Observation: After Solomon dies, Rehoboam is to become king, but receives bad advice, offends many in Israel, and the kingdom divides with only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (and implicitly Simeon) remaining with Rehoboam and becoming known as Judah. The tribes that leave as the 'northern kingdom' become known as Israel (then later, also Samaria).
What the northern tribes declared, however, was not a rebellion against Rehoboam's kingship, which would have been logical given their reasons for leaving. Instead, they declared they have no "portion" in David and "no inheritance in the son of Jesse". This is problematic for their future, as there is clear prophesy that the Lord will honor David by establishing his eternal throne. They are even acknowledging this primacy of David by tying their departure not to David's living grandson, but to David himself.
The writer of chronicles emphasizes this when he declares that this northern kingdom - Israel - is in rebellion against the house of David. However, he adds a modifier to this statement ... he makes this declaration present-tense by saying they are in rebellion "until today". What is fascinating is that, to a great degree, Israel remained - and remains - in rebellion against the house of David, by how they have rejected the eternal king from the line of David that now rules the entire world ... Jesus.
Applications: Prophesy comes in interesting forms. Even in today's New Testament reading, Paul talked about the importance of prophesy - far more important than tongues - and how it is intended to uplift people. This is always true of prophesy ... it isn't a threat or a negative declaration, but rather it is uplifting, and even when it discusses negative possibilities it gives hope of correction and change.
This verse in 2 Chronicles is absolutely prophesy. It isn't a historical report that the northern kingdom divided away from Rehoboam ... which is actually what happened, as they left over his threats for hard labor. Rather, it restates and reframes the narrative, declaring this as a "rebellion" against "David" by "Israel" that is ongoing "today". It is not a stretch to see how the Jews also rebelled against Jesus, David's heir and the promised Messiah to establish the eternal rule of David's throne. It is not a stretch to see issues in modern Israel as most Jews not only still reject Jesus, but as a result now question the very promise of Messiah despite it being a clear topic in their scriptures.
The Jews are still the chosen people of the Lord, and Israel is still the nation of priests that exists to make Yahweh known to the world. However, Israel is in rebellion against the house of David ... even until today ... and the greatest thing that could happen in all of human history is for Israel to discover Jesus, end their rebellion, and usher in a new Messianic age for the benefit of all mankind.
Prayer: Lord, I pray for Israel today. You have a plan, and it is so large and complex that it is a waste of time for me to pretend to understand even a piece of it and pray into that piece, so instead I simply pray for Israel. May Israel be blessed to be a blessing to the world. May the people of Israel live under your Shalom. May they be safe and protected in the special land you have given them. As a nation and as millions of individuals, may they know you more and more every day. And, through your will and partnered with the deeds of Messianic Jews living in Israel, may the people of Israel come to know and accept Jesus as the Christ. Amen.
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