Jeroboam’s New Religion

Synopsis     1Kings 12:32-13:4     5/7/2019 

Jeroboam was made king by the tribal leaders from the north of Israel. So, as the new king of the north, he began to build up Schechem as the capital city of the north. But Schechem was located in the tribal lands of Ephraim. And Ephraim was not very far from Jerusalem. 

Before very long, Jeroboam recognized the danger of Jerusalem. Solomon had made it a prestigious city filled with culture and the center of worship of the one true God. He reasoned that if the people went to Jerusalem to worship God, they would eventually want to reunited the nation under King Rehoboam.  

So, he decided to create an alternative to the worship of God at Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem. As a result, he set up new temples in Ephraim and in the northern area of Dan. And Rehoboam established a new priesthood comprised of ordinary Israelites, not Levites. All of this, of course, was in contradiction to the Law of Moses.

After some time, God sent a true prophet from the tribe of Judah to confront Jeroboam at the illegitimate altar in Bethel. He prophesied against the altar and Jeroboam’s newly created religion. Jeroboam was unsurprisingly enraged by the prophet. But as he commanded the prophet to be apprehended, his arm was afflicted with paralysis. 

A New Religion 

Jeroboam could not make the Law of Moses conform to his plans. He wanted to build up his kingdom to ensure the success of his reign. But he feared that following the Law of Moses would undermine his success. So, he invented a new system of religion and commanded the northern Israelites to worship in this way.   

Unfortunately, Jeroboam suffered paralysis as a warning against his audacity. Even so, God restored his arm from the paralysis. Yet, the faithful recognized that the Jeroboam’s new religion could only bring the eventual destruction of Israel.  

God On My Terms 

Create my own religion…. It’s a huge temptation. That’s not to say that I’m ambitious enough to actually form a new theological and cosmological understanding. But then, I don’t even have to form an alternative priesthood to form a new religion. Or I don’t have to suggest different physical locations for worship – although God is everywhere – right?  

I don’t have to write books or round up a bunch of followers. All I have to do is read God’s word and then decide that some inconvenient portion doesn’t really apply. Maybe it doesn’t apply because times have changed. Or, maybe because culture has changed. Or maybe God’s word doesn’t apply to me because His true meaning has been perverted through a corrupt traditional understanding.  

And there I have it – my own religion. God on my terms.  

“You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble.” James 2:19 

Rehoboam’s Repentance

Synopsis     1Kings 12:21-29     5/6/2019 

The ten northern tribes of Israel rebelled against King Rehoboam because of his harsh treatment. Despite this, the new king attempted to force labor from them. But instead of coming to work, the northern tribespeople killed the head overseer, whom the king had sent. 

So, Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem and built-up an army. He gathered men from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. In the end, he assembled one hundred eighty-thousand warriors. But, as he prepared to engage the northern tribes, a prophet of the Lord came to him.

The prophet’s name was Shemaiah. And he informed Rehoboam that the rebellion of the northern tribes was part of God’s plan. Furthermore, he told Rehoboam not to fight against the rebels. Accordingly, Rehoboam abandoned his plans to destroy the rebellion through war.

Rehoboam’s Repentance 

Initially, Rehoboam closed himself to receiving wise counsel. And his failure resulted in the Israelite nation dividing into two parts. Yet, only a few days later, he demonstrated a keen sensitivity to obey a God-sent prophet.  

And in obedience, he even cancelled his plans for war. Remarkably, the northern tribes were likely to see this as a sign of weakness. And Rehoboam knew this. But, something changed for Rehoboam as a result of his prior moral failure. He discovered the “fear of the Lord”. And this discovery led him to a new level of wisdom.

Struggle, Loss and Repentance 

One of the strangest aspects of the Christian walk is the connection between sin, grace and relationship with God. For when I sin, and I confess my sin, God forgives me. And the experience of forgiveness often makes me feel closer to God than I did before I sinned. 

So, this begs a question. Should I keep on sinning so that I have additional opportunities to feel close to God? The apostle tells us that relationship doesn’t work that way. Much as I might try, I can’t game God. 

On the other hand, it really is true that in my moments of moral failure, I grow more aware of God’s goodness and grace. It is as the Messiah once said, “He who is forgiven of much, loves much.”  

God’s utter goodness is manifest succinctly in the sacrament of reconciliation. It is a mysterious wisdom that converts my moral failure into the joy of a deeper relationship with the God of all Creation.   

“A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit.” Psalm 51:12 

Rehoboam the Fool

Synopsis     1Kings 12:12-20     5/3/2019 

After King Solomon died, his son Rehoboam became king in his place. At his coronation, the leaders of the tribes asked him to reduce the burdens that his father had placed on the people. But Rehoboam refused. 

