(REFLECTIONS ON 1 Kings 12:1-24)

Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not follow the Lord fully, as David his father had done. The result was that the kingdom would be divided. However, as Solomon’s son Rehoboam sat on the throne, Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and gave Rehoboam a chance, saying,

4 “Your father made our yoke hard; now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.”

Rehoboam asked for three days to make a decision. During those three days, he had an opportunity to choose between the wisdom that his father Solomon once had, represented by the elders who had served Solomon, or the counsel of the young men with whom he had grown up.

However, rather than listening to the elders, Rehoboam listened to the young men, saying,

14b “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”

15 “So the king did not listen to the people; for it was a turn of events from the Lord, that He might establish His word, which the Lord spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.”

This was a turn of events from the Lord because of the evil that Solomon had done. Although Rehoboam had a choice and could have listened to the elders in order to preserve peace in a united kingdom, the Lord’s plan was already being set in motion.

Today’s Scripture reminds us that we often think our lives and decisions are like a game of checkers, but God is actually playing a game of chess.

That this was a turn of events from the Lord, within the choice that Rehoboam made, shows us the complexity of God’s sovereignty over our lives, this world, and all creation.

To us, our choices and decisions may seem binary, existing on only one plane of reality. Yet we are reminded today that we are not dealing only with the world and universe that we can see, touch, and manipulate. The Lord’s hand and will are at work on a level that is beyond our understanding.

That this was a turn of events from the Lord reminds us to seek His face and to remain in worship, prayer, and fellowship with Him, so that we may not merely walk the path of this world, but more importantly walk faithfully with Him.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: 1 Kings 12