Jeroboam and the ten northern tribes revolted against Rehoboam. Rehoboam mustered 180,000 soldiers to put down the rebellion, but God stopped him from starting a civil war. Rehoboam obeyed God and turned back. He fortified Judah’s defenses. The priests and Levites in northern Israel sided with him. When Rehoboam obeyed God’s word, God blessed him by restoring his kingdom, strengthening it (13-17), and giving him many children (18-23). Although Rehoboam made a bad decision that led to the division of the kingdom, he learned from it to obey God. Our bitter experiences from our mistakes can be used by God to make us godly, as we learn spiritual lessons from them.

Jeroboam rejected God and drove out the priests of God and the Levites. He embraced idolatry and created a counterfeit priesthood to preserve his power. Jeroboam’s actions caused the Levites in the north to leave their homes and flee to Judah and Jerusalem to worship God freely. Many God-fearing people in the north who were shocked and offended by the idolatrous innovations also followed the Levites to Jerusalem to seek and worship God. These devout people strengthened Judah. We are to pray for God-fearing people to be raised for spiritual revival of our nation and the world.
Application: Lord, raise up many devoted people of God who can strengthen our community and church.
One Word: God-fearing people seek and worship God