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“Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. ³¹ Then Solomon rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.” 1 Chronicles 9:30-31

“And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king. ² So it happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it (he was still in Egypt, for he had fled from the presence of King Solomon and had been dwelling in Egypt), ³ that they sent and called him. Then Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, ⁴ “Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.”⁵ So he said to them, “Depart for three days, then come back to me.” And the people departed. ⁶ Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, and he said, “How do you advise me to answer these people?” ⁷ And they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”⁸ But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him. ⁹ And he said to them, “What advice do you give? How should we answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?”¹⁰ Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us’—thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist!”” 1 Kings 17:1-10 NKJV

Father God,

It looks like it was Rehoboams bad choices that led to the rebellion and splitting of the Kingdom into two. But from yesterday we can see that decay and rot had been setting in gradually. The great Solomon’s wisdom had been led astray and the Israelites were not following You together under good leadership. Rehoboam certainly did not have the wisdom of his father as we see he easily is led into foolishness by his young peers.

A gradual decay that leaves opportunity for mischief by others and a lack of present wisdom. Father sometimes it is just complacency that sets in. When life is OK the routine is not challenging. Perhaps the enemy, that old liar, does not have to tempt us because we are not threatening? (1 Peter 5:8).

To shake off complacency and break the ongoing cycle, I read, requires active disruption of routine and intentional exposure to discomfort. Wow. So if I am too comfortable and it is easy, I am too comfortable and it is too easy? Sometimes You just give us a season of rest. Help us to know the difference and to be able to shake of dull sloth to really see if we are fully awake to You Father, Your Son, Your Holy Spirit. Particularly as we approach celebration of the outpouring of Your Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Tuesday 19th May 2026
Two to choose from today.

1. Thomas Ken wrote this as a morning hymn to challenge for the day ahead. But he was also was a man of conscience and independent mind and not complacent. He challenged King Charles II when he visited Winchester with his mistress, the famous actress Nell Gwynne. Thomas was asked to provide lodging for her.So he quickly declared his house under repair and had a builder take off the roof! Later as a Bishop Ken refused to read King James II’s Declaration of Indulgence in the churches, and was briefly imprisoned in the Tower of London. A few years later he refused to swear allegiance to King William and lost his bishopric.

Awake, my soul, and with the sun
thy daily stage of duty run;
shake off dull sloth, and early rise
to pay thy morning sacrifice.

 Redeem thy misspent time that’s past,
and live this day as if thy last;
improve thy talent with due care;
for the great day thyself prepare.

Let all thy converse be sincere,
thy conscience as the noon-day clear;
think how all-seeing God thy ways
and all thy secret thoughts surveys.

Awake, awake, ye heavenly choir
May your devotion me inspire
May I like You my age may spend
Like You may on my God attend.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise Him all creatures here below;
praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Lyrics: Thomas Ken.

Lyrics: Graham Kendrick.