Friday, September 22, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading
1 Kings 11:26–43

Jeroboam son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow, rebelled against the king. The following was the reason he rebelled against the king. Solomon built the Millo, and closed up the gap in the wall of the city of his father David. The man Jeroboam was very able, and when Solomon saw that the young man was industrious he gave him charge over all the forced labor of the house of Joseph. About that time, when Jeroboam was leaving Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Ahijah had clothed himself with a new garment. The two of them were alone in the open country when Ahijah laid hold of the new garment he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces. He then said to Jeroboam: Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, “See, I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and will give you ten tribes. One tribe will remain his, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel. This is because he has forsaken me, worshiped Astarte the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and has not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my sight and keeping my statutes and my ordinances, as his father David did. Nevertheless I will not take the whole kingdom away from him but will make him ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of my servant David whom I chose and who did keep my commandments and my statutes; but I will take the kingdom away from his son and give it to you—that is, the ten tribes. Yet to his son I will give one tribe, so that my servant David may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put my name. I will take you, and you shall reign over all that your soul desires; you shall be king over Israel. If you will listen to all that I command you, walk in my ways, and do what is right in my sight by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, I will be with you, and will build you an enduring house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you. For this reason I will punish the descendants of David, but not forever.” Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam; but Jeroboam promptly fled to Egypt, to King Shishak of Egypt, and remained in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, all that he did as well as his wisdom, are they not written in the Book of the Acts of Solomon? The time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. Solomon slept with his ancestors and was buried in the city of his father David; and his son Rehoboam succeeded him. (NRSV)

Reflection
“This is the story of why Jeroboam fought against the king.”

Have you been asked to take over for a mentor or a boss? Or had to take responsibility for the care of a parent or partner? The transition from a mentee to a leader or child to caregiver is not easy.

Jeroboam didn’t seek the throne, but he was called to lead. Parents growing older leads to role changes in families. Parents who were vibrant and did it all when we were young often need help with the basics as they age. And it’s this help or “role revisal” that can lead to conflict.

Jeroboam didn’t ask to lead. He didn’t seek to marginalize Solomon. Solomon’s actions contributed to his loss of power. We want our loved ones not to need our help and our leaders to stay ahead of the curve. Solomon saw potential in Jeroboam. Solomon trained Jeroboam to lead. Yet when Jeroboam does what he was trained to do this triggers resentment.

Why are you fighting against the king? We aren’t fighting with the king. We’d give anything for the king to be the vibrant, just, and effective king that inspired us to serve. We reluctantly step into the breach to preserve and build upon the positive works of the king.

Prayer
Gracious Lord, help us to answer the call to extend peace, justice, and love to our neighbors. Help us in times of transition to offer our gifts and empathy to those called to lead. May we as a community nudge our elected leaders to lift up the least, the last, the lost, and the lonely. Amen.

Written by Ranjan Daniels, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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