Day 132

Division of the Kingdom

Read: 2 Chronicles 8-12

While the writer of 2 Kings tells of both Solomon’s strengths and weaknesses, the writer of 1 Chronicles only focuses on his strengths. If we are honest with ourselves we must admit that we tend to notice the faults of others more than their good points.

Another difference between 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles is that, while 2 Kings keeps shifting back and forth between descriptions of the kings of Israel in the north and those of Judah in the south, 1 Chronicles only deals with the southern kingdom.

Solomon dies and is replaced with his son Rehoboam. Having described the folly of Rehoboam in deciding on a policy of being harsh, which the young men advised, the Chronicler goes on to focus on Rehoboam’s good points. He plans to fight Israel but listens to the Word of the Lord through his prophet and changes his plans. He does a great deal of constructive building. He attracts the Levites and the common people from the northern kingdom who “set their hearts to seek the LORD” (11:16), so that they move into the southern kingdom. Finally, the Chronicler considers the sins of Rehoboam. Even here the emphasis is on how he humbled himself and repented. Yet the final verdict must still be: “he did evil” (12:14).

PRAYER
Father, help us to learn from the failure of the kings to obey you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.