Saturday, November 9, 2013
1 Kings Chapter 12
Review & Intro: Chapter 11, we saw Solomon's love for foreign women turned his heart away to worship and serve their false gods. The Lord did not tear the kingdom away from him because of His promise to David his father, but we will see in Chapter 12 that the Lord will keep His promise to Jeroboam to have 10 tribes of Israel make him king, while only 2 tribes that will be called Judah will follow the house of David under Solomon's son; Rehoboam. The kingdom of Israel is now divided into the North and the South.
1 Kings Chapter 12 - Observation Questions
1. Solomon's son, Rehoboam went to Shechem for all of Israel to crown him king. (vs.1) ..... Where was Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, when he heard about this and why was he there? vs. 2
Note: Shechem was a city with a rich history. Abraham worshipped there (Genesis 12:6). Jacob built an altar and purchased land there (Genesis 33:18-20). Joseph was buried there (Joshua 24:32). It was also the geographical center of the northern tribes. All in all, it showed that Rehoboam was in a position of weakness, having to meet the ten northern tribes on their territory, instead of demanding that representatives come to Jerusalem.
2. Read 1 Kings 11:26-40 to review Jeroboam's rebellion and the reason he fled until the death of King Solomon. Give a summary of what you learn:
3. Back to 1 Kings 12. ..... Jeroboam and all of Israel were willing to serve Solomon's son, Rehoboam, under one condition. What was it? vs.3,4
4. King Rehoboam asked them to depart for 3 days and then return to him. (vs.5) ... He sought counsel from the elders who had served with his father King Solomon. (vs.6) ... What were the two things that the elders told him that would capture the heart of the people to serve him forever? vs. 7 - 1) 2)
5. How did King Rehoboam respond to the advice of the elders that served with his father Solomon? vs. 9
6. Who did Rehoboam decide to ask advice from and follow? vs.9
7. What did they advise him to say back to the people asking for a lighter load of labor and taxation? vs.10,11
8. When Jeroboam and all the people returned in 3 days as was previously agreed on, King Rehoboam answered them with the advice given by the young men; his companions. He told them that he would be harder on them than his father Solomon had been. ..... What was the true reason that Solomon did not listen to the people or the elders of his father Solomon? vs. 15
9. Go back and review what the Lord had spoken through Ahijah to Jeroboam. Give a summary below:
- 1 Kings 11:29-39 -
10. Back to 1 Kings 12 ..... What did all Israel say when they realized King Rehoboam did not listen to their request to lighten their labor and taxes from what they had dealt with under King Solomon his father? vs. 16
11. Who did Rehoboam still reign over even after most of Israel departed from him? vs. 17
12. What happened to Adoram who was over the forced labor when King Rehoboam sent him to the other tribes of Israel who had departed from his rulership? vs. 18
13. Because of this, where did King Rehoboam flee to? vs. 18
14. Israel rebelled against the house of David that day and the kingdom was torn in two as previously prophesied. (vs.19) ..... Who did Israel make their king that day in place of Rehoboam? vs. 20
15. What was the only tribe to follow the house of David? vs. 20
Note: The tribe of Benjamin was included in this as well. (vs.21)
16. Why did King Rehoboam choose 180,000 warriors from the tribes of Judah & Benjamin when he came to Jerusalem? vs. 21
17. What did the Lord tell Shemaiah to say to King Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah? vs.23, 24
18. Since the split of the kingdom had come from the Lord Himself, everyone returned to their tents and Judah did not fight Israel. (vs.24) ..... What city did Jeroboam build to live at and where was it located? vs. 25
19. Jeroboam also built Penuel. (vs.25) ..... What was Jeroboam's concern if the people continued to go to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices in worship to the Lord? vs. 26,27
20. King Jeroboam told the people it was too difficult for them to go up to Jerusalem to worship. What did he make for them to worship and what did he say about them? vs. 28