And so, the people of the ten northern tribes declared refused Rehoboam as their king. Adoram was the official in charge of forced labor under King Solomon. But when Rehoboam sent him out to reimpose forced labor, the people of the northern tribes stoned him to death. 

After this, they decided to name for themselves a new king. They called an assembly. And there, the made Jeroboam king over all Israel. 

So then, the kingdom became divided once again. In the south, Rehoboam remained king over Judah. But Jeroboam was king over all of the rest of Israel. 

Rehoboam the Fool 

The people of the northern tribes decided to rebel. When they did, they said to one another, “What share have we in David? We have no heritage in the son of Jesse.”  

Obviously the leaders of the northern tribes felt used and objectified. And they felt taken for granted. Unsurprisingly, after Rehoboam’s answer, they left. The divorce was on.

And so a pause for reflection: First, David unified the nation. Then, Solomon grew the unified nation into an international power and center of culture. And yet all this effort was undone with an astonishing lack of wisdom in just a few minutes. 

Foolishness Remains 

I know that God has called me to love. For, this is His way. And when I think about it, it’s obvious. 

In other words, I know that He has called me to create value for others. Through my prayers. And through my acts. I’m called to create value. 

And yet, in the grind of life, it’s not how I intuitively live. 

My intuitive sense is to get more value than I give. I want things to be easy. And I want to get as much as I can for free.  

What’s more, if getting what I want takes more work than I think it should, I’m wondering out loud where God is. Like a toddling infant, I demand to know why He doesn’t give me what I want – why He doesn’t answer my prayers. 

Of all of God’s many virtues, today I’m reminded how good it is that He is patient. 

“Their own folly leads people astray; [yet] in their hearts they rage against the LORD.” Prov 19:3 

Servant of the People

Synopsis     1Kings 12:1-12     5/2/2019 

Solomon had a son named Rehoboam. And so, when Solomon died, Rehoboam became the new king. Immediately, he went to Schechem. And all of the leaders of Israel met him there for his coronation. 

While Israel was assembled, the tribal leaders approached Rehoboam. They asked him to reduce the burden that Solomon had placed on them. And they promised that if he reduced the burden, the tribes would gladly serve him. 

Rehoboam sought counsel from Solomon’s advisers. And they advised him to heed the request. They urged him to reduce the burden on the people. But afterward, he also sought the counsel of his friends with whom he had grown up. Unfortunately for Rehoboam, they advised him to impose an even harsher burden than his father.

Rehoboam chose the advice of the younger men. And so, he informed the tribal leaders what they could expect from him as king.  

Servant of the People 

Rehoboam had a simple choice. Either he could be the servant of all. Or, he could try to be the tyrant over all. In other words, he could create value for the people. Or, he could attempt to use the people to satisfy his personal desires. 

It’s was a stark choice. And it’s clear to see that Rehoboam could not fathom the implications of his decision. 

Value Creating Servant 

Of course, it’s still a stark choice. 

The Way of Love calls me to see the other as a person. It calls me to value the other as a person. It calls me to creatively contribute to the success of others even before I consider my own success. 

This is what I was made for. This is my essence. And most importantly, this is the way of my Savior. 

“But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant” Matt 20:26 

Jeroboam Protected in Egypt

Synopsis     1Kings 11:33-43     5/1/2019 

Ahijah the prophet declared a prophecy to Jeroboam. In it, he described the splitting of the Israelite nation into two kingdoms as a result of Solomon’s unfaithfulness. More than this, he prophesied that Jeroboam would become king over the northern tribes of Israel. And, he described God’s intent – which was to humble the house of David.

Solomon somehow recognized that Jeroboam was a threat. And so, he made an effort to have him killed. As a result, Jeroboam fled to Egypt and hid until Solomon’s death. 

Solomon died after reigning in Jerusalem for forty years. The people buried him in Jerusalem. And his son, Rehoboam became king. 

Jeroboam Protected in Egypt 

Jeroboam fled to Egypt. And Egypt allowed this for its own, mainly political, reasons. Accordingly, Jeroboam bided his time. Knowing the prophecy of God’s plan for his life, he matured in asylum. He prepared himself for the possibility foretold. 

Protection in Egypt 

There is a strange, symbiotic tension between the Authentic Community of God and the synthetic communities constructed by men. The synthetic community is only a construction of human effort and ingenuity.

Of course, there a lots of different kinds. For example, human beings have chosen to create democracies, and republics, and even tyrants monarchies. And each represents the various forms of human invention to regulate behavior. Accordingly, each seems to help satisfy the essential need we have to live in order and community. 

