Spiritual Battles in a Political Arena
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)
After Solomon died, his son Rehoboam took over. Jeroboam, a spokesman for the people, came one day to Rehoboam and asked that Solomon’s heavy yoke on the people be lightened. The Bible does not say what the yoke was. It does say Rehoboam replied, “…My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.” (1 Kings 12:10) In other words, “if you think my dad was tough, you haven’t seen anything yet.”
Jeroboam had been a servant to Solomon. One day Ahijah the prophet told Jeroboam privately that God would take the kingdom from Solomon and give Jeroboam ten of the tribes. Under Solomon, Israel had forsaken God and served false gods. Ahijah told Jeroboam also that if he would obey God’s word, he would have God’s blessing. Solomon learned of Jeroboam’s prospective reign and tried to kill him.
This story was like that of Saul and David. God had told Samuel the prophet Saul would no longer be king because of his disobedience. David would be the king. Saul also sought many times to kill David.
To clarify how grievous Solomon’s sin was, 1 Kings 11:5 says he “…went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians,” This worship of Ashtoreth included ritual sex and prostitution (You Tube Middle East Explorers, 5.9.2025) Solomon also “…built an high place…for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.” (1 Kings 11:7) God had commanded Israel, “And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech,” (Leviticus 18:21), which means you sacrifice your child in a fire to this false deity.
God equates idol worship with devil worship: “Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.” (Psalm 106:37-38) With all the godly influence he had received in his life, Solomon still allowed these horrific practices to go on in Israel!
When Rehoboam gave his dismissive reply, Jeroboam led Israel in rebellion. Israel split into two. The tribes of Judah and Benjamin were called Judah. The other ten were called Israel. Yet Jeroboam, even as king, disregarded God’s word from the start. He fired the Levites who were priests, in direct violation of God’s command that priests be of the tribe of Levi, “And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, [yes, the devils] and for the calves which he had made.” (2 Chronicles 11:15)
The chronicles of Israel’s later kings tell what an evil influence Jeroboam had on them, and how they . walked in the sins of Jeroboam, “…and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin…” (1 Kings 16:26)
Solomon married heathen wives, “…and his wives turned away his heart.” (1 Kings 11:3) No doubt other people in Israel were a bad influence on Solomon’s life and career as well.
If you are a leader, your power and influence make you a target of the devil. You can be used by God to promote righteousness or used by the devil to promote sin. Satan can use people to drag you down. It happened to Solomon. It can happen to you. If they can drag you down, they can drag America down.
Citizens are to pray “For kings, and for all that are in authority;” (1 Timothy 2:2) Political leaders are in a life-or-death spiritual battle every day. Pray for their spouses, families, marriages, careers, and souls.
Most importantly, to see how to have your sins forgiven and an eternal home in heaven, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 5/8/2026
Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216/671-2822