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.
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