One man was heard saying, “I made my money the old-fashioned way. I inherited it.” Much of Solomon’s wealth and privilege was like this man – the result of his father’s hard work.
David established peace on every side, and Solomon was able to build on his accomplishments. Solomon inherited his father’s faith and favor with God. He was surrounded by human and divine grace on all sides.
Rather than serving God with his whole heart, Solomon allowed his many wives and the gods they worshiped draw him away from God. The Lord’s judgment on Solomon was to tear the kingdom from his hands and give the majority of it to the ten northern tribes.
The Divided Kingdom
Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, had the opportunity to consolidate his rule over the Hebrews. He was made king and all Jeroboam, the leader of the northern area, asked was for fair treatment.
“Your father made our yoke heavy. Now, therefore, lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke that he placed on us, and we will serve you.” (1 Kings 12:4).
Rehoboam asked the people to give him three days to respond to their request.
He first went to Solomon’s advisors, who told him: “If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever.” (1 Kings 12:7).
I learned about servant leadership while working in a warehouse as a teenager. The vice president of our company would occasionally visit the warehouse and help us fill orders. He’d roll up the sleeves of his white dress shirt and work alongside the truck drivers and laborers.
This wealthy executive worked beside ordinary workers and made the few hours he spent with us both fun and inspiring.
Whether leaders work directly alongside their employees or serve by providing strong leadership, it’s far more enjoyable to work for servant leaders than for those who consider themselves too important to serve.
Unfortunately, Rehoboam did not choose the path of servant leadership.
But he disregarded the advice that the older men gave him and consulted with the young men who had grown up with him and now attended him (1 Kings 12:8).
When he asked a younger crowd of inexperienced cronies, they advised Rheoboam to take a harsh approach with the ten tribes of the northern area of the nation.
The young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Thus you should say to this people who spoke to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must lighten it for us’; thus you should say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins.
Now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’” (1 Kings 12:10-11).
After three days expired, Jeroboam appeared before Rehoboam. Instead of profiting from the wise counsel of his father’s advisors, he took the advice of his cronies.
The Response – A Divided Kingdom
Some of the terminology may be confusing. After Rehoboam’s disaster of a meeting, ten tribes separated from his rule. They became known as Israel or Ephraim, and were led by Jeroboam.
The southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin were referred to as Judah from that time forward.
The author of 1 Kings recorded the response of “all Israel.” In this instance, Israel designated the 10 northern tribes.
When all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, the people answered the king,
“What share do we have in David?
We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.
To your tents, O Israel!
Look now to your own house, O David.”
So Israel went away to their tents (1 Kings 12:16).
In today’s video, Rudy Ross notes that the kingdom was divided from this time until 1948, when Israel became a nation.
Reflections
The accounts we have been reading in 1 Kings focus on the leaders of the nation. Little is mentioned in these records about ordinary people.
We can only imagine the hardships the average citizens experienced. Ordinary people prosper when their leaders trust wise counsel and serve the populace.
History is filled with national tragedies, because their leaders who served themselves.
The same can be said of business, educational, or religious leaders.
Let’s make a point of praying for the leaders in our sphere of influence. Let’s ask God to give us servant leaders, who follow wise counsel.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 