Grace Notes // When We Were Kings Week 7
On God’s Side
Written by Keli Miller
In 1 Kings 12 we find a nation in opposition with itself.
Tensions are running high.
King Rehoboam has been ruling harshly and some of the people are revolting. They don’t agree with how he has been handling things. They are ready to wage war and revolt. Only the tribe of Judah and Benjamin have remained with Rehoboam.
It’s hard to read 1 Kings chapter 12 and not see it as a mirror to our current state as a nation. Tensions are high, and there is an eerie silence around the city as buildings are boarded up.
There’s two moments in this chapter that I’d like to zoom in on. Moments where our eyes can be lifted from the craziness around us and anchor us to heavenly realities.
“The king did not listen to the people because this turn of events came from the Lord to carry out his word, which the Lord had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.” -1 Kings 12:15
We see it first here: God’s hand working through all circumstances. God told Jeroboam in chapter 11, that a piece of the kingdom would be his. God had not abandoned Israel, leaving them to the tyranny of Rehoboam - God was making a way.
Then, right as Rehoboam is about to wage war on his people for revolting, something amazing happens. A man named Shemiah gets a word from God.
“Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, to the whole house of Judah and Benjamin and to the rest of the people, “This is what the Lord says: You are not to march up and fight against your brothers the Israelites. Each of you return home for this situation is from me. So they listened to the word of the Lord and went back according to the word of the lord.”
-1 Kings 12:22-24
They listened to the word of the Lord.
I’m in awe of this line.
One man, who is not mentioned at any other time, speaks what God has put on his heart, and they all obey. That is the power of God on display. When he speaks hearts, and nations are changed. At his voice, wars can be stopped.
And just like that Israel is divided into two kingdoms. There is the northern kingdom sometimes referred to as Israel, led by Jeroboam. Then there is the Southern Kingdom, sometimes referred to as Judah that is led by Rehoboam. They both thought God was on their side, ready to serve their political agenda.
We can justify a lot of terrible ideas when we convince ourselves that God is on our side.
God is not on a side because he is the side. God is bigger than all of this.
In our efforts to figure God out and know his heart, we sometimes constrict him to boxes that make sense to us. I’m not urging for believers to disconnect with all things political. It’s important for us to be a voice, much like Shemiah to usher in more of God’s kingdom to earth. I’m merely reminding us that we see in part. Joe Biden, sees in part. Donald Trump, sees in part. Fox News, CNN, Liberals, and Conservatives all see in part and know in part. None of these people or groups see the full picture like our Savior.
As I write this, it is November 3rd, 2020.
Three days passed Halloween and into November.
Oh, and it’s also Election Day.
It is time for us to lean in and celebrate the Advent season. Get out your tree, switch your music to Christmas tunes, and remind yourself of a little baby that was born and the government of the world resting on His shoulders.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his
government and of peace there will be no end,” Isaiah 9:6-7
In the Word
1 Kings 12
2 Chronicles 2:14
Isaiah 9:1-7
Processing
What does it look like to be on God’s side? Think bigger than party alliances.
Isaiah 9 says that the “government is on his shoulders.” Are you carrying anything that wasn’t meant for you? Process this with the lord.
Spend some time in silence listening. Ask God to reveal a piece of his heart to you. Ask him how he feels about those who you disagree with. What does he say?