Sermon Follow-up

Summary First Kings 13 records God’s response to Jeroboam’s brazen corruption of worship. Having established a religious system according to his own desires rather than the command of God, Jeroboam was confronted by an unnamed man of God from Judah. The prophet announced judgment against the altar at Bethel and specifically foretold the coming of Josiah, through whom that altar would eventually be destroyed. When Jeroboam attempted to seize the prophet, God withered the king’s hand and splits the altar. ...

Summary The division of Israel became permanent as the ten northern tribes made Jeroboam their king while Rehoboam retained Judah and Benjamin. When Rehoboam assembled an army to recover the northern tribes by force, the LORD intervened through the prophet Shemaiah, declaring, “this thing has come from Me” (1 Kings 12:24). Rehoboam obeyed and abandoned his campaign. Jeroboam then became fearful that continued worship at the temple in Jerusalem would eventually restore the people’s loyalty to the house of David. ...

Summary As Rehoboam prepared to ascend to the throne of his father, the people appeared before him with a request. Along with Jeroboam, who had recently returned from Egypt, they asked Rehoboam to lighten the harsh burdens imposed under Solomon’s rule. Rehoboam sought counsel first from the seasoned elders who advised serving the people with kindness, promising enduring loyalty. Then he consulted his peers, young men who urged a display of severity: increase the yoke, discipline with “scorpions,” and assert ...

Summary The reign of King Solomon, which began with great wisdom and advantage, ended in turmoil due to his disobedience. Mirroring the downfall of King Saul, God declared He would tear the kingdom from Solomon’s house because Solomon, influenced by his many foreign wives, discarded God’s law and engaged in idolatry. God raised up adversaries against him, including Hadad the Edomite and, more significantly, Jeroboam, an industrious young man from the house of Joseph.   While traveling, Jeroboam was met ...

Summary This story recounts the tragic downfall of King Solomon, who, despite being the wisest man who ever lived, directly disobeyed God’s commands. The text in 1 Kings 11 explicitly details how Solomon took many foreign women from nations concerning which God had forbidden such relationships. Instead of remaining wholly devoted to God like his father David, Solomon began to worship and build high places for foreign gods doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord.   Solomon’s ...