2 CHRONICLES 10-12

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Division of the United Kingdom of Israel

BACKGROUND NOTES

Summarize the history of the kingdom of Israel up to this point in 2 Chronicles.
Who was Jeroboam?
What critical decision did Rehoboam make that led to the division of the kingdom?
Explain how the division of the kingdom was "a turn of events from God" (10:15, 11:4).
List a few of the wise decisions King Rehoboam made.

After 120 years of a united kingdom under kings Saul, David, and Solomon, the kingdom divides into two kingdoms when King Rehoboam, the son of Solomon comes to power.
From 1 Kings 11 we learn that Jeroboam was a valiant warrior under King Solomon and Solomon rewarded him with a high position in the kingdom. The prophet Ahijah dramatically prophesied that Jeroboam would become king over the ten northern tribes of Israel. But the tribes of Judah and Benjamin would be left to Solomon's son, Rehoboam, for David's sake. When Solomon heard this, he tried to kill Jeroboam, who escaped to Egypt. Now Jeroboam returns from Egypt after Solomon's death and becomes the spokesman for the northern ten tribes of Israel.
The wise elders who had served with King Solomon advised Rehoboam to go easy on the people, lighten their load, and not overtax them. But Rehoboam followed the unwise counsel of his young friends who advised him to come down harder on the people and tax them heavier.
God had determined that the United Kingdom of Israel was going to be broken up because of its idolatry.
-He wisely built up cities of defense in Judah (11:5-12) -He wisely allowed the priests, Levites, and godly Hebrews from the north to migrate south to be near the Lord's temple in Jerusalem (1113-18) -He wisely spread his sons out around the country for good communication and to avoid family friction (11:23)

Think back to an unwise decision that caused division in your family, ministry, church, or nation. Can you pinpoint when the leader stopped seeking the Lord and began following unwise counsel?
When you ask the Lord to forgive you for a mistake you made His forgiveness is always there. Read Isaiah 38:17 and Nehemiah 9:17. God is ready to forgive. This truth however does not negate the principle that "Unwise decisions result in discipline." Think of a time when you had to undergo the consequences of your choices, even when you knew you were forgiven.

The Levites and the godly people in the north did the right thing and separated themselves from the false system of worship that Jeroboam had set up. At great cost, they migrated south to be near to the Temple. Are you willing to do the right thing regardless of the cost?

"Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, 'Thus you should speak to the people who have spoken to you, saying... "My little finger shall be thicker than my father's waist!"'" 2 Chronicles 10:10
"Now it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, that he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel along with him." 2 Chronicles 12:1
"And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days." 2 Chronicles 12:15