Jeroboam is in charge of the northern tribes of Israel now. The LORD split the kingdom because of Solomon’s disobedience and gave the north to Jeroboam. Rehoboam, the king of the southern tribes, was ready to attack the north until The LORD sent a prophet to stop him.
So they obeyed the message of the LORD and went home, as the LORD had commanded. Jeroboam then built up the city of Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and it became his capital. Later he went and built up the town of Peniel. (1 Kings 12:24b-25 NLT)
Each kingdom has it’s own headquarters now. The south is ruled from Jerusalem and the north is ruled from Shechem. Now, each king needs to decide how to “set up shop.”
Jeroboam thought to himself, "Unless I am careful, the kingdom will return to the dynasty of David. When these people go to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the Temple of the LORD, they will again give their allegiance to King Rehoboam of Judah. They will kill me and make him their king instead." (1 Kings 12:26-27 NLT)
Jeroboam gets nervous from the very beginning. He’s worried that the split won’t “hold” and that the tribes of the north will abandon him and return to Jerusalem-based rule. This sounds logical, but only if we forget one key piece: The LORD gave him the kingdom. The LORD split the kingdoms. The LORD set Jeroboam up as king. The LORD promised to keep Jeroboam, and his descendants, as kings as long as they are faithful to The LORD. When Jeroboam worried, he was following the wisdom of the world.
How about you? Do you worry about things that The LORD already said was handled? Do you get caught up in worrying about things The LORD never intends you to worry about? Do you get caught up in the wisdom of the world?
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