July 23

2 Chronicles 8:11-10:19; Romans 8:9-21; Psalm 18:16-36; Proverbs 19:26

“King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart” (2 Ch. 9:22-23). These two chapters are a summary of Solomon’s life and kingship. He reigned in Jerusalem for forty years (vs. 30). And he did many good, and even great, things. He was very rich and he was exceedingly wise. He had a long and peaceful reign over the nation of Israel.

I find myself wishing that these chapters were the entire truth about his life. But they aren’t. Though every word of these chapters are true, there was another, more sinister streak running through Solomon that we read about in 1 Kings 11 on June 13. And on June 11, I wrote about Solomon’s coming failures. I seem to see his life marked more by failure than by all the good he did.

His son, Rehoboam, succeeded him as king. All should have gone well. David had reigned for forty years; Solomon had reigned for forty years. It should have been an easy transition for the Nation.

But it wasn’t.

Rehoboam listened to the wrong counselors. He listened to unwise young men who urged him to get even more for himself and his kingdom than he already had (2 Ch. 10:13-14). The result was that ten of the tribes rebelled and broke away from the house of David. The kingdoms of David and Solomon come to an inglorious end (vs. 19). Rehoboam will continue to reign in Jerusalem but only over the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

The lesson is that obedience to God brings great rewards, but disobedience to Him brings sad and tragic results. In this case, an entire nation was affected by the disobedience of their kings.

And though you and I don’t rule nations, we have a sphere of influence that will be affected by our obedience to God or our disobedience to Him. May we learn from Solomon’s life and choices, and Rehoboam’s life and choices, and may we choose to follow our God and His counsel always. “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze” (Ps. 18:32-34).

- Nell Sunukjian

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