lost world. I believe that we as Christians can and should learn from the examples and history of our ancestors in the faith, the Jews.
The Divided Kingdom era of Jewish history fits chronologically between the United Kingdom era (approx. 1050-954 BC) and the Babylonian Exile and Post Exilic period (approx. 586-440 BC). After about 100 years of existence as a single nation, under the leadership of King Saul, followed by King David, and then King Solomon, Israel split into 2 separate kingdoms. The Northern Kingdom retained the name Israel, while the Southern Kingdom became known as Judah. This arrangement continued until the fall of the Northern Kingdom in around 720 BC, and then the fall of the Southern Kingdom in 586 BC.
In the coming months, we will explore the stories of both kingdoms. It is my prayer that, along the way, God will teach us many lessons that we can apply in our own lives and in our church. I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for us through these messages!
I. REHOBOAM’S FOOLISH DECISION (1 Kings 12:1-15; 2 Chronicles 10:1-15)
After his father died, Rehoboam went to the ancient city of Shechem. All the people of Israel had gathered there to crown him as their new king. When Jeroboam, a renowned Israelite who had fled from King Solomon several years earlier and had been living in Egypt (1 Kings 11:40), heard the news of Solomon’s death he returned to Shechem also. Speaking on behalf of the Israelites, Jeroboam asked Rehoboam if he intended to treat them more leniently and mercifully than his father Solomon had done. King Solomon had conscripted many of the Israelities into heavy, forced labor, using them to build all sorts of construction projects throughout his kingdom. Rather than giving them an immediate answer, Rehoboam told the Israelites he needed 3 days to think it over.
After Jeroboam and the Israelites departed, Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father. They advised him to lighten the burden on the Israelites, to be merciful toward them, and to answer them kindly. They stated that, if he were to lessen or even eliminate their forced labor, the people of Israel would love and serve him faithfully. Not satisfied with their counsel, Rehoboam turned to the young men who had grown up with him and served as his advisors. They suggested that he increase the workload of the Israelites even more so than his father had done. Perhaps they thought this would give the people a greater fear of Rehoboam than they’d shown to Solomon?
When Jeroboam and the people of Israel returned 3 days later to see what Rehoboam had decided, he followed the advice of his younger counselors and answered them harshly. He did not heed their concerns, but instead expressed his intention to discipline and oppress them even more. This turn of events was all part of God’s plan to divide the nation of Israel. The prophet Ahijah had already told Jeroboam that these things would happen back before he’d fled to Egypt some years earlier.
II. THE NATION DIVIDES (1 Kings 12:16-24; 2 Chronicles 10:16-11:4)
When the Israelites saw how Rehoboam had treated them, they became furious and refused to recognize him as their new king. When Rehoboam sent his servant Adoram to conscript them into forced labor, they stoned him to death. Fearing for his own safety, Rehoboam hurriedly fled south to Jerusalem where he was made king and reigned over the house of David, which consisted primarily of the tribe of Judah. Meanwhile, the northern tribes called an assembly and made Jeroboam their king, and he ruled over Israel. Thus, the united nation was no more, as it had now split into 2 separate kingdoms.
When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem after leaving Shechem, he assembled an army of 180,000 valiant soldiers from the southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin. His plan was to crush the rebellion of Israel and reunite the nation as one. However, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the prophet who subsequently warned Rehoboam not to go up and fight against his brethren Israel. Rehoboam obeyed God’s word, disbanded his army, and sent them home. He peacefully allowed the northern tribes to break away and form their own kingdom.
III. REHOBOAM’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS (2 Chronicles 11:5-23)
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and was the first king over Judah, the southern kingdom. During his reign he built and fortified many cities for defense including Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron. He also strengthened existing fortresses, placed officers in them, and stored them with food, oil, and weapons.
The southern kingdom was made up primarily of the tribe of Judah, and it adopted the same name - Judah. However, it also included the smaller tribe of Benjamin and perhaps any remaining remnant of the tribe of Simeon which had assimilated into Judah over the years. Beyond that, the priests and Levites who lived in Israel stood with Rehoboam and many of them moved to Jerusalem and other cities in the southern kingdom. This migration happened because Jeroboam practiced idolatry, set up high places, and appointed his own false priests in Israel. For the first 3 years of Rehoboam’s reign, things went rather well in Judah and the people followed the Lord. Unfortunately, their allegiance to God wouldn’t last.
