Tues.’s Devo - The Kingdom Divides

Read: 1 Kings 11:1-12:19; Acts 9:1-25: Psa1ms 131:1-3; Proverbs 17:4-5 Solomon married many foreign wives of royalty from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon and from the Hittites. They turned him away from God and he worshiped their gods of Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Moleck. He built shrines to these detestable gods that required human sacrifices. God had specifically told him not to do this, but he feared his wives more than God. *** God was so angry with Solomon that he told him He would tear the kingdom from him. He would not do it in his days but in the days of his son. The Lord raised up adversaries against Solomon like Hadad the Edomite who had escaped to Egypt. There he waited until David and Joab were killed, then he returned for revenge. God also raised up Rezon as an adversary of Solomon. The third enemy was Jeroboam who was in charge of Solomon’s work force. *** One day, when Jeroboam was leaving Jerusalem to do his job, he was met by the prophet, Ahijah. He told him that God was going to take the kingdom of Israel from Solomon and give him 10 of the tribes of Israel. Solomon would be left with one tribe. (I don’t know where the twelfth tribe was or who it is.) Ahijah told Jeroboam that God was rending the kingdom from Solomon because he worshipped Ashtoreth, Chemosh and Moleck. This must not have made a big impression on him because he ended up leading the nation into idolatry. God gave him the opportunity to have an everlasting kingdom if he would follow his commands and worship him only. Sadly, he didn’t. ***Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam but he fled to Egypt and stayed until Solomon died. When that day came, his kingdom was given to his son, Rehoboam. The leaders of Israel along with Jeroboam met with Rehoboam to ask him for mercy. They asked him to lessen their taxes and lighten the load of their work. Rehoboam asked for three days to give them an answer. In the three days, he asked the council of his father’s advisors and his own advisors. His father’s advisors were older and wiser. They told him that if he would lighten their load, they would be faithful to him. His younger advisors told him to tell the people that he would be harsher than his father. He took the advice of his friends and told the people he would make their lives even more painful. This split the kingdom. The only tribe to stay with Rehoboam was Judah. Rehoboam had to flee back to Jerusalem to save his own life. *** In Acts, there was an abrupt change of events also. The kingdom of Satan was about to take a big hit. *** Saul was having people taken from their homes in persecution. He was on his way to Damascus when God shone a blinding light on him. He fell to the ground and heard God ask him why he was persecuting him. Saul asked him who he was and he told him he was Jesus, the one he was persecuting. Jesus told him to get up and go into the city and he would be told what to do. The men around him heard the voice and were afraid also. They picked up Saul from the ground and led him to Damascus, blind. *** Meanwhile, God spoke to a devout believer in Damascus called Ananias. He told him to go to Straight Street to Judas’ house and asked for Saul. He was preparing him for his visit. *** Ananias knew who Saul was and was afraid to go. God told him that Saul was his chosen instrument to take the message to the Gentiles and to kings. *** Ananias went and found blind Saul. He told him that he was there so that he might see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Instantly the scales fell from Saul’s eyes and he could see. He got up and was baptized. He stayed with the believers in Damascus then went and preach about Jesus in the synagogues saying Jesus was the Son of God. *** Saul’s preaching was so powerful that many Jews believed. Others sought to kill him but Saul was warned and lowered in a basket out of an opening ing the city wall. *** Lord, how exciting it is to be in your kingdom and read about the wonderful things you did in Acts. May we be bold and not afraid of death. May we proclaim your Gospel and always follow your commands.