Bible Studies
A Kingdom Divided (1 Kings 11:11-13)
Series: Studies in First KingsIntroduction:
1. Solomon has done the very thing that God said a king should not do (Deut. 17:16-17). He has multiplied horses, gold and wives. He has turned his heart away from the Lord. 2. The Lord said, “Because you have done this, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes I will tear the kingdom from you. I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen” (1 Kings 11:11-13). 3. A divided heart had lead to a divided kingdom. 4. James warned those of his day to not be friends with the world. He called them to repentance with these words, “Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (4:8). 5. Are you feeling torn? Is your heart wholly devoted to the Lord?Discussion:
I. God raised adversaries against Solomon (11:14-40).A. In the south, in the region now known as Jordan, south and east of the Dead Sea, it was Hadad and his son Genubath.
1. Hadad was a victim of David’s wars (2 Sam. 8:13-14).
2. Hadad was an Edomite and David had subjugated the Edomites.
3. Joab had struck down all the males in Edom.
4. Hadad, while yet a young boy, had fled to Egypt.
5. He married Pharaoh’s wife’s sister.
6. Now with both David and Joab dead he sought to return. Like the nation of Israel he requested that Pharaoh “let him go” to his own country.
B. In the north, in the region now associated with Syria and Lebanon, it was Rezon. Damascus was his capital city.
1. Rezon was from the northern region near the Euphrates River (2 Sam. 8:3-8).
2. He was associated with Hadadezer king of Zobah.
3. David had captured 1,700 horsemen from Zobah, and 20,000 foot soldiers. He had hamstrung the chariot horses; killed 22,000 Arameans who had allied with Hadadezer.
4. The text of 1 Kings says, Rezon “abhorred Israel” (v. 25).C. In Jerusalem, it was Jeroboam.
1. He rebelled against king Solomon.
2. Why? The author of Kings explains that when David built the Millo he had appointed Jeroboam over the forced labor. The prophet Ahijah had met Jeroboam on the road outside Jerusalem, torn his new cloak into 12 pieces and said, “Take for yourself 10 pieces; for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, “I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and give you 10 tribes” (1 Kings 11:31).
3. The torn garment reminds us of Saul when he tore the garment of Samuel after Samuel rebuked him for having rejected the word of the Lord. Samuel said, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor” (1 Sam. 15:28).
D. God has granted us entrance into His kingdom (Cf. Col. 1:13-14). He has promised that we will sit with Him on His throne (cf. Rev. 3:21). But He will tear the kingdom away from us if our hearts are turned away from Him. Friendship with the world is hostility toward God (James 4:4). Note also 4:5b-8.
II. After Solomon’s death the kingdom was divided (11:41-12:24).A. Upon hearing of Solomon’s death some in Israel sent for Jeroboam from Egypt.
B. Rehoboam had already been made king.
C. “Lighten our yoke,” the people said to Rehoboam.
D. Rehoboam consulted.
1. With the elders who had served Solomon. They said, “Be a servant to this people today.”
2. With the young men. They said, “Say to this people, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins! Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions’” (1 Kings 12:10-11).
E. Jeroboam’s ten tribes left leaving the house of David on its own.
F. Rehoboam sent Adoram (Probably in an attempt to enforce his rulership over Israel.) Israel stoned him to death and Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem.
G. Rehoboam prepared to battle Israel. He assembled 180,000 warriors, but God spoke through Shemaiah saying, “You must not go against Israel” (1 Kings 12:24).
H. The kingdom remained divided until Israel was taken captive by Assyria (722) and Judah was taken captive by Babylon (597).
III. Jeroboam proceeded in the development of his kingdom (1 Kings 12:25-33).A. He built Shechem and Penuel.
1. Shechem lay in the pass which runs between Mt. Ebal on the N and Mt. Gerizim on the S. Part of the ancient road connecting the E bank of the Jordan with the Mediterranean coast ran through this valley and connected with a N-S rout known as “The Way of the Diviner’s Oak” at Shechem. It did not have the advantage of elevated terrain, but had massive fortifications. Its location meant control of the main roads through the regions of N Canaan.
2. The location of Penuel is debated by scholars, but Jeroboam fortified this city and later moved his capital from Shechem to Penuel.
B. Jeroboam is remembered because of his construction of idols in Dan and Bethel (see vs. 27-33).
1. Dan was located in the North.
2. Bethel, scholars debate the location, but some identify it as only ten miles north of Jerusalem.
3. He instituted feast days, priests, altars, and the burning of incense mimicking the worship in Jerusalem.
4. He offered a worship of convenience saying, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem.”
IV. Lessons obvious in this text.A. Our hearts need to be totally and completely devoted to God.
B. God tears the kingdom from those who are not wholly devoted to Him.
C. A power-down approach often leads to rebellion. Solomon’s flexing of his muscle was the catalyst for division.
D. Hearts that are not totally devoted to the Lord affect generations and in this case led to the widespread and blatant practice of idolatry in the north.
E. The worship of convenience devised in our own hearts is not pleasing to God.
F. All the lessons are obvious but . . .
1. When we move into a new area (geographically, emotionally, relationally) does it reveal that our heart is not wholly given to God? Remember Solomon’s many wives.
2. When we meet a situation that challenges us does it reveal that we really have no devotion to God and so we abandon Him altogether? Remember Jeroboam had never been king before.
3. When our financial situation changes (remember Solomon’s gold) do we turn our hearts away from the Lord?
G. Although obvious these lessons are relevant.
Conclusion:
1. Is your heart divided? 2. Is it reflecting itself in your kingdom (your marriage, your family, the church) being divided? 3. Hearts given to the Lord lead to unity in the kingdom!