21. What two places were the two golden calves placed for Israel's worship? vs. 29
22. This was a sin as the people went as far as Dan to worship the golden calf there. (vs.30) ..... Jeroboam made houses on the high places. Who did he make as priests over them and how did this go against the law of the Lord? vs. 31
23. Jeroboam instituted a feast like the one that was in Judah. What day and month was it to be celebrated each year by the people? vs. 32
24. Who were the people to sacrifice to during the feast Jeroboam instituted on his own? vs.32
25. What did Jeroboam do in Bethel as well? vs. 32
26. How did this feast come about? vs. 33
Applications:
1. At first, Solomon's son, Rehoboam, asked for advice from his elders; from the men who had known his father. They told him that he would do best by being a gentle leader, one that had compassion for those who served him. This was the pattern that Jesus followed as the greatest example of leadership for us to follow. Comment on the Scriptures below to see what godly wisdom in leadership is suppose to look like:
- 1 Kings 12:6,7 -
- Matthew 9:13 -
- Matthew 10:42 -
- Matthew 11:29 -
- Matthew 20:25 -
- John 13:14 -
- 2 Corinthians 1:24 -
- Galatians 6:1 -
- Colossians 3:12 -
- 1 Thessalonians 2:7 -
- 2 Timothy 2:25 -
- James 3:7 -
- James 3:13 -
2. Jeroboam refused the counsel of the elders who had known his father and went with the advice of those he had as companions of his own age. (he was about 40 years old). Why is it important that we follow the counsel of the Lord's Word and not those of our contemporaries and culture?
3. Jeroboam created his own form of worship and even a feast for Israel to celebrate. We will find out that he even changed the calendar to suit himself and his objectives. He even established his own priesthood. The apostle Paul refers to this in the New Testament as "self-made religion". Comment on the following Scriptures:
- Matthew 7:21-23 -
- Colossians 2:20-23 -
- 2 Timothy 4:1-4 -
4. There is a consistency to God's Word. All suggested revelations must be tested by those which have already been received. God does not contradict Himself. The message once delivered to the saints should not be tampered with. Comment on the following Scriptures:
- Galatians 1:6-9 -
- 1 John 4:1 -
- Revelation 2:2 -
- Revelation 22:18,19 -
5. Jeroboam could have been blessed by God and his family could have continued to reign over God's people if he had chosen God's way instead of his own. It is the same with us. Are we doing things His way or choosing our own way?
- 1 Kings 11:28 -
- Proverbs 14:12 -
- John 14:6 -
- Acts 4:12 -
- 1 John 4:1 -
6. Summarize this lesson and post a prayer if you would like.
Page 2 of 2 ..... 1 Kings Chapter 11
Page 2 of 2 ..... 1 Kings Chapter 11
Application:
33. Solomon loved many foreign women. The Lord had been very specific when He gave Moses the law to follow that the Jews were not to "intermarry" with the nations around them.
- Exodus 34:10-16 -
- Deuteronomy 7:1-6 -
34. How is this stated again for New Testament believers today?
- 1 Corinthians 15:33 -
- 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 -
35. Not only was Solomon breaking the law of God by loving many foreign women, but God had also instructed the kings not to multiply wives to themselves as other kings did to show their own power and might. (Deuteronomy 17:17) ..... When we try to be like the world and copy the things that they have decided make for good appearance and success, what are we doing to the heart of God?
- Romans 12:1,2 -
- Ephesians 4:30 -
- James 4:4-10 -
- 1 John 2:15-17 -
36. Solomon continued in his sin, whereas his father David always repented and turn from his sin when he was convicted by the Holy Spirit. Read the Psalm again and make notes of how you see David's heart:
37. Each one of us can have a particular 'stronghold' that trips us up and makes us less effective in our witness as we run the race of life with the cause of Christ. There is sometimes a particular sin that easily trips us up, and yet if we will continue to return to the Lord for strength and resistance against the temptation that it brings, we can be overcomers and still have effective and productive lives for the Lord.
