IT ALL ENDS IN SHREDS
Opening Prayer
Mighty God, for whom nothing is too hard, thank you that I can count on you to fulfill your every promise—for today, tomorrow, and for eternity.
Read 1 KINGS 11:26–43
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
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[a] 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 labor 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[b] 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.
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 forever.’”
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 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.
Footnotes
- 1 Kings 11:27 Or the Millo
- 1 Kings 11:33 Hebrew; Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac because he has
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
‘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
Sometimes it seems the media 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 judgment (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.
Apply
Are we sorry for times when we have wasted opportunities? Ask God to give us confidence in his power to redeem.
Closing prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the many evidences of your work in my life. I look to you to accomplish all that you will in and through me.
1 Ps 19:14, ESV 2 2 Sam 21:17
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