A Tale of Two Kingdoms

Time has not been my friend as of late. I have been feeling like the proverbial ginea pig on a wheel, always running but never really getting anywhere.

As a result, my postings have been slim to none, and for that I humbly apologize.

As I am now beginning another semester in my study of Theology at Liberty University, I thought I would post here an assignment or two.

We are studying the Old Testament from 1 Kings to Song of Solomon.  It promises to be very interesting, as these contain books that I have previously avoided due to their tedium.  However, upon closer examination, I am finding them quite interesting.  I hope you do as well.

This first paper answers the following question:

"In the Splintered Kingdom, the kings in the North are compared to who? Who are the Southern kings compared to? How does this relate to you today? Discuss"

My response, titled "A Tale of Two Kingdoms:"

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."  The beginning of the reign of Solomon, full of spleandor and glory, was replaced by civil unrest and then civil war, resulting in the "splintering" or dividing of the nation into two separate kingdoms.  This civil war caused nearly 400 years of turmoil and ultimately conquest of both kingdoms.

Throughout the scripture readings for this section, the kings of the splintered kingdoms are repeatedly compared to two figures. For the Northern kingdom, this comparison is to Jeroboam, its first king. In the Southern kingdom, the comparison is to King David, specifically to his heart toward God.

For example, in 1 Kings 15:3, we see Abijam, the second king, beginning his reign over the Southern kingdom, or Judah. His reign is described thus:

“He walked in the sins of his father [Rehoboam] before him and his heart was not blameless with the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father [forefather].” (This and all scripture quoted in this response are from the Amplified version.)

The next king of Judah was Asa, and according to 1 Kings 15:11, “Asa did right in the eyes of the Lord, as did David his father [forefather].” These are merely two examples of many more which followed.

The reason for this comparison is clear from scripture, especially 1 Kings 15:4-5:

“⁴Nevertheless, for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him and establishing Jerusalem, ⁵Because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and turned not aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.”

The key here is the phrase “for David’s sake…”  Herein lies the reason for even the existence of the Southern kingdom. Were it not “for David’s sake,” the kingdom would have been rent from the hands of David’s family because of the sins of Solomon, as we read in 1 Kings 11:33-39. In these verses, Ahijah the prophet tells Jeroboam the intent of the Lord to take the Kingdom from Rehoboam because of the sins of Solomon in leading the people to sin against Him by worshipping foreign gods and for not keeping His commandments and statutes.  However, in verse 36, “Yet to his son (Rehoboam) I will give one tribe that David My servant may always have a light before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put My Name.” (see also 1 Kings 15:4-5)  So we see that the very existence of the Southern kingdom is for David and for Jerusalem, and therefore ultimately for the Name and glory of God Himself.

In the Northern Kingdom of Israel, we see an entirely different picture. Rather than being compared to a godly man, even a man after God’s own heart, these kings’ reigns are compared to the despicable deeds of the first king of Israel, Jeroboam.

Examples of this comparison are plentiful. Beginning with Nadab, Jeroboam’s son and successor, we see this pattern emerge.  In 1 Kings 15:26, “He (Nadab) did evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his father and in his sin, with which he made Israel sin.”

Nadab was assassinated and succeeded by Baasha who is described in 16:2, “Because I exalted you out of the dust and made you leader over My people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have made My people Israel sin, to provoke Me to anger with their sins,…”

The message should be clear to us, even in our day. We are to have a heart for God. We are to walk in His ways and keep His commandments and statutes. We are to guard our hearts from following after foreign gods and worshipping idols, regardless of what form they take. We should not allow our hearts to become adulterous against God. He is a jealous God and will hold us accountable. 

Further, as parents, our children are our progeny. What heritage will we leave them?  Will they be described as following our hearts for the Lord, or will they be described as following in our sins?  Will we cause our families to sin against God? These leaders did not live in a vacuum, nor do we.  Our actions will positively or negatively affect those in our care, possibly for many subsequent generations.

“Choose you this day whom you shall serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (paraphrase of Joshua 24:15)