- Hebrews 12:1-3 -
- 1 Corinthians 10:6-14 -
- 1 John 5:4 -
38. We are to told to flee idolatry and immorality. These are the most destructive sins and are to be avoided.
- 1 Corinthians 6:13 -
- 1 Corinthians 6:18 -
- Ephesians 5:3 -
- Colossians 3:5 -
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3 -
39. Sin is luring and seductive and very cunning. When Satan tempted Eve in the garden, he reasoned with her and made her feel as though God was holding out on giving her the best. He wanted her to think for herself and to be 'like God'; this was his tactics from the beginning of time. He has always been a liar and the father of lies. He even dresses up as an angel of light to deceive us. His goal is to make us doubt God's goodness and move us away from complete dependance on the Lord; to live for ourselves and glorify ourselves. Has he acheived some of his goals in your walk of faith at times? What can we do to be aware of his tactics and to continue to stand strong in our faith in the Lord and service to Him?
- Genesis 3:1-7 -
- Job 1:6-12 -
- 2 Corinthians 2:11 -
- 2 Corinthians 11:3 -
- Ephesians 6:11 -
40. Sometimes when we get away with our sin(s) without an immediate negative result or discipline, we believe that God is blind to what we have done or we are somehow escaping the judgment for our sin(s). God is very patient with us as He waits for us to humble ourselves and return to Him, but we are not to be deceived in thinking that consequences for our wrong choices in life will not follow. God is not mocked. We will reap what we sow. Read these verses about God's patience and mercy but also how the flesh will reap corruption without repenance and restoration.
- Romans 2:4 -
- 1 Peter 3:20 -
- 2 Peter 3:8-9 -
- Galatians 6:7-9 -
41. Solomon’s story does not end here. At the end of his reign, Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes in which he declares what he ultimately learned about success, sin, and the challenges of life. What does he tell us in the last chapter he wrote?
- Ecclesiastes 12:13 -
42. How do we know that we have come to truly know the Lord?
- 1 John 2:3 -
43. Summarize this lesson and post a prayer if you would like.
1 kings 11
eview & Intro: In Chapter 10, Solomon was visited by the Queen of Sheba and she was overwhelmed by his wealth and wisdom. They exchanged gifts with one another and we saw all the splendor of King Solomon's kingdom. In Chapter 11, we see Solomon's love for foreign women turns his heart away to worship their false gods. The Lord will not tear the kingdom away from him because of His promise to David his father, but it will be torn away from his son because of his disobedience. We can choose our own paths, but we cannot control the consequences we will suffer. If only Solomon would have repented and had a heart like David his father, but he did not.
1 Kings Chapter 11 - Observation Questions
1. What women did King Solomon love besides the daughter of Pharaoh which he had taken as a wife? vs. 1 - Name 5 places they were from
2. What had the Lord said concerning these nations and the reason why He did not want them to associate with them? vs. 2 (and see Deuteronomy 17:17) .....Even so, what did King Solomon do in regard to them? vs. 2
3. How many wives did Solomon have? vs. 3 ... How many concubines did Solomon have? vs. 3
Note: It was a custom of kings to have many women for wives (considered princesses) and legal partners called concubines for having more children even though they were not in the same standing as their wives. Solomon, however, belonged to the God of Abraham who had given Moses the rules for kings in Deuteronomy Chapter 17. Kings of Israel were not to mulitiply wives to themselves.
4. As the Lord had said would happen, what did these wives cause Solomon to do when he was old? vs.3,4
5. How did Solomon's heart compare with his father David's? vs. 4
6. What are two gods that Solomon went after? vs. 5 1) 2) ..... Use a Bible concordance online and share what you learn about these gods.
