Brandon Cooper, TGC.
In 1534, Henry VIII—whom the Pope dubbed “Defender of the Faith” because of his work opposing Luther’s teaching—broke from Rome and established himself as the head of the newly formed Church of England. What caused the change? Henry wanted to retain his grip on power, and to do that, he needed the male heir his wife couldn’t provide him—yet the Vatican wouldn’t grant his divorce.
Henry didn’t break from Rome because he held to the doctrine of justification by faith alone but because he held political power as his ultimate good. Politics, not religion, motivated his nefarious deeds. That’s why he put to death both Catholics like Thomas More and Protestants like Thomas Cromwell.
Esteem power and control above personal piety, and you’ll invariably follow a similar course. That’s exactly what happens in 1 Kings 12 to the first king of Samaria.
Jeroboam’s Sin
After Solomon’s death, his kingdom is split. Solomon’s son and heir, Rehoboam, listens to the foolish advice of his young friends instead of heeding the wisdom of his father’s faithful counselors. So Jeroboam leads 10 tribes to secede from David’s house. That northern kingdom, Samaria, persists in rebellion until Assyria annihilates it centuries later.
Jeroboam knows his new dynasty rests on precarious foundations, for the temple of the God who made him king now sits in enemy territory. What will happen when his people make their annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem—the rival capital—to worship in the temple? He anxiously frets,
The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam. (1 Kings 12:26–27, NIV)
What is Jeroboam to do?