Broken Kingdoms: WK3 - MON
A divided kingdom - 1 Kings 16:29-33
29 Ahab son of Omri began to rule over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twenty-two years. 30 But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him. 31 And as though it were not enough to follow the sinful example of Jeroboam, he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and he began to bow down in worship of Baal. 32 First Ahab built a temple and an altar for Baal in Samaria. 33 Then he set up an Asherah pole. He did more to provoke the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him.
After King Solomon, in the year 922 B.C., the kingdom of Israel divided into two separate kingdoms. In the north, was Israel, and in the south, was Judah. They were all Israelites, descended from Abraham, but they were a divided family. What drove this divide?
Well, as often the case, there isn’t one easy answer. Solomon had become a harsh king, especially to the tribes in the north, taxing them exorbitantly, among other things, to expand his kingdom and build large structures. When Solomon died, the hope was that his son, Rehoboam, would be kinder and alleviate the heavy burdens imposed by his father.
It’s a fascinating read in I Kings 12, because when the northern tribes ask for reprieve, Rehoboam actually takes time to consider their request. He even calls together some of the elders to give him wisdom. The elders suggest that Rehoboam lead as a servant king, which they believe will win the loyalty of the northern tribe for years to come. But Rehoboam doesn’t like that idea. His dad was top dog, now he is top dog, and he doesn’t want to start off his reign by showing weakness.
So he refuses to listen to the elders, and instead, invites in a crowd of his peers, people he grew up with, to give their “sage” advice. Surprise, surprise, they agree with Rehoboam and out of their conversation, the following message is sent back to the northern tribes:
14…“My father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!” 1 Kings 12:14
Sounds fun doesn’t it? So the northern tribes revolt (aka Civil War), and the kingdoms divide. And though Judah would have some kings who did good in the eyes of the Lord, Israel did not. King after king did all the things God warned Israel would happen if they chose a king to lead over Him. And Ahab, well, he was the worst of the worst. He not only chose to worship Baal, he joined in marriage with Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal, a former priest of a foreign god and whose name literally means “with Baal” or “man of Baal.”
So not only was Israel divided into two kingdoms, but Ahab led the northern kingdom to divide even further and dilute it’s loyalties between Yahweh and Baal.
In Jesus’ inaugural sermon, he said, 24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” (Matthew 6:24)
In context it may seem like Jesus is simply referring to serving God or money, but the larger issue is, who or what do you value most in this life? Is it money and wealth, power, accolades, knowledge, superiority, popularity? Or is your number one in this life God, and your walk with Him? One side of that coin often keeps you in darkness, as Jesus said just prior to verse 24, and the other side leads to light, but you can’t have one foot in both kingdoms.
Unlike Rehoboam, or Ahab, the example of Jesus was to come as a servant king. ”For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28). This is why “exemplifying servant leadership” is one of our five end statements at Crosswalk, because we don’t want to be divided, we want to serve ONE king, Jesus, the one who served us first.
29 Ahab son of Omri began to rule over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twenty-two years. 30 But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him. 31 And as though it were not enough to follow the sinful example of Jeroboam, he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and he began to bow down in worship of Baal. 32 First Ahab built a temple and an altar for Baal in Samaria. 33 Then he set up an Asherah pole. He did more to provoke the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him.
After King Solomon, in the year 922 B.C., the kingdom of Israel divided into two separate kingdoms. In the north, was Israel, and in the south, was Judah. They were all Israelites, descended from Abraham, but they were a divided family. What drove this divide?
Well, as often the case, there isn’t one easy answer. Solomon had become a harsh king, especially to the tribes in the north, taxing them exorbitantly, among other things, to expand his kingdom and build large structures. When Solomon died, the hope was that his son, Rehoboam, would be kinder and alleviate the heavy burdens imposed by his father.
It’s a fascinating read in I Kings 12, because when the northern tribes ask for reprieve, Rehoboam actually takes time to consider their request. He even calls together some of the elders to give him wisdom. The elders suggest that Rehoboam lead as a servant king, which they believe will win the loyalty of the northern tribe for years to come. But Rehoboam doesn’t like that idea. His dad was top dog, now he is top dog, and he doesn’t want to start off his reign by showing weakness.
So he refuses to listen to the elders, and instead, invites in a crowd of his peers, people he grew up with, to give their “sage” advice. Surprise, surprise, they agree with Rehoboam and out of their conversation, the following message is sent back to the northern tribes:
14…“My father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!” 1 Kings 12:14
Sounds fun doesn’t it? So the northern tribes revolt (aka Civil War), and the kingdoms divide. And though Judah would have some kings who did good in the eyes of the Lord, Israel did not. King after king did all the things God warned Israel would happen if they chose a king to lead over Him. And Ahab, well, he was the worst of the worst. He not only chose to worship Baal, he joined in marriage with Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal, a former priest of a foreign god and whose name literally means “with Baal” or “man of Baal.”
So not only was Israel divided into two kingdoms, but Ahab led the northern kingdom to divide even further and dilute it’s loyalties between Yahweh and Baal.
In Jesus’ inaugural sermon, he said, 24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” (Matthew 6:24)
In context it may seem like Jesus is simply referring to serving God or money, but the larger issue is, who or what do you value most in this life? Is it money and wealth, power, accolades, knowledge, superiority, popularity? Or is your number one in this life God, and your walk with Him? One side of that coin often keeps you in darkness, as Jesus said just prior to verse 24, and the other side leads to light, but you can’t have one foot in both kingdoms.
Unlike Rehoboam, or Ahab, the example of Jesus was to come as a servant king. ”For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28). This is why “exemplifying servant leadership” is one of our five end statements at Crosswalk, because we don’t want to be divided, we want to serve ONE king, Jesus, the one who served us first.
- Is there any part of your heart right now that feels divided, like you’re trying to serve two master? If so, name them.
- In what ways are you, or can you, seek to follow the example of Jesus in your life this week (at home, at work, within your church); the example to be a servant leader?
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