What a stunning turn of events! Today’s reading sees the fracturing of the nation of Israel into two: Northern Israel, which comprises ten of the twelve tribes, and Judah, or Southern Israel, which includes the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. This begins a decline for Israel and Judah. Their future is bleak. There will be a couple of bright spots, but they will eventually succumb to captivity for their idolatry. God had warned them.
So what happened? Hadn’t Solomon just built a magnificent Temple to honor God’s name? Hadn’t Israel become massively wealthy and prosperous? Hadn’t kings and queens from all the other nations come to sit at Israel’s feet to learn wisdom found nowhere else? How is it that the kingdom is divided in two shortly after Solomon’s death and given to such inferior men to rule? Sin happened!
Sin is fracturing and destructive! Israel was lovingly warned by God centuries ago. …take care lest you forget the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve … You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you— for the LORD your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 6:12–15, ESV)
Sin’s destructive and fracturing power is no different today. How important it is to “take care” lest we grow casual about sin, become prideful, and lose our joy and God’s blessing—just as Israel had. Let’s remember the Lord today and humbly walk in His path of joy!
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from 1 Kings 12-14.