1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: Let us pray, howbe it, I will not take the 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make 3 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: him prince all the days of his life for David, 4 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 1: my servant's sake, whom I chose because he kept my 5 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 1: commandments and my statutes First Kings eleven thirty four. Lord. 6 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:23,760 Speaker 1: Through the life of Solomon and the listening of First 7 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: Kings and Second Chronicles, I now know the value of 8 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:34,240 Speaker 1: wise and honest counsel. Therefore, I pray that there is 9 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:37,160 Speaker 1: never a moment in my life that I am ever 10 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: without wise and God fearing counsel. When others around me 11 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:46,199 Speaker 1: seek to give advice that is contrary to your wisdom 12 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:50,160 Speaker 1: and your ways. Place people like Jeroboam in my life 13 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: to remind me to honor what You've entrusted me with 14 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: and to deal kindly with every one I come in 15 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: contact with. From this truth, I know your hand will 16 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 1: stay upon me and guide me as you continue to 17 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: expand and enlarge the tent pegs of my life and ministry. 18 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: In Jesus name, Amen, thank you for praying with us 19 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 1: to day. Continue your time with God by listening to 20 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 1: to day's Bible story brought to you by Bible in 21 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:39,399 Speaker 1: a Year dot com. The Kingdom of Israel splits. In 22 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: our last story, we beheld the vast wisdom of the 23 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:47,120 Speaker 1: philosopher King Solomon. Kings and queens of old would seek 24 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: him out and travel long distances to glean from his wisdom. 25 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: Solomon led with great kindness and pursued peace with other nations. However, 26 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 1: Solomon had a weakness for women. He amassed ahead aram 27 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: of hundreds of wives and concubines from other nations. He 28 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 1: immersed himself and lude cultures and sexual deviance. Eventually, he 29 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 1: began to worship foreign gods. Therefore, his kingdom was promised 30 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:16,959 Speaker 1: by God to be split. Solomon died and left his 31 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 1: kingdom to his son Rihaboam. Now we peer more into 32 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:24,679 Speaker 1: the inner workings of rebellion during Solomon's reign and witnessed 33 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:28,519 Speaker 1: the heart of Rihabohem. His pride and unwillingness to heed 34 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:32,080 Speaker 1: the advice of his elders may end up being his downfall. 35 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:38,639 Speaker 1: Inspired by the Book of First Kings. Hello, I'm Jack 36 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 1: Graham with today's episode of the Bible in a Year. 37 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: In yesterday's episode, we heard about Solomon's fall from God. 38 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 1: Though he was wise and wealthy, his heart sought his 39 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 1: own desires. He disobeyed God and married foreign women, hundreds 40 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: of them, and with each new wife he would give 41 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 1: a bit of his heart to a false God. His life, 42 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 1: though phil with such promise, ended up in strife and sorrow. 43 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 1: But God's grace was with him, and in the end 44 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 1: he turned back to the Lord and praised the God 45 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: of his father, the one true God. Today we'll hear 46 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 1: how dissension was already brewing before Solomon's death, and how 47 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 1: his son Rahaboem, his successor, would face the consequences of 48 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:26,959 Speaker 1: Solomon's sins and his own prideful spirit. Let's listen now 49 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: to today's scripture. The trees shifted slightly from the breeze. 50 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 1: Crickets chirped, and the subtle sound of babbling brooks could 51 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: be heard among the forest. In the darkness, a faint 52 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: chanting could be heard from the distance. Deep among the trees, 53 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: Solomon stood in the mount of Olives, where his father 54 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: would once go to pray and sing before the Lord. 55 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: His face was illuminated by candles and incense. There in 56 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:58,120 Speaker 1: the coolness of evening, Solomon worshiped the moabide God Shimosh. 57 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: Shimash was known as the Destroyer. He was said to 58 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: be a god that craved blood. The Mobites would often 59 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 1: make human sacrifices to Shimash to appease him. There, bowing 60 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 1: before a massive black stone altar, Solomon worshiped the Destroyer. 61 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 1: His kind heart was being tainted by the evil that 62 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 1: lurked behind the altar. He sat among a darkness that 63 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: would not relent in its desire to destroy Solomon's soul. 64 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 1: Solomon's idolatry was well known by his officials. They watched 65 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 1: as he left in the middle of the night. They 66 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 1: witnessed his lust for foreign women. They saw his insatiable 67 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 1: hunger for exotic sex and idol worship. Jeroboam, son of Nibat, 68 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:45,360 Speaker 1: watched as Solomon came to and fro from the black 69 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: stone altar. His bones shook at the thought of Israel's 70 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: king worshiping a god that required human blood. Jeroboam was 71 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,479 Speaker 1: the son of a widow