Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. – 2 Chronicles 10:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (November 15, 2019): 2 Chronicles 10

Tradition. The word often separates us. Inside of any social organization, there are always two discussions that are going on among its members. The first argument is this: “Just because we have always done something in a certain way does not mean that we need to do it that way again.” Accompanying this argument is often the assertion that “the definition of insanity is doing something the same way and expecting a different result.” The second argument is short and sweet: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Both are making comments about tradition. One is for and the other against the concept of tradition.

The truth is that tradition is involved in both positions. If we do something the same way twice, we are following tradition; the tradition is just newer. But we are also not very original people. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther presented his “Ninety-five Theses” and effectively started the Reformation. However, while Luther’s academic disputation represented a severe departure from what had gone on in Christianity before, it was still built on the traditional house of the Christian Faith. There were some things that even Luther couldn’t imagine doing without that we have discarded in our contemporary Christian belief. Tradition is essential in everything that we do, but as revolutionary as this thought might be, tradition also changes, and that change is happening almost continually.

So Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, went to Shechem to be crowned as King. And there are two conflicting thoughts about this coronation. First, it was a traditional move. A lot of important events had happened at Shechem. Abraham had worshipped there. He arrived at Shechem and received a promise from God concerning the future of his family and descendants. God promised that this land, at the time the home of the Canaanites, would be given to the descendants of Abraham, and Abraham built an altar there (Genesis 12:6-7). Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, bought land at Shechem and built an altar which he called “El is the God of Israel.” Joshua ‘s bones were brought back to Shechem, after the wilderness wanderings, and buried there (Joshua 24:32). And it was at Shechem that Joshua delivered his famous speech to the tribes of Israel which contained these words; 

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

Shechem was also at the geographical center of the nation. It was a common meeting place.

But on the other side, Rehoboam’s grandfather and father had worked hard to make the political and religious center of Israel Jerusalem, not Shechem. So for some, Rehoboam’s coronation at Shechem is seen as a sign of weakness and a recognition of the fragility of Rehoboam’s kingdom.

But, whatever the reason, Rehoboam became King at Shechem and not Jerusalem. And all of Israel, for a moment, celebrating the crowning of their new king.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 11