Pam Padgett ... teacher
When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart from God and to the gods of his wives. As a result, God told him all but one tribe would be taken from his son and given to one of Solomon's servants.
1 Kings 11:9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his
heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto
him twice, 10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he
should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD
commanded. 11 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.
God sent the prophet Ahijah to tell Jeroboam, one of Solomon's servants, that he would reign over Israel, and promised to build Jeroboam a sure house if he would go in the ways of God ...
1 Kings 11:37 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.
After Solomon died, God caused his son Rehoboam to speak harshly to the
people of Israel. They rebelled against Rehoboam, and made Jeroboam
king over all but the tribe of Judah. And God also stopped Rehoboam from
coming up against Jeroboam.
1 Kings 12:22 But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of
God, saying, 23 Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah,
and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the
people, saying, 24 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight
against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his
house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word
of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.
25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and
went out from thence, and built Penuel.
God had called and caused Jeroboam to be king over Israel, and
had protected him from Rehoboam. But then Jeroboam started acting according to thoughts which were contrary to what God had said He would do if Jeroboam did what was right in His sight. Jeroboam did that which is very evil in the sight of God while trying to protect his kingdom, even though God had promised him the kingdom if he did what was right in the sight of God as David had done. (1 Kings 11:38) Rather than turning to God with his concerns and trusting God to do as He said He would do, Jeroboam tried to protect his kingdom himself, and did that which is evil in the sight of God.
1 Kings 12:26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the
kingdom return to the house of David: 27 If this people go up to do
sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of
this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of
Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and
said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy
gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 29 And
he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. 30 And this thing
became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto
Dan. 31 And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the
lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. 32 And
Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of
the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the
altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had
made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he
had made. 33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel
the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had
devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of
Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.
While thinking about this, I thought of how God has chosen us and done many things showing His
protection and provision toward us. But thoughts come
to us which are against what God has said, trying to tear down our faith in God and to cause us to go in a way opposite to the way of God.(antichrist) We are instructed to not
deal with these by our own wisdom, but by turning to God and allowing
Him to establish us in His truth in the matter. As we turn to God and
believe what He brings to our attention to deal with the thoughts, we
are kept in the ways of God.
2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war
after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but
mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down
imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the
knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the
obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all
disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.