and knew the hardships some 72 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:00,080 Speaker 1: had experienced in Israel. It pained him to watch the 73 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: king shirk his faithfulness for the sake of simple pleasures 74 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: and dark hearts. One day, Solomon was overseeing a rebuilding 75 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:11,159 Speaker 1: project of Israel's walls. He took many of his men 76 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 1: to aid in the repairs. Together in the hot sun, 77 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:17,839 Speaker 1: Solomon and his men began to reinforce the walls, building 78 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:21,720 Speaker 1: better beams and support systems to keep it upright. Solomon 79 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:25,839 Speaker 1: saw Rheoboem work. He was a capable young man, strong 80 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:27,839 Speaker 1: and a good leader among the rest of his men. 81 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 1: Solomon decided to put him in charge of the labor 82 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:35,479 Speaker 1: force from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. Jeroboam accepted 83 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 1: the task reluctantly, Still leery of the king, Jeroboem departed 84 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:43,039 Speaker 1: from Jerusalem to begin his work. He passed some of 85 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 1: the farmlands on the outskirts of the city. The fields 86 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,680 Speaker 1: were lush and ripe for harvesting, and the air smelled 87 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:52,720 Speaker 1: of wheat and barley. Along the way, the prophet of 88 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 1: Hija stopped him in the middle of the field. Ahija 89 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 1: was wearing a brand new cloak that waved gracefully in 90 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 1: the breeze. Jereboam watched as a Hija removed his new 91 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 1: cloak and tore it into ten pieces. He watched curiously 92 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 1: as the prophet ripped the robe he handed the ten 93 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:13,480 Speaker 1: pieces to Jereboam and said, take these pieces of my cloak, 94 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: for the Lord is about to tear the kingdom apart. 95 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 1: Because of Solomon's idolatry, ten tribes of Israel will be 96 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: given to you, Jereboam. However, he will leave one tribe 97 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:28,039 Speaker 1: to Solomon and his descendants because of his loyalty to 98 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 1: King David. You shall rule over all that your heart desires. 99 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 1: Listen to the ways of the Lord, and your dynasty 100 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:40,840 Speaker 1: will be established. Jereboam held the torn pieces in his hands, 101 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 1: and from that day forward he began the secret workings 102 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 1: of a rebellion. When Solomon caught wind of Jeroboam's favor, 103 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 1: he sent men to kill him. However, Jeroboam fled to 104 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:56,360 Speaker 1: King Shishak of Egypt and stayed there for a long while. 105 00:06:57,279 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 1: The days of Solomon came to a close and it 106 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 1: was time for his son Rhaboem to take the throne. 107 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 1: All of Israel gathered to make him king. He was 108 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: ushered in with parades and dancing. The news of Solomon's 109 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 1: passing spread across the land, for Solomon was beloved among 110 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:18,320 Speaker 1: every surrounding nation. The news came to Jeroboam who had 111 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 1: found refuge in the land of Egypt for a few years. 112 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 1: He had amassed wealth and influence in Egypt, yet left 113 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 1: it to return to his people. He walked the city streets. 114 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: While many kings would have seen a thriving and flourishing culture, 115 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 1: Jeroboam saw laborers who were worked hard and taxed too much. 116 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 1: His days living in Jerusalem with his widowed mother had 117 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:43,679 Speaker 1: made him compassionate towards the suffering and poor in Israel. 118 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 1: Together with a few of the elders in Israel, Jereboam 119 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 1: approached the new king. He stood before him and said, 120 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 1: your father was a hard master at times. If you 121 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:58,119 Speaker 1: lightened the load of labor and decreased taxes, the people 122 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 1: will love you and thank you. They will be your 123 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: loyal servants. Riybalm stroked his young beard. A certain air 124 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: of arrogance came off of him. It vexed Jerebohm. Riybalm 125 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:13,559 Speaker 1: deepened his voice and waved his hand like a child, 126 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 1: pretending to be king. He held out his hands and said, 127 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 1: give me three days to think this over and come 128 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:24,119 Speaker 1: back for my answer. So Jerobom and the elders left. 129 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 1: Riebalm gathered his father's advisers and asked for their advice. 130 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:32,560 Speaker 1: How shall I respond to their requests? He asked the 131 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:35,959 Speaker 1: eldest counselor of the group. Looked among the men. They 132 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 1: all seemed to be in agreement that Riebalm should lighten 133 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:41,719 Speaker 1: the load for the people. He bowed before the king 134 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 1: and said, if you would become a servant to these people, 135 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 1: they will serve you with loyalty and honor. Rieubalm did 136 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: not like this answer. He had waited his whole life 137 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 1: to become king. He enjoyed the lavish lifestyle of his 138 00:08:55,840 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 1: father's riches. He enjoyed the fine wines, the gardens, women, 139 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:04,599 Speaker 1: and the expensive robes. The last thing Rioboam wanted was 140 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:09,319 Speaker 1: to serve anybody. Instead of heeding their advice, Riobam gathered 141 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 1: his young friends together. They drank reveled and pretended to 142 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 1: speak of the kingdom's greatest needs. What is your advice, 143 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 1: he asked them. How shall I answer these elders and servants. 