Jeroboam’s Rebellion
March 29, 2020
Commentary
Solomon had both internal and external adversaries. We have already heard about Hadad, the Edomite, who had taken refuge in Egypt and lived for the day he could take revenge of David’s slaughter of the Edomites. Apparently he caused trouble for Solomon militarily (v. 25). Now we meet another enemy of Solomon, Rezon, who was from Zolah, just south of Damascus. He took control of that region (vv. 23-25).
Next we meet an internal adversary, Jeroboam, who was from Ephrain, the leading tribe in the Northern Kingdom. Apparently he had worked for Solomon and as a result of his good work was promoted to leader over the whole labor force of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh (vv. 26-28). The one tribe to be left with Solomon was Judah (v. 32). This one tribe was taken over by Solomon’s son Rehoboam.
Jeroboam was told that he could rule over all that his heart desired (v. 37). Unfortunately, Jeroboam did not value this promise and it was forfeited. No reason is stated but Jeroboam apparently tried to take matters into his own hands and seize the kingdom. Because of this, Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam. Solomon ruled for 40 years but his life ended in tragedy. He became more of a lover of the things God prohibited than in God Himself. The man who had the most wisdom of any man who ever lived failed to apply this wisdom to his life and died a very unhappy old man. We have here the conclusion of Solomons story. A summary of the years of his reign (v. 42): He reigned in Jerusalem (not, as his father, part of his time in Hebron and part in Jerusalem). His reign was as long as his father’s, but not his life. Sin shortened his days.
Application
I need to listen to those that God places in my path as leaders and authority in my life. If I refuse to listen to them, I may have serious consequences come into my life.
Isaiah 28:1– 13 (NET)
1 The splendid crown of Ephraim’s drunkards is doomed, the withering flower, its beautiful splendor, situated at the head of a rich valley, the crown of those overcome with wine.
2 Look, the Lord sends a strong, powerful one. With the force of a hailstorm or a destructive windstorm, with the might of a driving, torrential rainstorm, he will knock that crown to the ground with his hand.
3 The splendid crown of Ephraim’s drunkards will be trampled underfoot.
4 The withering flower, its beautiful splendor, situated at the head of a rich valley, will be like an early fig before harvest— as soon as someone notices it, he grabs it and swallows it.
5 At that time the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will become a beautiful crown and a splendid diadem for the remnant of his people.
6 He will give discernment to the one who makes judicial decisions, and strength to those who defend the city from attackers.
7 Even these men stagger because of wine; they stumble around because of beer— priests and prophets stagger because of beer, they are confused because of wine, they stumble around because of beer; they stagger while seeing prophetic visions, they totter while making legal decisions.
8 Indeed, all the tables are covered with vomit, with filth, leaving no clean place.
9 Who is the Lord trying to teach? To whom is he explaining a message? To those just weaned from milk! To those just taken from their mother’s breast!
10 Indeed, they will hear meaningless gibberish, senseless babbling, a syllable here, a syllable there.
11 For with mocking lips and a foreign tongue he will speak to these people.
12 In the past he said to them, “This is where security can be found. Provide security for the one who is exhausted. This is where rest can be found.” But they refused to listen.
13 So the Lord’s message to them will sound like meaningless gibberish, senseless babbling, a syllable here, a syllable there. As a result, they will fall on their backsides when they try to walk, and be injured, ensnared, and captured.
Illustration: Business Destroy’s Relationships
Business destroys relationships. It substitutes shallow frenzy for deep friendship. It feeds the ego but starves the inner man. It fills a calendar but fractures a family. It cultivates a program that plows under priorities. Many a church boasts about its active program: “Something for every night of the week for everybody.” What a shame! With good intentions the local assembly can create the very atmosphere it was designed to curb. (Dr. Charles Swindoll).