Book of First Kings I Kings 12

Book of First Kings I Kings 12 Lousy Leaders, Dumb Decisions, and Costly Consequences Chapter 12 records the beginning of the Divided Kingdom, which has been predicted by God (1 Kings 11:11-13, 29-31). Under Saul, David, and Solomon, Israel was a United Kingdom (1050-930 B.C.). Saul, David, and Solomon each ruled 40 years: King Saul (1050-1010 B.C.), King David (1010-970 B.C.), and King Solomon (970-930 B.C.). Chapter 11 tells us why the kingdom was divided, and chapter 12 tells us how the kingdom was divided. First Kings covers about 125 years of history (all of Solomon s 40-year reign and 85 years of the Divided Kingdom). Second Kings records the decline of Northern and Southern Kingdoms until both were eventually destroyed. 1 Kings 12 describes the beginning of the end of Israel. Solomon set the nation on the slippery slope to destruction. He was the wisest of men, but later in life he made some foolish choices. His son, Rehoboam, made a very foolish decision and split the kingdom. Leaders make decisions, either wise or foolish, and these decisions have a lasting impact on others. United Kingdom divides 930 B.C. Northern Kingdom falls 722 B.C. Southern Kingdom falls 586 B.C. Israel entered Canaan in 1406 B.C., and had no king for about 350 years. Then only 120 years after their first king, Israel became a divided nation. Each kingdom suffered the consequences of bad kings and their bad decisions. 1. The Reign of Rehoboam (vs. 1-24) Rehoboam, Solomon s son, was installed as king in Shechem, where God first made a covenant with Abraham. Shechem was located about 35 miles north of Jerusalem between Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim, where God renewed the covenant with Joshua and where Joshua gave his farewell address to the nation. Jeroboam later set up his capital there (vs. 25). Jeroboam, the servant of King Solomon, heard about Rehoboam becoming king, and returned from Egypt to be a spokesman for the disgruntled citizens of Israel. A. Rehoboam faced a challenge (vs. 3-5) The people didn t demand that all government burdens be lifted; they just wanted their burdens lightened. They were tired of mandatory government service and heavy taxation. As their spokesman, Jeroboam challenged Rehoboam to lighten the heavy load on the people and then the people would serve him. Rehoboam wanted to think about it for three days and then give his decision. B. Rehoboam sought counsel (vs. 6-11) He sought counsel from men, but not from God. He didn t pray. He didn t consult a priest or a prophet. He first consulted the elders who had served under his father Solomon. They advised him to give a kind answer, to serve the people and say encouraging words to them. If so, the people would gladly serve him and follow his leadership. Then he consulted with his peers, men who were about his age (Rehoboam was 41, see 1 Kg. 14:21). They advised him to give a harsh answer and to make it even harder on the people. Their philosophy was might makes right or as some have called it, the golden rule, he who has the gold makes the rules. He asked for advice, but he did not carefully

