THE STORY
Chapter 14: A Kingdom Torn In Two
11 So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. 12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.” I Kings 11:11,12 (The Story, page 192)
Now Jeroboam was a man of standing, and when Solomon saw how well the young man did his work, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the tribes of Joseph. I Kings 11:28
31 Then he said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘See, I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon’s hand and give you ten tribes…33 I will do this because they have forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Molek the god of the Ammonites, and have not walked in obedience to me, nor done what is right in my eyes, nor kept my decrees and laws as David, Solomon’s father, did. I Kings 11:32,33 (The Story,
However, as for you (Jeroboam), I will take you, and you will rule over all that your heart desires; you will be king over Israel. 38 If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right in my eyes by obeying my decrees and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you. I Kings 11:37,38
A
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” Matthew 6:24
A doubleminded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:8
42 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 43 Then he rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king. Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king.
I Kings 11:42,43; 12:1 (The Story, page 193)
3 So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: 4 “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”
I Kings 12:3,4 (The Story, page 194)
They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”
I Kings 12:7
10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, “These people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11 My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’” *I Kings 12:10,11
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Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. 27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam.”
I Kings 12:26,27
After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” I Kings 12:28
He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar.
I Kings 12:32
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12
We want peace for our lives but forget how often we are guilty of disturbing our own peace.
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28 -30 (NLT)
A heart
But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you. Matthew 6:33 (NOG)
*9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king of Judah and he reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years…11 Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord…Asa’s heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life. *I Kings 15:9,11,14 (The Story, pages 199,200)
God can
Jesus began to preach this message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Matthew 4:17