12 Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.”
13 The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders,
14 he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.”
15 So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the LORD, to fulfill the word the LORD had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.
16 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse’s son? To your tents, Israel! Look after your own house, David!” So the Israelites went home.
17 But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.
18 King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem.
19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.
20 When all the Israelites heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the house of David.

Reflection

The Result of Sin (12:12–16)
What began with Solomon’s sin and disobedience now results in the split of the kingdom as Rehoboam speaks harshly to Jeroboam and all the people. The word that Ahijah prophesied (1 Kings 11:31–39) has come to pass: the people reject the house of David, and Jeroboam rules over most of the tribes. Solomon had at one point led his people with godly wisdom, but he succumbed to selfishness and worldly desires that had repercussions when his son took his place. King Rehoboam continued the sin pattern of his father, refusing to listen to his people. The conducts of Solomon and Rehoboam demonstrate the result of sin rather than the actions of godly leaders who recognize the wants and needs of the people they serve.

- How is the relationship between the leaders around you and the people they lead? In what ways can you better support and pray for these leaders?

The Faithful King (12:17–20)
Because of the faithfulness of David, God allows his lineage to retain some rulership. Rehoboam remains king over the tribe of Judah, but he is not satisfied with his reduced status. He sends out Adoniram to try to subjugate the other tribes into forced labor, but the people respond by stoning Adoniram to death. They completely reject any ruler from David’s lineage and decide that Jeroboam should be their new king. Rehoboam flees, barely making it to Jerusalem. While Solomon and Rehoboam’s actions have had severe repercussions, we see that David’s leadership has also had lasting effects. We can follow David’s example and remain faithful in all situations knowing that our continued faithfulness can result in blessings for the future.

- In what ways have you demonstrated your continual faithfulness to the Lord? How might your faithfulness reap lasting effects for the future? 

A letter to God 

Dear God, I thank you that You have always remained faithful to me. May I continue to respond with faithfulness to You so that I might be a blessing to You and Your people. In Jesus’ name, amen.  

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