evaluate that advice. To evaluate advice we need to ask: 1) Is it reasonable? 2) Is it workable? 3) Is it scriptural? It is so important to get wise counsel and then to follow it. C. Rehoboam made a choice (vs. 12-15) He followed the advice of the younger men and rejected the advice of the elders. The king s decision was in keeping with God s will (vs. 15), so the prophecy of Ahijah was fulfilled (1 Kgs. 11:29-31). This is an instance where human responsibility and divine sovereignty are seen together. God sovereignly used Rehoboam s foolish choice to accomplish His will. Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. The clearest demonstration of man s responsibility and God s sovereignty is seen in the actions of Judas Iscariot, the Jewish leaders, and Pontius Pilate, and the fulfillment of God s predetermined plan in the crucifixion of Jesus (Acts 4:27-28). D. Rehoboam suffered the consequences (vs. 16-24) The ten northern tribes of Israel rebelled against Rehoboam and formed their own kingdom. Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was in charge of taxation (head of the IRS), but he was stoned to death. It a foolish decision to send him of all people. At first Rehoboam wanted to attack the northern tribes and stop their rebellion, but Shemaiah warned him not to attack since the rebellion of Jeroboam and division of the kingdom was part of God s plan. To his credit Rehoboam listened to the prophet and called off the attack. Israel became a divided kingdom (10 northern tribes and 2 southern tribes, Judah and Benjamin). The twelve tribes were never united again and they will not be united until Christ comes to set up His earthly kingdom (Ezek. 37:15-23). In that day there will be restoration to the land, unification of the kingdom, and purification of the people. 2. The Reign of Jeroboam (vs. 25-33) The Lord allowed a political, but not a religious division of the kingdom. The Lord had promised Jeroboam political control of the ten northern tribes (11:31-37). He had warned Jeroboam to stay faithful to His commandments (11:38). Jeroboam ignored God s Word and led the people into idolatry. He set up his own man-made religion. A. Jeroboam used religion to control the people He was afraid he might lose political control over the people if they returned to worship at Jerusalem. All Jewish men were required to travel to the temple in Jerusalem three times a year (Feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles, Deut. 16:16). He thought it was in his best interest to keep people away from Rehoboam, even at the expense of keeping them away from God. He acted out of fear and forgot God s promise (11:38). B. Jeroboam made it convenient for the people to worship He made two golden idols in the form of calves. He set one up at Bethel in the southern part of the kingdom, and the other at Dan in the northern part of the kingdom. He made it easy for the people to worship. This was an attempt to worship God in a forbidden way. He distorted the very nature of God by reducing Him to a physical image. Jeroboam repeated the sin of Aaron at Mt. Sinai when he made the golden calf (Ex. 32:1-6). C. Jeroboam corrupted the people He led the people into idolatry in clear violation of the first two of the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:3-6) and in light of God s punishment of Aaron and the people (Ex. 32). Maybe he didn t know the scripture or he just decided to ignore it. We can t afford to ignore lessons from the past (see

1 Cor. 10:1-11). He made houses of worship in high places. These were a constant source of trouble for Israel as a breeding ground for idolatry and immorality. Jeroboam made priests out of people who were not qualified to serve. Only the tribe of Levi was chosen by God to serve as priests (Num. 3:10). Jeroboam also made a special feast in the eighth month as an alternative to the Feast of Tabernacles that was in the seventh month, exactly one month earlier. He also offered unauthorized sacrifices on an altar. God had clearly prescribed the place and manner of worship in Jerusalem. All other worship was unauthorized.. Jeroboam s apparent motivation was to keep the people unified under him. He used this false religion to appease the people and solidify his political power. Ungodly leaders have often used religion for personal and political reasons. Jeroboam s False Religion: It had the wrong purpose (his own political benefit) It had the wrong places (Bethel and Dan) It had the wrong priesthood (unauthorized non-levites) It had the wrong plan (self-chosen feasts and sacrifices) This substitute religion was popular with all the kings in the Northern Kingdom and caused the people to sin against the Lord as long as the nation lasted. Jeroboam s substitute religion brought short-term gains and long-term pains. Marks of Wise Leaders: Wise leaders do what is best for the people. Wise leaders put the interest of the people above their own interests. Wise leaders are good listeners. Wise leaders first listen to the Lord and they listen to the people they lead. Solomon asked God for a listening heart (I Kings 3:9). He wanted to know God s will and to understand the needs and problems of God s people. Wise leaders choose to serve rather than be served. This is the great principle of Christian leadership. Matthew 20:27-28 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Jeroboam s False Religion: It had (his own political benefit) It had (Bethel and Dan) It had (unauthorized non-levites) It had (self-chosen feasts and sacrifices) This substitute religion was popular with all the kings in the Northern Kingdom and caused the people to sin against the Lord as long as the nation lasted. Jeroboam s substitute religion brought short-term gains and long-term pains. Marks of Wise Leaders: Matthew 20:27-28 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.