First Kings 11:11

The Bible says in First Kings 11:11-14, “Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.[12] Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.[13] Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.[14] And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom.” Even in chastisement God’s mercy and kindness is present, and this was the Old Testament under the law. Because there is a God, we will reap what we sow. If you want better outcomes, then have better actions and behavior. Notice that in verse thirteen God says, “for David thy father's sake.” We have even more mercy, but it is for a similar reason. God gives us mercy for Jesus’s sake. Because of the life that Jesus lived, and because of the death that Jesus suffered in our place. That is why we can count on mercy from God.

The Bible says in First Kings 11:15-28, “For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom;[16] (For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:)[17] That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a little child.[18] And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran: and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; which gave him an house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land.[19] And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.[20] And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh.[21] And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country.[22] Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise.[23] And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:[24] And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.[25] And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.[26] And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.[27] And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.[28] And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.” What is happening in these verses is that God is raising up enemies to Solomon. There will be a civil war in Israel after Solomon’s death. Most of the territory of Israel will end up in a separate kingdom that will be called Israel, but the lineage of King David will continue in a smaller part that consists of mainly the tribe of Judah. This is God’s doing. The point is that all of these events in the lives of Hadad and Rezon and Jeroboam were directed by God to bring about the results that God wanted. It is always like that. God is involved in everyone’s life in order to accomplish God’s overall plan to bless or to punish whom He will.

The Bible says in First Kings 11:29-35, “And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:[30] And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:[31] And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:[32] (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)[33] Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.[34] Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:[35] But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.” Jeroboam was given a prophesy about the future of Israel. Israel would be split apart into two kingdoms. Ten of the tribes would form a nation that would be called Israel, and two of the tribes would form a second nation that would be called Judah after the name of the largest of the two tribes. God would bring His chastisements because of Solomon’s sins, but God would also make sure that He kept His promise to King David about always preserving David’s lineage so that the Messiah would eventually come in this lineage. Notice that verse thirty-three mentions the sins that resulted in this terrible fate for Israel, and it says, “Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.” God said, “they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth.” Those were the sins that Solomon committed with all of his women. Yes, but Solomon was the leader of the people. That is one of the things that made his sins so bad. As goes the leader, so goes the nation. To whom much is given is much required. The greater your opportunity, the greater is your responsibility.

The Bible says in First Kings 11:36-43, “And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.[37] And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.[38] And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.[39] And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.[40] Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.[41] And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?[42] And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.[43] And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.” Notice that God said about Jerusalem in verse thirty-six, “the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.” God loves Jerusalem. God has a plan for Jerusalem. Jesus entered Jerusalem as King on Palm Sunday because one day Jesus will enter there as King to rule the world from the throne of David. Wise nations will love Israel and Jerusalem. Foolish nations will be their enemies.

Notice in verse thirty-eight what God said to Jeroboam, “And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.” Even though Jeroboam was not in the lineage of David, and even though he would come into power through a bloody civil war, God gave him the same challenge and the same opportunity that every other king would have to serve God or not. Today everyone has the same challenge and the same opportunity: to believe in Jesus and start following Him or not.

It says in verse forty, “Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam.” But Solomon could not do it. That is because God decides when each person dies. No one dies until God is finished with their life. God said that Jeroboam would become king over the ten northern tribes, and no man could stop that from happening. Remember that truth about your own life. You will not die until God is done with you. Therefore, do not fear. Just make sure that you are right with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Bible says in First Kings 12:1-11, “And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.[2] And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)[3] That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,[4] Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.[5] And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.[6] And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?[7] And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.[8] But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:[9] And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?[10] And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.[11] And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.” This passage of scripture shows very clearly one of the differences between older men and younger men that is usually true. There are exceptions once in a while such as with David when he was young, but this is the general rule: older means wiser. That is one of the reasons we should respect our elders. And that is one of the reasons that we should listen carefully to the advice of the elders. Rehoboam made a critical mistake: he took the advice of the young men instead of the old men. Pastors should usually be older men too. That is why one name for them in the New Testament is “elders.”

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