Fri.’s Devo - Solomon’s End and The Split of the Kingdom

Read: 2 Chronicles 8:11-10:19; Romans 8:9-25; Psalm 18:16-36; Proverbs 19:26 Solomon built a special house for his wife from Egypt and brought her to live in it. Solomon followed the law in observing the feasts and holy days and worshiped the Lord. Gold poured into Jerusalem by the tons. The queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame and came to see if what she had heard was true. She brought gold and spices galore. He showed her everything about his palace and how it was run. She was amazed and greatly impressed. Solomon gave her anything she wanted and she returned home with more than she had brought. Solomon had his craftsmen make 200 large gold hammered shields and 300 smaller ones to hang in the Place of the Forest of Lebanon. He made a huge throne out of ivory and had it overlaid in gold. It had two lions on either side. All of his drinking cups were made of gold. He had a fleet of ships which brought him silver, gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules. He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River in the north to the land of the Philistines and the border of Egypt in the south. Solomon ruled for 40 years and then died and was buried in the City of David. His son Rehoboam became the next king. Jeroboam was an Israelite who had been prophesied to rule over 10 of the tribes by the prophet Ahijah. He had fled from Solomon to Egypt but now returned to speak for the people to Rehoboam. They met with him to see what kind of king he would be. The people were tired of the hard labor Solomon had subjected them to and wanted to know if Rehoboam was going to follow in his footsteps. Rehoboam told them he would meet back with them in three days with an answer. Rehoboam consulted his father’s counselors who told him that if he would lighten the load of the people, they would follow him forever and be faithful. Rehoboam asked the young men his age and they told him to tell the people that he would be worse than his father. When he met with the people, he chose the advise of his friends and told them that he would be much harder than his father. The people rebelled and chose to follow Jeroboam instead. Rehoboam sent Adoniram who was in charge of forced labor to get control of the people but they stoned him. Ten of the tribes went with Jeroboam and two (Judah and Benjamin stayed with Rehoboam. Jeroboam’s kingdom would be called the Northern Kingdom - Israel, and Rehoboam’s kingdom would be called the Southern Kingdom - Judah. In Romans, Paul tells us that we are NOT controlled by our sinful nature but by the Spirit of God in us. We have no obligation to do what our sinful nature urges us to do. In other words, we do not have to sin! We can be led by the Spirit of God. His spirit does not make us fearful slaves but he has adopted us as his own children making us heirs to all of his glory. To share in his glory means that we also have to share in his sufferings but his sufferings are nothing in comparison to his glory. All creation is waiting for that future day when God will reveal who his children are. Creation was suject to the curse but one day it will be set free like us and will never decay or die. We patiently wait for our new bodies and our full rights as his adopted children. Lord, thank you for the wonderful promises you have given us. It is a privilege to suffer with you and be given so much that can’t be taken away. Thank you for such a wonderful future.