Labor FARCE

Following the death of the great King Solomon, their was a revolt against the incoming administration of his son, Rehoboam. When the people of Israel arrived in Shechem to appoint Rehoboam king, they agreed to submit to his rule on one condition...

"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).

The people claimed that Solomon had worked them to death. It would be very easy to assume that their complaint was accurate and truthful. They felt overworked, complained about being overworked, and therefore they must have been overworked. But let's examine their  claim to see if there is any truth to it.

Approximately 36 years earlier, as Solomon made preparations to build the temple (a huge undertaking), we're told that he "raised up a labor force out of all Israel; and the labor force was thirty thousand men" (1 Kings 5:13). And these were just the ones who were sent to Phoenicia to help Hiram's men with the cedar logs. He also raised up an additional 153,300 according to 1 Kings 5:14-18. Of course, Solomon built not only the temple, but a number of additional buildings in the city of Jerusalem (1 Kings 7:1-9), expanded the Millo (1 Kings 9:24), built a fleet of ships (1 Kings 9:26) and a number of additional structures and even cities throughout the land. So while David's reign had been characterized by war, Solomon's reign, though peaceful, was all about fortification and the expansion of infrastructure.

Based on these points, it appears as if the Israelites were justified in feeling overworked and that they had every right to demand of Rehoboam a lighter burden of service.

However, notice these two texts...

"All the people who were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who were not of the children of Israel - that is, their descendants who were left in the land after them, whom the children of Israel had not been able to destroy completely - from these Solomon raised forced labor, as it is to this day. But of the children of Israel Solomon made no forced laborers, because they were men of war and his servants: his officers, his captains, commanders of his chariots, and his cavalry" (1 Kings 9:20-22).

"Then Solomon numbered all the aliens who were in the land of Israel...and there were found 153,600. And he made 70,000 of them bearers of burdens, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountain, and 3,600 overseers to make the people work" (2 Chron. 2:17-18).

Regarding the work of the Temple and all the infrastructure and fortifications that were constructed throughout his reign, these verses seem to indicate that the laborers - or at least the bulk of them - were not Israelites at all. Now it's true that there is mention of "the labor force of the house of Joseph" (1 Kings 11:28), and that he employed many of the Israelites (in what appear to have been "cush jobs" I might add), but even still, I think it's pretty safe to conclude that the Israelites who complained to Rehoboam were either totally skewing the facts or being dramatic in the very least. 

They really weren't the labor force of Solomon's reign. Their complaint constituted what we might call a "labor FARCE."

Should not these people have been thankful for the peace and security that they had enjoyed for almost forty years under Solomon's rule? Should they not have been thankful for the incredibly prosperity and abundance that was the direct result of Solomon's wisdom and God's blessings on Israel (because of Solomon's faith and wisdom)? And should they not have focused on the fact that even though they were asked to contribute and even work, that at least their king had spared them from the majority of the work?

I wonder if we're ever like the Israelites in this story...

I wonder if we ever complain about being overworked in our service to the Lord and in the church even though really we have it so much easier than we deserve. I wonder if we're ever dramatic like the Israelites were with Rehoboam. I wonder if, instead of focusing on how good we have it and how blessed we are (and have been), we resort to ungratefulness and selfishness.

In closing, I'm reminded of Paul's words in Romans 12:1...

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."

As we reflect upon the mandates of the New Testament and the requirements that our God has placed upon us, and as we consider our involvement and work in the local church, let's realize how easy we truly have it. And more importantly, let's be unceasingly thankful that we serve a God who not only has given us a "law of liberty" but who has done most of the work for us by giving us His precious Son.

There are always going to be Christians who, like those Israelites during the days of Rehoboam, complain and moan about being overworked or treated unfairly. Let's not be one of them.