And so, at the very least, the phenomena of synthetic community points to the natural moral law. Humans have a very real and essential need. But still, man’s inventions are not necessarily the wisdom of God. So, they never satisfy completely.

It seems the human effort to live simply, as God intended, cannot be achieved naively. Like a child who only learns by defying the wisdom of parents, we go through the frustration of failure before we collectively choose the wisdom of God. 

And perhaps, this too is essential for man in community. At the very least, it’s clear that God allows for it and provides through it. He allowed Israel to grow up in Egypt. And, He even allowed the Messiah to grow up in Egypt. 

So, there is a wisdom to all this. There is a wisdom to Egypt. God allows you and me to experience the misfortune of the synthetic community. But He does to prepare us for the final hope of heaven in the community of saints. And like Jesus, He will call us out to our greatest possibility in the fullness of time – when we are ready.

“Out of Egypt I called my son.” Matt 2:15 

Jeroboam Prophecy

Synopsis     1Kings 11:22-31     4/30/2019 

God raised up adversaries against Solomon. These included Hadad, the Edomite who received a long asylum in Egypt before returning to his homeland.

And then there was Rezon, who was from the north near Damascus. So, during Solomon’s reign, Israel had enemies in both the north and the south. 

However, Solomon had a servant named Jeroboam that more greatly concerned him than either of these foreign enemies. Jeroboam was from the tribe of Ephraim. He was intelligent and hardworking.  

During the time of forced labor, Jeroboam became overseer for the workers from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. One day, late in King Solomon’s reign, Jeroboam walked alone in the countryside. As he walked, Ahijah the prophet suddenly joined him. While they were together on the road, the prophet gave a prophecy to Jeroboam. Ahijah revealed that God intended to make him the king over the northern tribes of Israel.

Jeroboam Prophesy 

God was neither surprised nor injured by Solomon’s unfaithfulness. And so, the prophecy concerning Jeroboam was not merely a reaction to Solomon.  

In fact, it’s better to think of Jeroboam as his own person. He was a son of Israel, who was a son of Adam, who was a son to God. He (and his life story) stands as more than simply a foil by which we understand Solomon. God took a legitimate and loving interest in Jeroboam. The Creator of the Universe had a purpose and a plan even for him.

The Prophecy of You 

You and I are not different than Jeroboam or Solomon. God has created everything with purpose and a plan. And if it was needful for you to hear it as Jeroboam did, then he would also send a prophet to speak
personally to you. If it was in any way necessary, He would whisper directly into your ear.

But until such time, it’s important to know that He has already spoken to you. And unlike either Solomon or Jeroboam, we live in the time of fulfilled revelation. Accordingly, we know the full extent of God’s great love in a way that they could not.

We have already seen the depth of His compassion and mercy. And we have experienced through the gifts of scripture, and church, and the sacraments, all the grace needful for life and Godliness.

You have what you need. And if you give your heart a few minutes of quiet, you probably have to admit that you know how God has called you. Deep down, you have some burgeoning sense of what you must do. 

“I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus” Phil 1:6 

Solomon’s Enemies

Synopsis     1Kings 11:11-21     4/29/2019 

Solomon married an unimaginable number of women. In doing so, he took many foreign women as wives. And these women did not serve the Lord. But instead, they continued to serve the gods from their own people. 

So, the Lord God spoke to Solomon for the third time in his life. And this time, he informed Solomon that he would rip most of the kingdom away from the house of David and give it to one of Solomon’s servants.  

With this, it became clear that Solomon’s reign was not without turmoil. And the enemies that David and Solomon had created in the process of expanding the power of the Israelite kingdom, suddenly reappeared. 

Solomon’s Enemies 

It probably shouldn’t be a surprise that Israel had enemies. The Israelites always had enemies. And the relative peace that came with King Solomon’s reign was the result of Israel’s sudden increase in economic and military power. And so, Solomon wisely used the period to build up the culture and infrastructure of Israel, so that it could remain a power.

However, Israel really did have enemies. And these included people whose lives had been devastated by Israel’s expansion. One of these was Hadad, who had been rescued from extermination by Joab’s forces when they invaded Edom. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave Hadad asylum. And so, Hadad became a favorite in Pharaoh’s court. And so, he remained as a potential adversary until both David and Joab died. It was in this way, and at this time, that this particular adversary returned to his own land. 

Adversaries Everywhere 

Sometimes I pine for peace. In those moments, I just wish that the world of my circumstances was without adversity.  

But I know this wish isn’t reality. I live in a world where there are always adversaries. 

At the most basic level, I live in a physical world filled with germs and parasites and predator animals. And all of these seek to make a meal of me. They never give up. They just bide their time until the opportunity is right. That’s when they strike. 

And the only thing that keeps them at bay is my alertness to danger, my habits of hygiene and the quality of my immune system.  

