1 King 12:1-33
Key verse: 7 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.”
1.
[1-5]
Who was Rehoboam? (1 Kings
14:21-31; 2 Chr 10-12) Why did he go to Shechem (1)? Who was Jeroboam? (1 King
11:26-40) What did the whole assembly of Israel do (2-3)? What did they
request Rehoboam of (4)? Why (Ref. 10:7-9; 1 Samuel
8:10-19)? What was Rehoboam's reply? (5)
Rehoboam, the prince
to inherit the kingdom was born through an Ammonite woman, Naamah. He and all Israel went to Shechem to make him
king. Here is a subtle allusion that the
entire nation was not unified under the Davidic dynasty for their hearts were
conjured up in support for the Davidic dynasty, they were to gather together in the
city of David, Jerusalem. But instead, they chose to meet at Shechem, where
Israel as a whole unified their hearts to keep the law and became the place of national unity as a nation. He did not initiate calling all people to him
in Jerusalem but he followed the consensus of the mind of the people of the time.
Jeroboam was an Ephraimite, a son of a widow (or a
harlot?). He was in charge of the whole labor force of the tribe of Joseph
(11:28). There he had earned respect from the people. He had also received the
word from Ahijah, a prophet of Shiloh, that the Lord would tear apart the ten
tribes from Rehoboam and give it to him (11:28). With Jeroboam, the whole assembly of Israel requested two
things; to lighten up harsh labor and reduce the heavy taxes. Solomon laid heavy burdens on his people with
these two, labor and tax, to build his wealth and power. These two
burdens signify two things: no shepherd heart and disregard for the Law of
Moses.
Rehoboam
consulted well-experienced elders. They told him to be willing to serve the
people. When he consulted young men who grew up with him, they suggested him to
give the people a stern will to impose more labor and taxes. Rehoboam rejected
the elders’ and accepted young men’s. From his father Solomon, he learned how to
control the people and how to exercise his authority over the people. Through
this, it became clear that the shepherd heart that David had, was weakened in
Solomon, and is now disappeared in his son Rehoboam. When God’s grace is taken granted, there is
nothing left but selfish desires of greed and power. Solomon cared for the
benefit of his own; all the rest exists for the sake of him and his family.
This points out the lack of key theme—lack of shepherd heart; man cannot have
or give such care as the Lord can and will.
2.
[6-15] What was
the elders’ advice (6-7)? What was the young men’s advice (10-11)? Whose advice did Rehoboam take
(12-14)? What did the author tell us about Rehoboam’s rejection of the wise
advice? (15)
Rehoboam consulted
the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime.—they
knew how Solomon did at the early period of his kingship that led to God’s
blessing; their understanding was much more seasoned with and rooted in God’s law
and His purpose.
7 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.”
The kings
of the world run their kingdoms by authority and power: their kingship cannot
be sustained unless they rule with such authority and power—this is
antithetical force against the rebellious nature of human beings for all wants to be
free of any authority. No other form of governing structure was thought of. God
knew this and told Israel of what it means to have a king over them. (1 Sam
8:9-18; 18 When that day comes,
you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will
not answer you in that day.”)
The idea
that a King is to serve his people was strange or unheard of at that
time. King as a servant was first introduced by the kingship of David. Saul
was like any other king of the world. God rejected him and chose David for
this very reason (1 Sam 13:14; Ps 78:70-72). In fear of the Lord, David had a
shepherd heart for His sheep, the nation Israel.
Solomon seemed to have this heart when he asked the Lord for wisdom to take care of God’s people (1 Kings 3:7-9). But soon he followed his desire and aggrandized himself to the king of the world by his own merit and power, following the kings of the world. By the time of Rehoboam, the spirit to be servant of God’s people was pretty much disappeared for he only saw how his father Solomon ran the country by his authority. Without any hesitation, he rejected and sought another opinion that suit his mind.
Solomon seemed to have this heart when he asked the Lord for wisdom to take care of God’s people (1 Kings 3:7-9). But soon he followed his desire and aggrandized himself to the king of the world by his own merit and power, following the kings of the world. By the time of Rehoboam, the spirit to be servant of God’s people was pretty much disappeared for he only saw how his father Solomon ran the country by his authority. Without any hesitation, he rejected and sought another opinion that suit his mind.
Then, he consulted
the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.—their
understanding is much of their own desires and passions, gave answers palatable
to the taste of Rehoboam. They had very little concern God’s law or His purpose
for the nation or people of the nation.
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.’ ”
The answer
given was much of exercise of power and control-gross lack of
shepherd heart or serving attitude: this is the sum of what the entire
life of Solomon conveyed to his son—exercise of power; His life as a whole show
very little fear of the Lord, esp. last half of his tenure as king and his son
Rehoboam failed to capture that fear. This outcome is assessed by the author. He
is not sharing God’s blessing with them. He only looked after his own
interests. –selfishness (fulfillment of God’s word: 1 Sam 8:9-18) This is a degradation
of David’s kingship to the kingship of the world
15 So the
king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord,
to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah
the Shilonite.
