1 Kings 12 – 16

Maybe it was too good to be true. Maybe it was doomed from the start. The transition from the wisest king ruling an expansive kingdom with a beautiful Temple and the protection of the Almighty to foolishness and division is heartbreaking. We sit back in amazement as bad decision follows bad decision. How could they simply squander the vast blessings God gave to them? Every advantage was theirs, and it all went away.

The story of the divided kingdom is as tragic as it was avoidable. Remember Solomon on his knees before God? Sadly, this attitude was a rarity in the coming years, even in Solomon himself. He, too, followed after false gods and fell into idolatry. Then brother fought against brother, invading armies found success over Judah and Israel. Why? Did the warfighters become bad soldiers and generals? Did the people become more opinionated and argumentative? Nope. They simply turned their backs on Yahweh and forgot His covenant and promises. The price they paid for spiritual adultery was God letting them go.

Imagine what might have been if the people had remained united behind God and faithful to him. From the dedication of the Temple, what could God have done through them if the kings had walked in the ways of David? We will never know because reality set in. People are people and people are flawed. Division overcomes unity, strife overcomes harmony and God falls by the wayside. Or, is it the other way around? Unity is only truly found in following after God, and division naturally occurs when we forfeit it by neglecting the spiritual things.

The transition from Solomon to Rehoboam and Jeroboam is a foreshadowing of the work of Jesus building the perfect church and the imperfect work of people to tear her apart. We look back and see what God accomplished in the resurrection of Jesus. Bringing the save souls together in the precious body of Christ Yahweh Elohim accomplished the reconciliation and gave us unity and harmony in the bond of peace. Then people happened. Almost from the start, personalities and opinions began to disrupt unity. What happened? Like with Israel, division came when people turned their backs on God and forfeited the spiritual things. The church over her lifetime has paid a high price for division.

Just as it was with Israel, God has promised that when the people who wear the name of Christ will humble themselves and turn back to Him, he will heal the division and make us one in Christ Jesus. No longer is this a healing of physical Israel, but a healing of the church which is the spiritual Israel. Neither the root cause nor the high price of division has changed. Fortunately, neither has the remedy. Sweet church, seek the high calling of God, or pay the high price of division.

Consider His nature.  Consider His ways.  Strive to love Him more!