Rehoboam's Tough Guy Approach Backfires
First, the backstory, I Kings 11 We all heard in Sunday School what a wise man King Solomon was. He allegedly wrote the book of Proverbs and the lyrical Song of Solomon in the Hebrew Bible, and I suspect that he also wrote the somewhat cynical book of Ecclesiastes. I’ve no doubt he was a handsome fellow because his mother’s beauty caused King David’s heart and brain to turn to mush. David forgot everything he ever knew about God and committed murder and adultery, with the usual government coverup. Coverups never work with God. Bathsheba’s first baby died, devastating both parents. Solomon was the darling of the court, even though he was son #7. All of his older male half-siblings were from six different wives of David. When Solomon was born, sons #1-6 knew that they were screwed as far as inheriting the throne. Solomon began well, joining with his father in plans for a grand new Temple unto the Lord. When it was complete, miraculous manifestations demonstrated God’s approval of a...