It reminds
me of Romans
1: 28
Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge
of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind so that they do what ought
not to be done. (Rom NIV)
A shepherd
heart is directly connected to the heart of God. When one does not have or does
not want to learn or obey God’s heart, he will be just another king of the
world that runs in power or forces of whips and swords or oppressions. Such a king can never sustain their power as long as the history of human kings speaks
loudly.
3.
[16-19] What was their answer to the king
(16a)? Discuss their answer with respect to their need and God’s promise (2 Sam
7:11b-16). How strong was their resolved
to this decision (18)? What was the result (16b-17)? What’s the author’s view of
this event (19)? Discuss what are the things that may serve people to rebel
against God’s purpose and how one might not participate in rebellion against
God’s will.
Shepherd
heart is of and from God only. Through a shepherd heart, one comes to know the
Lord behind it. When Israel did not get what they were looking for from
Rehoboam, they chose to seek after a king who would suit the desires of their
hearts and said this:
16 When
all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king:
“What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse’s son? To your tents,
Israel! Look after your own house, David!”
In the
king that God appointed, they could not find what they needed and were eager to
have. Where to turn? Return to your tents! To their own families, clans, and
tribes. They became independent in their decision and rule—look after yourself!
We also are to note that there is no mention of how they took Jeroboam as king,
suggesting that he was chosen not because he had a respectable quality or
character as king but as an alternative to King Rehoboam.
This tells
us two things: first, it is very depressing not to find the things that they
eagerly hoped in the king that God appointed and approved of. Second, not
finding a clear-cut choice, what were they to do next? What is the right thing to
do? Many believers roam from church to church to look for a perfect one or the
one that can satisfy his/or her needs.
Rehoboam
sent Adoniram to control any rebellion. It is interesting that Adoniram had a
similar position with Jeroboam, in charge of labor (4:6). However, there was
obvious difference between them; he was renowned for strictly applying
forced labor (mas ‘ôbēd), whereas Jeroboam represented lesser levy
duties (sēbel). His role represented fully what Rehoboam had in mind, i.e.,
how to deal with people with such force: To them, he was thought to be as bad as
Rehoboam or even worse than Rehoboam, for they had good experiences with him as
he exercised his authority over the laborers or they hated the force that he
had exercised on the laborers. By murdering Adoniram they gave a
decisive answer to the gesture of peaceful welcome from Rehoboam. As a whole,
the author concludes this event as rebellion
19 So
Israel has been in rebellion against
the house of David to this day.
Against
Rehoboam is against the house of David; God raised Saul as a king. But God did
not establish Saul’s dynasty. God established David’s dynasty by His
promise. God’s purpose and will is with David’s dynasty, not just with
David only. The author notes that against Rehoboam is not just a rebellion
against the wrongs of a king but a rebellion against the dynasty in
which God embedded his will and purpose.
4.
[20-24]
Which tribe remained loyal to the house of David (20)? Discuss what ‘remaining
loyal to the house of David’ means. On returning to Jerusalem, why did Rehoboam
muster his army (21)? What word came from the Lord (22-24a)? How did they
respond to God’s word (24)? In view of
this event. discuss how conflicts among believers may find its resolution.
The action
of the rest of the tribe was condemned as rebellion against God for not
believing and upholding the promise of God to the Davidic dynasty. On the contrary,
he concludes about Judah:
20 When
all the Israelites heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him
to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of
Judah remained loyal to the house of David.
Here again
the term ‘house of David’ in place of King Rehoboam is used—implying that God’s
will was with the house of David, even though Rehoboam, one in the house of
David was wrong in many ways, they upheld God’s purpose in this dynasty and
stayed put through difficult times with this king.
Rehoboam
mustered his army to go to war against Israel to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam
son of Solomon (21). The nation was on the brink of bloody war against each
other: this war is between the authority of the king and the desire of men for
justice and loving care independently of God’s purpose. But God gave his word
through Shemaiah, the man of God;
24 ‘..Do
not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of
you, for this is my doing.’
All these
happened according to God’s permissive will. In this will, God has a greater
purpose. For the time being it looks unreasonable and even wrong, yet, in the
end, it fulfills his promise and achieve His goal, saving of many. Though
Rehoboam lacked faith, people listened to the word of the Lord and all
went home. God saved his people from the war.
When a leader does not go in the right direction, we are to see two things: what is the
promise or purpose of God in and through him? What is God’s transcendent
purpose in this wrongful situation for His hope and His promise for us? Man
fails but God’s promise stands tall in the failure of men.
5.
[25-33]
What did Jeroboam do first (25; Ref. 12:1; Josh 24:1-28)? What was his fear
(26-27)? In this fear, what did he do (27-32) Where did he get this idea (28a;
Cf. Deut 12:5-14)?
The next
passage describes what Jeroboam did to establish his kingdom. What he did can
be divided into three categories of things: first establishing the capital city
and its vicinity to protect and preserve the nation from invasions of foreign
forces. That is to fortify Shechem and Peniel. This was his own idea. Second, setting
up worship objects and place of worship; making two golden calves and putting
them in Bethel and Dan, building shrines on high places. Third, setting up a religious system: appointing priests and instituting religious festivals. The
last two came from the ideas of the people.