144 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 1: The young men were filled with the same self importance 145 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 1: as their king. They responded, just as expected. Here is 146 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 1: how you handle the complainers of Israel. Say this to them, 147 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 1: I have more power in my finger than my father 148 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 1: did in his whole body. He lash you with whips, 149 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: but I shall lash you with scorpions. Riobaum laughed. The 150 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 1: cackles of his friends filled the halls. Three days later, 151 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 1: Jeroboam entered into the palace halls with the elders behind him. 152 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:53,840 Speaker 1: Jeroboam was tall, strong, and held his posture in a 153 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 1: commanding demeanor. King Rioboam took notice of this and was 154 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 1: slightly threatened. Riob Com shifted upright on his throne to 155 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 1: seem taller. He raised his staff in the air and said, 156 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 1: I have my answer. The whole crowd was silent. My 157 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 1: father gave you heavy burdens, but I will make them 158 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 1: even heavier. Jeroboem's fists clenched at the sound of his words. 159 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 1: The king smiled and said, my father last you with whips, 160 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 1: but I shall lash you with scorpions. His friends laughed 161 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:33,720 Speaker 1: behind him, Yet the elders and Jeroboam were unamused, saying nothing. 162 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 1: They left the halls. So the king was brutal to 163 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:41,679 Speaker 1: his people. His cruelty and taxation increased, and his heavy 164 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: hands stirred up the people of Israel. An uproar began 165 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 1: to ignite among the people. They shouted in the city 166 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 1: streets down with the legacy of David. They refused to 167 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 1: work any longer and returned to their homes in protest. 168 00:10:56,280 --> 00:11:00,319 Speaker 1: Rubam was livid at their disobedience. He sent his ser 169 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 1: arnium to restore order in the city streets. However, he 170 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:07,400 Speaker 1: was stoned to death as a message to the king. 171 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 1: When Riyabalm heard of this, he hopped on his chariot 172 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:14,679 Speaker 1: and hid in the palace of Jerusalem. From that day forward, 173 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:18,199 Speaker 1: the northern tribes of Israel refused to be ruled by 174 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 1: the descendants of David. The ten northern tribes of Israel 175 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 1: gathered together in rejection of their king. They talked among 176 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: themselves and decided that Jeroboam should be their new king. 177 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 1: Jeroboam accepted their offer and ruled over every tribe except 178 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 1: for Judah. When Riybalm heard of this, he amassed a 179 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: great army of one hundred eighty thousand troops. He was 180 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:45,720 Speaker 1: ready to destroy all of Israel and vengeance. However, the 181 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 1: Lord spoke to him sternly, saying, do not attack your brothers, 182 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 1: for this is my doing. So Riyabalm cowered in his 183 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:57,440 Speaker 1: palace and ruled over the vast nation of Judah. Once again, 184 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 1: Israel was a split kingdom. There are no perfect kings. 185 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 1: The entirety of Israel pointed to the faithfulness of God 186 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:08,960 Speaker 1: to work in imperfect people. Solomon, for all his wisdom 187 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 1: in tact as a king, fell prey to the grips 188 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:14,600 Speaker 1: of sin. His sins trickled down into the heart of 189 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 1: his son. God would not excuse this, nor would he 190 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 1: abandon Israel altogether. Instead, God would weave Israel's goodness and 191 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: evil into one tapestry, ultimately pointing to his grace. Today 192 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:35,559 Speaker 1: we begin with Solomon, who is still alive. He has 193 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 1: given himself over to his foreign wives and their false gods, 194 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:42,680 Speaker 1: and his wisdom and kindness seems a distant memory to many. 195 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 1: In the Kingdom of Israel, we also meet a young 196 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 1: Israelite leader by the name of Jeroboam. He was a 197 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 1: dedicated and hard worker, but even as he served the king, 198 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 1: Jeroboam witnessed the conflict in Israel and Solomon's harshness with 199 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 1: Jewish workers. Almon was impressed by Jereboam and tasked him 200 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 1: with overseeing laborers from the northern tribes of Ephraim and Manassa. 201 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 1: Little did Solomon know that this began to set the 202 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 1: stage for a divided kingdom. One day, as he was working, 203 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:20,679 Speaker 1: Jereboam encountered the prophet Ahijah, who delivered a dramatic message 204 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 1: to Jereboam. He tore his robe into twelve pieces to 205 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:28,200 Speaker 1: symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel, and told Jereboam that 206 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:30,680 Speaker 1: God was going to take ten of the tribes away 207 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:36,679 Speaker 1: from Solomon's successor and give them to Jereboam. With this 208 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:40,200 Speaker 1: promise came a warning he was being given charge over 209 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:42,760 Speaker 1: a vast number of God's people, so he must follow 210 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 1: the Lord and listen always to his counsel. I can 211 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 1: only imagine the weight of all this news on Jereboam. 