It’s the same in our walk with God. As the apostle once said, “we war against powers and principalities”. Faith is what protects me. My habits of prayer support my relationship with Jesus – but He protects me.

A knowing man eventually comes to realize that this is the only legitimate hope.

“For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.” Eph 6:12 

Solomon Frustrated God

Synopsis     1Kings 11:1-10     4/24/2019 

King Solomon loved many foreign women. All combined, he had a thousand wives and concubines. Many, if not most, of these were foreign women who worshiped foreign gods. 

And when Solomon grew old, the influence of his wives also grew. He allowed his wives and concubines to worship foreign gods in Israel. What’s more, he even joined in the worship. And, in certain cases, he went so far as to build altars to the foreign gods. 

This displeased the Lord, the God of Israel. 

Solomon Frustrated God 

So, God had a project. He was working to accomplish something in Israel. He intended that Israel would bring the entire world to an awareness of their Creator. And God empowered Solomon in remarkable ways to achieve this purpose.

But Solomon failed. Despite all the extraordinary blessings and gifts, Solomon lost sight of the ultimate value. Accordingly, he forgot his purpose.

Yet, God still used Solomon to achieve His purpose.

Frustrated God 

God has a purpose in Creation. He is trying to accomplish something. And, in the end, He will prevail.

I am part of His creation. And I was created with freedom of choice. I can agree with God’s purpose and harmonize with His work. Or, I can resist His efforts and frustrate His purpose. 

Still, He’s God. He made me as I am. And He knew before He created me that I might use my freedom to frustrate His purposes. 

And so, a paradox. Even my efforts to selfishly frustrate God’s purpose in creation, only advances His purpose. It might even be said that a certain resistance is necessary in order to fully demonstrate both His wisdom and His love. 

Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s good that I should selfishly work against God. My sin is neither good or necessary. And, it’s not good for the world.

Yet I sin. And yet, I am forgiven.

“Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for a noble purpose and another for an ignoble one?” Rom 9:21 

Israel a World Power

Synopsis     1Kings 10:20-29     4/23/2019 

God gifted King Solomon with extraordinary wisdom. Because his wisdom was divine, all the world sought his insight. And so, the kings of the world came to Israel. And as they did, they brought tribute which further enriched the king and all of Israel.

Solomon used the wealth to build up his army. And he also built up a large fleet of ships in the Mediterranean. And these brought additional wealth from Tarshish.  

Israel a World Power 

Solomon’s wisdom was attracting great wealth to Israel. And during his reign, the Israelite kingdom gained access to water ports in both the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Thus, Israel was one of the few nations that connected Asia and Mediterranean Europe. This also meant that Israel was becoming a world power. Only Egypt had similar access to both seas. 

Solomon recognized this. And so, with Hiram, he built fleets in both seas to take advantage of this strategic advantage. 

Jesus a World Power 

They say that Christianity fundamentally and dramatically influenced human culture. It’s not really true. 

Jesus the Messiah fundamentally and dramatically influenced human culture. That was his purpose. And that’s why the knowing world is drawn to Him.  

“There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.” Acts 4:12 

Gifts From the Queen

Synopsis      1Kings 10:10-19     4/19/2019 

The Queen of Sheba gave King Solomon one hundred and twenty gold talents. And additionally she game him many other valuable gifts.

In the same year, the king also received gold and almug wood from Ophir. So, in all he received six-hundred and sixty-six talents of gold.

Solomon used the sudden influx of wealth to further strengthen and adorn the temple and his palace. The adornments included decorative shields made from beaten gold. And Solomon also had a throne made entirely from ivory covered in gold.  

Gifts from the Queen 

The Queen of Sheba traveled a great distance to see King Solomon. And when she recognized the depth of his wisdom and the expanse of his vision for Israel, she gave him a large gift of gold.

Gifts to Jesus 

God doesn’t need anything. He certainly doesn’t need anything that I could ever give him. This is a profound theological truth.

But, in a way it seems to beg the question: Why should I give God anything? Or, why should I even offer Him anything? He doesn’t need it, right?

In one of the few episodes recorded in all four gospels, a woman once came to Jesus while he was eating at table. And right there, in front of the entire dinner party, she poured an unimaginably expensive perfume over his body. Some of the people who were present were offended. They viewed the woman’s action as wasteful and otherwise inappropriate.

For His part, He didn’t need this offering, but Jesus celebrated her gift.

I come to this same Jesus. And if I recognize Him for who He is, then I want to be with Him. I want to sit at His feet and listen to Him. I want learn from Him. 

And in a very natural way, I want somehow to contribute to what matters to Him.  This is what it means to love.

“At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.” Matt 12:42