During the years of his kingship, Rehoboam took 18 wives (including Mahalath and Maacha, his favorite) and 60 concubines and fathered 28 sons and 60 daughters. He had a large, extensive family. He wisely dispersed his sons in fortified cities throughout the territories of Judah and Benjamin, gave them food in abundance, and even sought wives for them. Rehoboam appointed his son Abijah to be the leader of his brothers and intended to make him the next king of Judah.
CONCLUSION
In today’s message we’ve discussed the events that led to the division of united Israel into 2 separate kingdoms. We have introduced Rehoboam and Jeroboam, the 2 men who became the first kings of Judah and Israel, respectively. We’ve also taken a brief look at King Rehoboam’s accomplishments in Judah, especially during the early part of his reign, as well as the prolific growth of his family. Next Sunday we will focus on Jeroboam’s reign in Israel, which ran concurrently with Rehoboam.
One of the key lessons we can take from this sermon has to do with receiving and following advice. Rehoboam rejected the wise advice of his father’s older, more experienced counselors and instead followed the foolish advice of his own, younger, less experienced counselors. While in this particular instance Rehoboam’s foolish decision was by God’s design, it should be noted that it was still a foolish choice. It’s also important to point out that, while age and experience can certainly lead to wisdom, they doesn’t necessarily guarantee it. Young people can (and sometimes do) give really good advice while older people can (and sometimes do) give really bad advice. The emphasis here is on the advice itself. Is it or is it not from the Lord? Does it encourage us to listen to the concerns of people and show them God’s love and grace, or to dismiss them altogether and act with bitterness and cruelty? We need to be careful that the voices we listen to and follow seek to build people up, rather than tear them down.
Let me close with another observation. I can’t help but notice that even after Rehoboam made a foolish decision that resulted in disastrous consequences, God instructed him not to aggravate the situation by trying to “fix” it. Could it be that instead of trying to reverse or erase our mistakes, sometimes the Lord would rather us simply learn from them and make the best of whatever has transpired? Just a thought…
Today we are beginning a new sermon series titled, “The Divided Church: The Northern and Southern Kingdoms”. This series will cover a span of about 370 years, from approximately 954-586 BC. Our primary texts will come from 1 and 2 Kings, however we will supplement them with related portions of 2 Chronicles.
I’ve intentionally equated the New Testament church with Old Testament Israel in the title of this sermon series. This is not to suggest or teach that the 2 groups are the same, as I believe they are distinctly different in many ways. My purpose for equating them, as I’ve stated before in other similar series, is to emphasize the continuity of purpose between the people of God in the Old Testament and those in the New Testament. Both were and have been chosen by God to be His witnesses and ambassadors to the lost world. I believe that we as Christians can and should learn from the examples and history of our ancestors in the faith, the Jews.
The Divided Kingdom era of Jewish history fits chronologically between the United Kingdom era (approx. 1050-954 BC) and the Babylonian Exile and Post Exilic period (approx. 586-440 BC). After about 100 years of existence as a single nation, under the leadership of King Saul, followed by King David, and then King Solomon, Israel split into 2 separate kingdoms. The Northern Kingdom retained the name Israel, while the Southern Kingdom became known as Judah. This arrangement continued until the fall of the Northern Kingdom in around 720 BC, and then the fall of the Southern Kingdom in 586 BC.
In the coming months, we will explore the stories of both kingdoms. It is my prayer that, along the way, God will teach us many lessons that we can apply in our own lives and in our church. I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for us through these messages!
I. REHOBOAM’S FOOLISH DECISION (1 Kings 12:1-15; 2 Chronicles 10:1-15)
After his father died, Rehoboam went to the ancient city of Shechem. All the people of Israel had gathered there to crown him as their new king. When Jeroboam, a renowned Israelite who had fled from King Solomon several years earlier and had been living in Egypt (1 Kings 11:40), heard the news of Solomon’s death he returned to Shechem also. Speaking on behalf of the Israelites, Jeroboam asked Rehoboam if he intended to treat them more leniently and mercifully than his father Solomon had done. King Solomon had conscripted many of the Israelities into heavy, forced labor, using them to build all sorts of construction projects throughout his kingdom. Rather than giving them an immediate answer, Rehoboam told the Israelites he needed 3 days to think it over.
After Jeroboam and the Israelites departed, Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father. They advised him to lighten the burden on the Israelites, to be merciful toward them, and to answer them kindly. They stated that, if he were to lessen or even eliminate their forced labor, the people of Israel would love and serve him faithfully. Not satisfied with their counsel, Rehoboam turned to the young men who had grown up with him and served as his advisors. They suggested that he increase the workload of the Israelites even more so than his father had done. Perhaps they thought this would give the people a greater fear of Rehoboam than they’d shown to Solomon?
