David, the man after God’s own heart, is blessed with God’s promise of a dynastic house of kings. David paves the way for his son, Solomon, to build a permanent dwelling place for God by subduing the nations around and amassing the materials needed for its construction. The temple is completed with great fanfare. God presents himself approvingly in cloud and fire – surely this represents a new “chapter” in God’s dealings with mankind! Sadly, the “chapter” ends like every previous one with rebellion and departure from the word of the Lord.
We are confronted again with the foolishness of the heart of man. We must never forget that we are made of the same stuff that they were. Even with obvious manifestations of God’s presence – cloud and fire and the miraculous structures of the temple – let alone the direct revelations that the prophets received and delivered from the Lord, the leadership and people of Israel stray quickly to their own way (Isaiah 53:6). They are easily distracted by the next thing.
This is seen in the ministry of the Lord Jesus on earth as well. We humans seem to quickly devalue the supernatural and readily depreciate it in the face of our own whims and interests. Just as the Israelites in Solomon’s day became accustomed to the temple’s glory and no longer were wowed by the manifest presence of God, so the Jews of Jesus’ day were quick to dismiss and ignore the miraculous things that Jesus accomplished. In fact, what I would like to suggest, is that the pattern of the record of the decline of the kingdom of Israel in 1 Kings is repeated in the refusal of the kingdom that Jesus offered in Matthew’s Gospel.
The goal of this and subsequent articles is to outline the contours of this claim and elucidate and engage with some details that hopefully support it. We will break into the story in 1 Kings 12. Solomon has died, and his son Rehoboam is making a claim to the throne. It seems that the luxury and liberty of Solomon’s early rule had devolved into burdensome service. The people are willing to accept Rehoboam as king if he will only lighten their burden and the heavy yoke of service (1 Kings 12:4). Rehoboam’s foolish response is to impose harsher restrictions, and this leads to the division of the kingdom already announced by God through the prophet Ahijah (see 11:28-40 and 12:15-17).
Fast forward a thousand years. The nation of Israel has collectively suffered the consequences of her rebellion against God. She has been exiled in Babylon and in part (the kingdom of Judah) subsequently restored to the land of Canaan. She has been handed over to Gentile subjugation and rule. Currently, from a political point of view, she is straining under the Roman yoke. Religiously, the people are suffering under the burden of regulations their religious leaders have added to the Word of God. The traditions of men have obscured the heart of God revealed in the Law. Religious observance, rules, and rituals have rendered Judaism lifeless.
In this environment, an angel surprises some shepherds with a message that a Saviour has been born in the city of Bethlehem, and that He is “Christ [the King] the Lord” (Luke 2:11). Wise men show up in Jerusalem looking for “he who has been born king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2 ESV). Some thirty years later, a wild man in the wilderness begins to announce the arrival of the King. He calls the people to repentance. He demands a radical change of life. The Man he announced moves through the countryside preaching and teaching. He heals the sick and performs miraculous deeds. The people are amazed. Impressed. The leadership is sceptical. Hostile even.
One day the King makes His offer. In post-Solomonic days, as noted above, the people were longing for a lighter burden, an easier yoke, and they didn’t receive it – their king failed them. Now, as they stagger under the rule of Rome, and burdened with the traditions and religion of Pharisaic Judaism, Jesus calls out to them.
“Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV).
Jesus offers what they want. What they need. He provides His credentials, the rationale for His claim to the throne. Born in Bethlehem, Son of David, Saviour sent from God, the Messiah – the Anointed King!
And they reject Him!
Jesus laments that had He appeared on the streets of Sodom in Genesis 19, Sodom would have repented of their gross wickedness and sin (Matthew 11:23). Yet, here in the streets of Israel, the long-expected King is rejected when He comes on the terms they so longed for back in 1 Kings 12!
We cannot afford to miss the point. We are no less fickle than they. We need this Saviour who will relieve our burdens and lighten our yoke. One who will walk beside us and provide us with rest. He is the Saviour of our souls. His salvation is for life, as well as eternity. It is for today, not just for death. Too often we forget that what He offers is exactly what we need, and it’s also what we have forgotten that we want. We discount His ability (forget the miraculous) and His credentials (forget His origin), and reject His offer to be King.
But He still pleads – “Come.” “Find rest.”
Do so.