First,
fortifying a capital city Shechem (v25)
Shechem is
at the central location with a spiritual heritage: the place where Israel came
first to the land of God’s blessing and declared their presence in the land:
there they made an oath in national solidarity and celebrated the ownership of
the land by committing themselves to keep the Law (Josh 8). This was reaffirmed at the end of Joshua’s
life (Josh 24) in between the two mountains, Mt Ebal and Mt. Gerizim. Later, Tirzah (15:33) and then Samaria (16:23–24)
were added.
This was the
place where Rehoboam attempted to declare his kingship over the entire nation
(1) But from Shechem, Rehoboam was forced to retreat to Jerusalem, his father’s
city, as the place of his throne. His enthronement was marred at Shechem.
And then
Peniel (NIV mg. Penuel) in Gilead, Transjordan (Gen. 32:31, Peniel), were added to gain security
on the borders.
Second: setting
up place and objects of worship
What was
the intention behind of doing these things?
26 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.”
1) He thought
that the kingdom’s, his dynasty, survival depends on how people are
satisfied with his leadership: from the outset of his kingship, he
received the backing of the 10 tribes because he did support the workers and
cared for them; to stay in power, and to avoid the same mishap of Rehoboam, he
felt he must do everything to satisfy their needs. – he thought
the wellbeing of his kingship is on the hands of people. He had to pacify them
by meeting their needs.
2) This was
outright rejection or refusal to believe what God said to him :
11: 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.’ ”
11: 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.’ ”
3) He
concocted a system out of his own idea or ideas of people (v28 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.” 29 One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan.”
This was for the convenience of the people. In addition, (31) Jeroboam built
shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people,
even though they were not Levites. 32 He instituted a festival on the
fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival held in Judah, and
offered sacrifices on the altar. This he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the
calves he had made. And at Bethel, he also installed priests at the high places
he had made. He formulated a system with a concoction of pagan worship.
4) In all
these, there is a willful deviation from what God taught and established—the
single purpose –to make them happy. After all, this was an open rebellion or
apostasy against the LORD, the God of Israel. All—place,
people, time are look like the genuine ones but false; these things have nothing
to do with the Lord; creation of a religion or syncretic belief. Under
the name of the Lord, there is nothing that pertains to the Lord’s will and
purpose or the essence of his being
All these were common idea of the religions of the time—only the name of the Lord was borrowed.
All these were common idea of the religions of the time—only the name of the Lord was borrowed.
Northern Kingdom
Southern Kingdom
Call and foundation of the dynasty
Jeroboam
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.
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.
11:38, If you do whatever I command
you and walk in obedience to me …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.
Rehoboam
2 Sam 7:11b-12“ ‘The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom
14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
2 Sam 7:11b-12“ ‘The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom
14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
7:16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before
me; your throne will be established forever.
Promises
God initiated
based on the law of Covenant
based on the law of Covenant
Contingent on keeping the law
Started with David’s willing
heart to serve the Lord
The kingdom/dynasty will be
sustained by God’s promise
Capital city
Shechem
1.
This place was chosen in rejection of God’s
word/promise
2.
To bring the minds of people together for
the king
3.
The place where Israel made an oath to keep
the Law at the beginning of their occupation of the land (Josh 8) and when
Israel fully occupied the land (Josh 24) It is the place where human
assertive will to keep the law was fully expressed in solidarity as a
single nation.
Nevertheless, the capital city moved
to Tirzah (14:17; 15:33), Samaria (16:23-24)
This speaks of instability of men’s
will and inability to keep their commitment to God’s law and His promise.
Jerusalem
1.
God chose David as well as the place,
according to His promise. The place and the tribe where He would put his name. (Ref Deut 12:11,13)—grounded on God’s promise
2.
The place where God’s judgment stopped by
his mercy for the nation and where David made sacrifice for the sins of the
nation (2 Sam 24:18-25)
The place that God chose, and the tribe that God chose--; the place and tribe are put together; this happened when God chose the place of the threshing floor of Arauna, the land that David paid for; --this place is signified by sin and sacrifice for the redemption of the nation Israel.
The place that God chose, and the tribe that God chose--; the place and tribe are put together; this happened when God chose the place of the threshing floor of Arauna, the land that David paid for; --this place is signified by sin and sacrifice for the redemption of the nation Israel.
3.
Only one capital; did not move
God’s promise, where God put his name on, sustains in and of this place
God’s promise, where God put his name on, sustains in and of this place
The kings and dynasties that followed
All the kings and dynasties of
Israel that would fall to this principle/predicament; unable to overcome it
since that rejected the promise of God or to trust in the Lord and relied on
their strength
There will be only one dynasty,
David’s and in spite of many weaknesses, for God sustained it according to
His promise.
System of faith
Men’s idea according to the form and
styles from the pagan belief
The main goal was to suit people’s
need
Many different forms and shapes
God ordained in order to fulfill His
promise
One and only,
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