7. What were Solomon's actions in the sight of the Lord? vs. 6
8. What was Solomon's walk compared to his father David's? vs. 6
9. What did Solomon do for the god of Moab named Chemosh on the mountain which is east of Jerusalem? vs. 7 ..... Use a concordance online again to share what you learn about Chemosh.
10. What did Solomon do as well for the god of the Ammonites named Molech? vs. 7 ..... Use a concordance online again to share what you learn about Molech.
11. Who did he make these for and for what purpose? vs. 8
12. Why was the Lord angry with Solomon? vs. 9,10
13. What was going to happen to the nation of Israel because of what Solomon had done in not obeying the Lord's commands? vs. 11
14. Why was the Lord going to wait and do this when his son reigned rather during Solomon's reign? vs. 12
15. The Lord would leave the one tribe of Judah under the rule of the house of David and for Jerusalem whom the Lord had chosen for His Name. (vs.13) .....The 10 tribes of Israel would be called the Northern kingdom and the tribe of Judah would be called the Southern kingdom. From that point forward, they would be called Israel and Judah. ..... Who was the first adversary that the Lord raised up to go against Solomon? vs. 14
16. In verses 14-17 - An explanation is given of how Hadad and other Edomites escaped to Egypt when David's commander, Joab, had struck down all the males of Edom. They arose from Midian and went to Paran and got men from there before going to Egypt where Pharaoh gave them housing, land, and food. (vs.18) ..... Hadad was given in marriage to the sister of Pharaoh's wife, Tahpenes the queen. (vs.19) ..... She bore a son to him by the name of Genubath (vs.20) ..... When did Hadad leave Egypt and return to his own country again? vs.21,22
17. Who was another adversary that God raised up against Solomon? vs. 23
18. He abhorred Israel. Where did he reign from and who did he reign over? vs.24,25
19. Who rebelled against King Solomon and what tribe of Israel was he from? vs. 26
20. Why did he rebel against the king? vs. 27
21. We learn that Jeroboam was a valiant warrior and an industrious young man. What did Solomon appoint him over? vs. 28
22. What happened to Jeroboam when he went out of Jerusalem? vs. 29
23. What did the prophet Ahijah do with the new cloak that he was wearing? vs. 30
24. What did the prophet Ahijah tell Jeroboam to do and what did it symbolize God was doing? vs. 31
25. Why would the Lord leave one tribe with the house of David? vs. 32 ..... Why were the 10 tribes pulling away from the house of David? What had the nation of Israel done to show they had forsaken God? ..... What gods were they serving? vs. 33 - Name 3 listed
26. Rather than walk in the ways of the Lord, they did what was right in their own sight. They did not observe His statutes and ordinances as King David had done. (vs.33) ..... Solomon was to remain ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David. (vs.34) ..... The Lord would take the kingdom from Solomon's son's hand. How many tribes would be given to Jeroboam to rule over? vs. 35
Note: Sometimes the tribe of Benjamin is mentioned with Judah as part of the Southern tribe that remained with David's household. (see 2 Chronicles 11:12) ..... The Northern kingdom would be the 10 tribes other than Judah and Benjamin.
27. Why would God give the one tribe (Judah including Benjamin) to Solomon's son to reign over? vs. 36
28. God prophesied to Jeroboam that he would be king over "Israel" (the 10 tribes). (vs.37) ..... If he would walk in His ways and do what was right in His sight, what did the Lord say He would do for him as He had promised David? vs. 38
29. Although the descendants of David were to be afflicted by the Lord, would it always be that way? vs. 39
30. Solomon heard that Jeroboam was to be king over 10 tribes. What did he seek to do to him to keep that from happening? vs. 40 ..... Where did Jeroboam flee to for safety until the death of Solomon? vs. 40
31. The rest of the acts of Solomon were written in another book of his actions. (vs.41) ..... How many years did Solomon reign over Jerusalem before his death? vs. 42
32. Solomon was buried in the city of his father David. Which of his sons reigned as king in his place? vs. 43
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