212 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:54,680 Speaker 1: Surely he was both excited and fearful at the same time. 213 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:59,320 Speaker 1: Shortly after he received the news, however, Solomon got wind 214 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:02,239 Speaker 1: of this threat to his kingdom and tried to kill Jereboam, 215 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 1: who had no choice but to flee to Egypt and hide. 216 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:11,240 Speaker 1: After Solomon's death, when Rayo Bohm was king, Jeroboam felt 217 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 1: it was safe to return, and for the sake of 218 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 1: his people, that's what he did. His first order of 219 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 1: business was to approach the new king and appeal to 220 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:23,200 Speaker 1: him for the people. They were being worked too hard 221 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:27,240 Speaker 1: and taxed too much, so Jereboam asked the king to 222 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 1: ease their burden. Rayoboam's initial response seems reasonable. He doesn't 223 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: immediately deny the request or concede. He asked for time 224 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 1: to consider it. Then he seeks counsel from the elders, 225 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 1: and their response was a wise one. If he will 226 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 1: serve the people, then they will reward him with service 227 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 1: and loyalty of their own. It's the kind of response 228 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: Solomon himself would have given in his younger years when 229 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 1: he walked with the lord. Tragically, Rahabohm wasn't seeking wise counsel. 230 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:01,440 Speaker 1: What he wanted was an answer he light, one that 231 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 1: stroked his ego. So in First King's twelve verse eight, 232 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:08,560 Speaker 1: we read this, but he abandoned the counsel that the 233 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 1: old men gave him and took counsel with the young 234 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: men who had grown up with him and stood before him. 235 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 1: So he asked his friends, his yes men, and they 236 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 1: gave him the response he wanted. Show your power and 237 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 1: don't back down. They said, in fact, turn the heat up. 238 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 1: It's a response reminiscent of Pharaoh's answer to Moses. Not 239 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: of a gentle king who loves his people. But that's 240 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: the answer he gave Jereboam and the people when they returned. 241 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 1: Rather than lighten their load, he would pile on more. 242 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 1: His plan to gain power and respect by force backfired immediately. 243 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 1: When the people saw that he didn't care for them, 244 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:53,280 Speaker 1: they dropped their tools and abandoned their work. Rayeboam, rather 245 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 1: than acknowledge his mistake, tried once again to force the 246 00:15:56,120 --> 00:16:00,040 Speaker 1: people to submit. He sent an enforcer to put the 247 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:02,840 Speaker 1: people back to work, but the Israelites stoned him to 248 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: death in the streets. At the end of the day, 249 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 1: Rayeboem was left with only two tribes to rule, while 250 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 1: the ten tribes of the north made Jereboam king. And so, 251 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 1: just as God had told Solomon it would happen, the 252 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 1: kingdom of Israel was split in two. Jereboam would now 253 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 1: have to remember Ahijah the Prophet's warning to follow God's 254 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:29,600 Speaker 1: commandments and to seek him. How would he fare We'll 255 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 1: find out in tomorrow's reading. Dear God, we thank you 256 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 1: always for your word, for it is light and life 257 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 1: to us. Thank you for the lesson that we learned 258 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 1: today that it is always right and best to seek 259 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 1: wise counsel rather than foolish counsel. Help us always to 260 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 1: listen to those who give us godly counsel, wise men 261 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: and women who seek You and your ways. For we 262 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:59,280 Speaker 1: pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Thank you for listening 263 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 1: to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Jack Graham 264 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 1: from Dallas, Texas. Download the Prey dot com app and 265 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:09,640 Speaker 1: make prayer and Bible study a priority in your life. 266 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:13,960 Speaker 1: If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with someone you love, 267 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:16,920 Speaker 1: share it with a friend, pass it on because this 268 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 1: podcast can make a huge difference in people's lives. I'm 269 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:24,400 Speaker 1: hearing wonderful stories of the impact of God's Word as 270 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: a result of listening to Bible in a Year. And 271 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:32,160 Speaker 1: if you want more biblical resources resources from God's Word 272 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 1: that will enable you and assist you in your walk 273 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:38,680 Speaker 1: with God, then be sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. 274 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:48,440 Speaker 1: That's Jack Graham dot org. God bless you. This episode 275 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 1: is sponsored by Mediciae, an innovative healthcare solution for Christians 276 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 1: to save money without sacrificing quality.