When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him. (II Chronicles 12:1 ESV)
Strength
Rehoboam was the anointed King of Judah, after Jeroboam’s civil war that split Israel into two parts. At first, Rehoboam raised an army to smash Jeroboam in his Samaritan capital, and maybe could have won. He had a huge army. And Jeroboam’s sinfulness would seem to have guaranteed Rehoboam’s victory.
But God sent a prophet to Rehoboam and told him to stand down.
King Rehoboam obeyed. (It is good to read of his following the Lord, despite his instincts, strategic sense,) But after his power in Judah was firmly firm… backed up, he probably believed, by the power of God… he changed.
Power does that to us.
We need leaders.
And human leaders, once they have strength, usually lean towards tyranny, Cincinnatus aside.
But not King Jesus.
Jesus actually DOES have strength, not merely strength delegated to Him by God. Jesus has all power and authority, and is the only one who could legitimately grab MORE and MORE power, and never be called a Tyrant.
But instead, Jesus uses His power for His people.
He is the leader we need. And He is the leader we have. Listen to Him.