Slices
Prepare
Think back over your life so far. Can you see God’s hand at work in coincidences, chance meetings and events that have later proved significant? Thank God for his work in your life.
Bible passage
Jeroboam rebels against Solomon
26 Also, Jeroboam son of Nebat rebelled against the king. He was one of Solomon’s officials, an Ephraimite from Zeredah, and his mother was a widow named Zeruah.
27 Here is the account of how he rebelled against the king: Solomon had built the terraces and had filled in the gap in the wall of the city of David his father. 28 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 labour force of the tribes of Joseph.
29 About that time Jeroboam was going out of Jerusalem, and Ahijah the prophet of Shiloh met him on the way, wearing a new cloak. The two of them were alone out in the country, 30 and Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces. 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. 32 But for the sake of my servant David and the city of Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, he will have one tribe. 33 I will do this because they have forsaken me and worshipped 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.
34 ‘“But I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon’s hand; I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David my servant, whom I chose and who obeyed my commands and decrees. 35 I will take the kingdom from his son’s hands and give you ten tribes. 36 I will give one tribe to his son so that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put my Name. 37 However, as for you, 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. 39 I will humble David’s descendants because of this, but not for ever.”’
40 Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but Jeroboam fled to Egypt, to Shishak the king, and stayed there until Solomon’s death.
Solomon’s death
41 As for the other events of Solomon’s reign – all he did and the wisdom he displayed – are they not written in the book of the annals of Solomon? 42 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel for 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.
Explore
The notes in the ‘Explore’ sections of this series in 1 Kings are written as the diary of a fictional courtier in King Solomon’s court (but look carefully at the Bible passages to check out his accounts!). As he observes, questions and comments on what he sees happening in Solomon’s life, he tries to discern God’s hand at work – and challenges us to do the same in our families, churches, communities and societies.
‘I write with a heavy heart today. King Solomon has died after 40 years on the throne, just like his father David. He was successful in many ways – raising our small nation up to become significant on the world stage, modernising and building impressive cities, increasing our wealth – but, sadly, he failed in the most important area. He did not follow the Lord wholeheartedly, but started worshipping false gods introduced by his many foreign wives.
‘For now, his son Rehoboam has taken over as king, but everyone is waiting to see what happens next. God had told Solomon that the nation would split. For David’s sake, a minority would stay with David’s descendants, but the majority would be given to a new royal family.
‘Solomon thought he had identified the person God had chosen to succeed him – Jeroboam, the leader of his labour force – and tried to kill him. Even at the end of his life, Solomon still hadn’t realised that God is in control. For all his power, Solomon was not able to thwart God!’
Respond
Solomon’s epitaph, for all his gifting and success, is that he was a failure. What would you like your epitaph to be? Pray, asking God to accomplish what he wills through you.
Deeper Bible study
‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.’1
In the UK, our media often build someone up only to tear them down. One wonders what treatment Solomon would have received by the press today. This chapter is the culmination of the life and reign of Solomon – who had promised so much but whose life ends with poignant regret.
Jeroboam, one of Solomon’s servants, rises up against the king. In what is possibly a political move, Jeroboam is assigned some responsibility over Ephraim. It seems some of the political acumen that Solomon has shown in earlier days is still evident here. Ahijah the prophet demonstrates the plight of the kingdom in dramatic fashion by tearing a garment into pieces. The nation that David had built and consolidated, that Solomon had guided into prosperity, will be torn from Solomon’s hands into pieces in a demonstration of God’s judgement (v 33). Solomon has walked away from the Lord by intermarriage and he both facilitated and participated in the worship of foreign gods: there are consequences to such unfaithfulness.
It’s easy to think that we are the decision-makers in our lives. This is true, in a sense, but the message of Solomon is that the Lord is sovereign and in control. He reigns and rules over all – as Jeroboam discovers when his attempted insurrection lands him in Egypt. God will grant him his desire for power, but it will be in God’s time, not by Jeroboam’s efforts. This is a good reminder for us in those times when we try to ‘help the Lord out’. Judah survives for now, reminding us that God always keeps a faithful remnant for himself – the lamp of David’s reign will not be extinguished.2 Despite the whims of men and women, God remains faithful to the end.
Lord, we are sorry for times when we have wasted opportunities. Please give us confidence in your power to redeem.
1 Ps 19:14, ESV 2 2 Sam 21:17
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 1 Kings 18,19; 1 Corinthians 16
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for Local Mission Partner Living Stones Educational Trust as they share the love of God by supporting children, families and schools in Newton Heath in Manchester, working holistically to help raise educational attainment and resilience.
