Sat.’s Devo - The Kingdom Splits

Read: 2 Chronicles 8:11-10:19; Romans 8:9-25; Psalm 18:16-36; Proverbs 19:26 Solomon had many many wives but the one that he considered his main wife was the Pharaoh’s daughter. He built her a new palace because the Ark had been in David’s palace and he considered it holy ground. Solomon followed the Lord at first and celebrated all the feasts the way the Lord intended them to be celebrated. He acquired tons of gold every year from different nations that paid him tribute and through trade and commerce. The queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame and came to visit him. She brought tons of spices from her country. He showed her everything in his kingdom and gave her anything she asked. He gave her much more than she had brought him. She was amazed at the opulence and organization of his kingdom. Solomon made a huge throne for himself with lions sitting on either side and six steps leading up to the seat. It was decorated with ivory and overlaid with gold. Twelve lions stood, two on the end of each step. It was greater than anyone’s throne on the earth. Many other leaders of other nations came to glean from Solomon’s wisdom and to hear him speak on many subjects. Solomon ruled for 40 years in Jerusalem and when he died he was succeeded by Rehoboam his son. Rehoboam went to Shechem where they crowned kings. The people met and asked him what kind of king he would be. His father had imposed on them great taxes and hard labor. They wanted to know if he would lighten their load. Rehoboam told them to come back in three days and he would tell them. Rehoboam asked Solomon’s advisors what he should do and they told him to do what the people requested and they would serve him forever. Rehoboam didn’t like their advise and went to his young friends. They told him to be cruel and tell them he would be even harder than his father. When Solomon met with the people, he gave them the advise of his young friends. The people revolted and said they wanted nothing to do with the dynasty of David. Rehoboam sent Adoniram who was in charge of forced labor to restore order in the kingdom but they stoned him. When Rehoboam found out what they had done to Adoniram, he fled back to Jerusalem and ruled over Judah. This was the event that split the kingdom into Judah and Israel. In Romans, Paul proclaimed that we are not controlled by our sinful nature but by the Spirit of Christ so we should not let our bodies be under the power of sin. We are not doomed to sin but can chose not to sin. If we continue to sin, we will die but if we let the power of the Spirit in us put to death the deeds of our sinful nature, we will live. Only those who chose to be led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. God’s Spirit adopts us as God’s children and his spirit joins with ours to affirm that we are his. As his children, we are heirs with Christ of his glory. But just like Christ, we must first share his suffering. We suffer now for the glory that will be ours later. All creation is suffering with us because we were all cursed in the garden. We all groan as we wait for the future glory that has been promised to us. Then we will be completely released from sin and suffering and we will be given our full rights as his children, including new bodies. For now, we patiently wait for God’s promises. Lord, may we keep our eyes on the prize which is You and your plan to be fulfilled. Thank you for the promise of your great harvest which is coming. May we be ready to work in the fields and bring in the souls to your kingdoms.