When Jeroboam and the people of Israel returned 3 days later to see what Rehoboam had decided, he followed the advice of his younger counselors and answered them harshly. He did not heed their concerns, but instead expressed his intention to discipline and oppress them even more. This turn of events was all part of God’s plan to divide the nation of Israel. The prophet Ahijah had already told Jeroboam that these things would happen back before he’d fled to Egypt some years earlier.
II. THE NATION DIVIDES (1 Kings 12:16-24; 2 Chronicles 10:16-11:4)
When the Israelites saw how Rehoboam had treated them, they became furious and refused to recognize him as their new king. When Rehoboam sent his servant Adoram to conscript them into forced labor, they stoned him to death. Fearing for his own safety, Rehoboam hurriedly fled south to Jerusalem where he was made king and reigned over the house of David, which consisted primarily of the tribe of Judah. Meanwhile, the northern tribes called an assembly and made Jeroboam their king, and he ruled over Israel. Thus, the united nation was no more, as it had now split into 2 separate kingdoms.
When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem after leaving Shechem, he assembled an army of 180,000 valiant soldiers from the southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin. His plan was to crush the rebellion of Israel and reunite the nation as one. However, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the prophet who subsequently warned Rehoboam not to go up and fight against his brethren Israel. Rehoboam obeyed God’s word, disbanded his army, and sent them home. He peacefully allowed the northern tribes to break away and form their own kingdom.
III. REHOBOAM’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS (2 Chronicles 11:5-23)
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and was the first king over Judah, the southern kingdom. During his reign he built and fortified many cities for defense including Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron. He also strengthened existing fortresses, placed officers in them, and stored them with food, oil, and weapons.
The southern kingdom was made up primarily of the tribe of Judah, and it adopted the same name - Judah. However, it also included the smaller tribe of Benjamin and perhaps any remaining remnant of the tribe of Simeon which had assimilated into Judah over the years. Beyond that, the priests and Levites who lived in Israel stood with Rehoboam and many of them moved to Jerusalem and other cities in the southern kingdom. This migration happened because Jeroboam practiced idolatry, set up high places, and appointed his own false priests in Israel. For the first 3 years of Rehoboam’s reign, things went rather well in Judah and the people followed the Lord. Unfortunately, their allegiance to God wouldn’t last.
During the years of his kingship, Rehoboam took 18 wives (including Mahalath and Maacha, his favorite) and 60 concubines and fathered 28 sons and 60 daughters. He had a large, extensive family. He wisely dispersed his sons in fortified cities throughout the territories of Judah and Benjamin, gave them food in abundance, and even sought wives for them. Rehoboam appointed his son Abijah to be the leader of his brothers and intended to make him the next king of Judah.
CONCLUSION
In today’s message we’ve discussed the events that led to the division of united Israel into 2 separate kingdoms. We have introduced Rehoboam and Jeroboam, the 2 men who became the first kings of Judah and Israel, respectively. We’ve also taken a brief look at King Rehoboam’s accomplishments in Judah, especially during the early part of his reign, as well as the prolific growth of his family. Next Sunday we will focus on Jeroboam’s reign in Israel, which ran concurrently with Rehoboam.
One of the key lessons we can take from this sermon has to do with receiving and following advice. Rehoboam rejected the wise advice of his father’s older, more experienced counselors and instead followed the foolish advice of his own, younger, less experienced counselors. While in this particular instance Rehoboam’s foolish decision was by God’s design, it should be noted that it was still a foolish choice. It’s also important to point out that, while age and experience can certainly lead to wisdom, they doesn’t necessarily guarantee it. Young people can (and sometimes do) give really good advice while older people can (and sometimes do) give really bad advice. The emphasis here is on the advice itself. Is it or is it not from the Lord? Does it encourage us to listen to the concerns of people and show them God’s love and grace, or to dismiss them altogether and act with bitterness and cruelty? We need to be careful that the voices we listen to and follow seek to build people up, rather than tear them down.
Let me close with another observation. I can’t help but notice that even after Rehoboam made a foolish decision that resulted in disastrous consequences, God instructed him not to aggravate the situation by trying to “fix” it. Could it be that instead of trying to reverse or erase our mistakes, sometimes the Lord would rather us simply learn from them and make the best of whatever has transpired? Just a thought…