1 Kings 11-13
Ch. 11
King Solomon loved women. He especially loved foreign woman from other nations. God had warned Israel or to marry these women before the would having him serving there god and pagan influences. King Solomon had a thousand women in all. King Solomon didn’t take heed to Gods word . So God became angry with Solomon and said to him that he will rip the kingdom from him but his son will pay the price for it. Hadad who was a descendant from king of Edom. He had escaped the massacre of Edom. He and some other men went to Egypt and to Pharaoh king of Egypt. Pharaoh liked Hadad and gave him the sister of his wife Queen Tahpenes in marriage. Hadad went back home when he heard that King David and Joab were dead. Rezon collected outlaws and became there leader. He took over as being king in Damascus. Hadad and Rezon became thorns in Solomons side. Now Jeroboam son of Nebat rebelled against the king Solomon. So Jeroboam meets a prophet Ahijah. The prophet was wearing a new cloak and he took it off and tore it into 12 pieces. Ahijah the prophet says to Jeroboam take ten of these pieces for yourself this is by order of God of Israel. God is ripping the kingdom out of Solomons hands and giving you 10 of the tribes. Because Solomon has forgotten me(God), worshipping other gods and he hasn’t lived the way that I have shown him.
Summary: If God gives us instructions we need to follow them.
Ch. 12
Rehoboam traveled to Shechem where Israel was going to make him king. Now the people asked the king Rehoboam to take it easy on them and cut them some slack. Rehoboam told them that the world have a answer in 3 days. So he seek ed council from the young people he grew up with. When the 3 days were here the people and Jeroboam saw the king for answers but he said that it would be worst than his fathers. The people were angry and when Adoniram the work manager came to see the Israelites stoned him and killed him. Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem. After Rehoboam went to Jerusalem Jeroboam became king of Israel. Rehoboam went to Jerusalem to get the best soldiers so they could go to war against Israel and recover the kingdom. God had Shemaiah a man of God to deliver a message to Rehoboam. Do not march out, don’t fight against your brothers the Israelites and go back home. They did what God said to do. Jeroboam made 2 golden calves. He put 1 in Bethel and 1 in Dan so that the people didn’t have to go to Jerusalem to worship. He also built shrines and recruited priests from wherever.
Summary: When we don’t follow the laws of God there will be consequences. We open the door for the enemy.
