92 of 365 - Divided Kingdom

So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. 1 Kings 12:19
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Israel is knee-deep in the consequences of their disobedience and that of their leaders. Solomon – only the third king of Israel – was the last of a strong and united kingdom. Earthly power nearly always corrupts…just as God warned them.

Upon Solomon’s death, there is strife and disagreement about who should rule, ultimately splitting the kingdom into two.

• The Northern Kingdom, referred to as ISRAEL and consisting of ten tribes.
• The Southern Kingdom, referred to as JUDAH and consisting of the remaining two tribes (Judah and Benjamin).

Steeped in idolatry and tribal discord, division prevails. Sin always causes division and separation...with God and with one another.

Israel is no longer a strong, powerful, united and unified people. Time passes, new characters come on the scene, but things don’t change much.

We need NOT another flawed human king, but a righteous Holy Savior.

Kings come and go…most of them evil and hostile to God, in favor of the many false gods and harmful practices of their surroundings. God raises up prophets to communicate His words to warn the people and encourage them to return to God. But like their stubborn ancestors, the people rarely listened or changed their behavior.

Hebrews 1:1-2a begins, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” Soon God’s Son – God in the flesh – will come speak to the people, but for now, among these divided tribes, God speaks through His chosen prophets.

Questions: Why do you think the people couldn’t rally and stay together? In what ways have you seen idolatry and tribal discord lead to division?