Partisan Politics is not new

     There is a detailed example of partisan politics found in the Old Testament foreshadowing two contemporary but profoundly different political ideologies. 

     Recall that King Solomon in an attempt to please his many wives became involved in idolatry.  That action brought severe consequences on himself and Israel.

     “So the LORD became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the LORD God of Israel…Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, ‘Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes…I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.’”  1 Kings 11:9-11

     The Scripture provides great details about how God raised up adversaries to Solomon and then in more detail describes the debate between the two contenders for the kingship of Israel.

     “Now the LORD raised up an adversary against Solomon…Then Solomon’s servant, Jeroboam…also rebelled against the king.”  1 Kings 11:14, 23, 26

     The adversarial relationship was actually between Solomon’s son Rehoboam, the presumed king by lineage, and Solomon’s servant Jeroboam.

     “…Then Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, ‘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.”  1 Kings 12:3-4

     In other words, Jeroboam suggested that Solomon’s government required too much from the people and Rehoboam should lesson the burden imposed on the citizens.

     Rehoboam listened to the proposal and told Jeroboam to give him three days to think about it.  Rehoboam then consulted his advisors who also had much wisdom having served his father Solomon.  They spoke from experience.

     “And they spoke to him, saying, ‘If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them…and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.’”  1 Kings 12:7

     Their advice was that the king should be a servant to the people and not that the people should be servants to the king.

          “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.”  1 Kings 12:8

     The ‘expected to be’ king rejected the wisdom of the elders and sought the advice of the current generation and their ideology.

     The younger generation advised Rehoboam on how to respond to the suggestion that government should become less intrusive.

     “My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist!  And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!” 1 Kings 12:10b-11

     The Scripture states that Rehoboam responded arrogantly as he rejected their proposal to minimize government intrusion.

     The Scripture also states that all this was done to fulfill God’s word that the kingship would pass from Solomon’s family, temporarily. 

     “So the king (Rehoboam) did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from the LORD, that He might fulfill His word…” 1 Kings 12:15

     These events describe the division of national Israel into the northern ten tribes which would be referred to as Israel (and or Ephraim) and the southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin would be known as Judah.  Jeroboam ruled over the northern tribes while Rehoboam ruled over the south.

     “So Israel departed to their tents.  But Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah.”  1 Kings 12:18

     God’s sovereignty is nearly incomprehensible in detail.  He executes His plan perfectly in whatever way He chooses.

     “But the word of God came…saying, ‘Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, to all the house of Judah and Benjamin’… ‘You shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel.  Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me.’” 1 Kings 12:22-24

     Thus partisan politics has been active for thousands of years and will continue through this present age.

 

     As Solomon said, “There is nothing new under the sun.”

     Partisan politics will, however, cease to be during the millennial kingdom and thereafter.