Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Kings 12:26-27 (New International Version 2010)

²⁶ Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. ²⁷ If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam.”

Jeroboam is king of Israel. Well, he was king of the Northern Ten tribes of Israel. These tribes had split from the southern two tribes when Solomon died and left his son Rehoboam as king of all the tribes. Rehoboam didn’t last long as king of all the tribes. I contend that he lasted only three days.

Jeroboam had a little problem: God’s people were required to go to Jerusalem to worship at the temple. The temple was in Rehoboam’s kingdom. If the people worshiped God as God required, they might go back to Rehoboam’s kingdom and leave Jeroboam without a kingdom, without power, without any satisfaction for his political ego.

Jeroboam turned worship into politics.

To be in my political party, you have to worship God my way.

I guess things haven’t changed that much over the centuries between Jeroboam and us. I still hear,

You can’t be a Christian and vote for so-and-so.