by Kris Emerson
Part One is the foundation of this lesson.
Part Two is the application for us. If you don’t want to wait until next Saturday for part two just let me know and I’ll send it to you!
Solomon was a great king and he did great things. He expanded the borders of Israel. He built extravagant and amazing structures. He shared heavenly wisdom with the people. He constructed the dwelling place of God among His people. The long term opportunity for Israel to be in fellowship with God was well established. But then, mistakes were made. Not by God of course, but by Solomon, and then Rehoboam.
I Kings 11:4-8 – Almost inconceivable, but he sought to still believe in God and have a relationship with God, while also to appease his wives with idol worship. This displeased God greatly.
I Kings 11:31-35 – So God selected Jeroboam to lead 10 tribes away from Solomon’s kingship.
I Kings 11:38 – The condition being, of course, that Jeroboam follow the will of God.
I Kings 11:40 – Solomon heard of this and sought to kill Jeroboam, so he fled.
I Kings 12:1-5 – Once Rehoboam was king, Jeroboam came back and sought to make peace. We know the story: the young king listened to his young friends and rejected Jeroboam’s plea.
I Kings 12:25 – So, Jeroboam left and established a new capital city in the North. The Northern kingdom of Israel was born on this day.
At this point, I don’t know how to feel about Jeroboam. It doesn’t seem like he has done anything sinful against God. It looks like Solomon and Rehoboam made the colossal mistakes. But then…
I Kings 12:26-27 – But then it occurred to him that the people would return to Jerusalem. They would clearly go back for the religious festivals. They would need to go back to keep the Law. They would need to go back to make sacrifices. They would all be there for the day of Atonement. And… they might fall in line with the South again and Jeroboam would be surely killed.
So, out of SELF-PRESERVATION, he needed a plan. He did not consult God. This was not about God. It was about HIMSELF. He needed to keep them from returning to the rightful place of worship.
I Kings 12:28-33 – He made the greatest appeal in all religious error: Thing about Yourself! He is effectively asking them to do what he is already doing. So he says: “It is too much FOR YOU to go up to Jerusalem.” The idea here is: “I know that’s what we’ve always done and that it is God’s will, but it is inconvenient and difficult and we can set up things here, closer, that will please God just as much.”
And what were his ideas:
1) We will set up 2 cities, one North and one South, to which you can go when you desire to make offerings.
2) In addition, we will set up “high places” all over so you can have a place close to home to worship.
3) Instead of it just being the Levites, we will open things for priests to be enlisted from other tribes.
4) While we still believe in the LORD, we will make our offerings to two golden calves. (Hard to comprehend). But just like Solomon, they still acknowledged God, these were just culturally accepted ways of worship they thought would not interrupt their fellowship with God.
5) We will even have a huge feast, just like in Jerusalem, except a month later and a different altar and priests and deliverer and such.
And… the people bought it! They were willing to be lead by this sinful man, who kept the people close to him by keeping them away from Jerusalem, where the Law and True Worship lived.
I Kings 14:7-12 – And the Lord was furious with Jeroboam and took him and his household out.
I Kings 14:15-16 – And for believing him and following him, all of Israel would suffer as well.
There is much we could discuss from this story. The sins of Solomon created the issue. The sins of Rehoboam kick started the division. The great sins of the evil Jeroboam were as devastating and selfish as any you can find in Scripture. But they are not our focus today. Our focus is on the people.
They made mistakes that affected themselves and their offspring for generations!
1) They believed a man. They listened to someone they respected, though they should not have.
2) They succumb to convenience. The idea of less travel and easier worship appealed to them.
3) They embraced new roles and leadership, like allowing for new priests. This found favor with many.
4) They wagered their souls that God would be okay w/ idol worship, so long as they still believed in Him.
And how could they know? How could they know if this was acceptable or not? Granted, there were things going on beyond their wisdom level – like God orchestrating the division. But how could they be sure that this form or religion and life would please God? Only one way… by going back to Jerusalem!
Part Two next Saturday.
The Application. Let’s put this understanding into action.