There is a Chinese proverb “近朱者赤，近墨者黑". It is translated as "those who are close to vermilion will turn red, and those who are close to ink will turn black.” The idea here is that your character and behavior can be influenced by the company you keep. If you surround yourself with virtuous and positive people (symbolized by vermilion), you are more likely to develop good qualities. And if you associate with negative or immoral people (symbolized by ink), you may be influenced negatively (credit: https://mandarinhq.com/2023/10/chinese-proverbs-5/). This is exactly what Prov 13:20 says, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” And this is also what had happened in the narrative account of 1 Ki 12.

Because of King Solomon’s failure to obey God, the nation of Israel that he ruled was divided into Israel the northern kingdom and Judah the southern kingdom. This occurred as soon as his son, Rehoboam succeeded him (1 Ki 11:9-11). This chapter depicts the threshold in how the kingdom was split with their kings Jeroboam and Rehoboam. Jeroboam was a servant of Solomon but he was one of those adversaries who rose against Solomon after his heart turned away from God (1 Ki 11:26).

The story began at the outset of Rehoboam’s reign when he wanted to strengthen his political power in the northern part of Israel which was under the influence of Jeroboam. The people petitioned before Rehoboam to lighten their hard service and they would be willing to serve under him. Rehoboam consulted two teams of advisors as to what he should do. The first team comprised of the elders who served under his father and they advised Rehoboam to make peace with them and acceded to their requests so that they could serve him. The second team was a group of young men who had grown up with him and they instigated him to make life more difficult than what the people were suffering now. Rehoboam accepted the counsel of the young men. When he conveyed the decision to the people, they were infuriated, and they rebelled. From that day, Israel was divided into two kingdoms. The people in the north chose Jeroboam to be their king and Rehoboam continued to rule in the south. Both became the first kings to rule over these two divided kingdoms respectively.

The division of the kingdom led to further disastrous consequences which resulted in the spiritual apostasy of Israel (v25-33). Jeroboam set aside two cities in the north, Bethel and Dan, like Jerusalem in the south for his people to offer sacrifices in the temple. He erected idols of golden calves for them to worship and installed non-Levitical priests. These are but the beginning of the spiritual decline of Israel and Judah under the monarchic reign of the kings that follow.

God is worthy of our praise in every part of our life. Do we come before Him in humility and reverential fear? Or do we hold on to something deep within our hearts that is not pleasing to Him and still worship Him?

Prayer : Dear Lord, help us to come before You with our worship that is truly acceptable to You. Amen.