Print Page 1 Kings 12-15 Jeroboam

There are important lessons that can be learned from the life of Jeroboam, son of Nebat (1 Kings 11:26). Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam after he found out he was going to become king of 10 out of the 12 tribes (1 Kings 11:27-33, 1 Kings 11:40). Solomon angered God by having multiple wives and setting up places of worship to false gods (1 Kings 11:1-11).

Before the death of Solomon, Jeroboam hid in Egypt (1 Kings 11:40). When Solomon died of natural causes in 931 B.C. Solomon's son Rehoboam took over the throne in Jerusalem (1 Kings 11:43).  In 933 B.C Jeroboam started his kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 12:20). He reigned over the northern 10 tribes of Reuben, Simeon, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Ephriam and Manasseh. Rehoboam ruled over Judah containing the 2 southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The tribe of Levi were scattered between both kingdoms but mainly in Judah.

Jeoboam was very pragmatic and willing to compromise. He setup places of worship in both Dan and Bethel (1 Kings 12:29). He appeased the people by settings up golden calves just as Aaron had many years before (Exodus 32:4). He feared if he didn't do these things the people would go to Jerusalem to worship and turn on him (1 Kings 12:26-27). Instead of using the priests of Levi as God had commanded (Numbers 3:10) he used people not qualified to be priests (1 Kings 12:31). Jeroboam even went as far creating his own feast in response to the feast of Tabernacles (1 Kings 12:32-33).

We conclude with how this applies to us today. Like Jeoboam many self professing Christians are willing to compromise. As Sorenson put it in his Understanding the Bible commentary:

Here is a classic illustration of false religion. It was politically motivated and counterfeited the true. Many religions to this day have the same characteristics.

Some churches now take pagan practices such as yoga and contemplative prayer and mix that with their Christianity. Others turn worship into a rock concert where fleshly emotions trump sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3). Some churches have homosexuals or women as pastors. Instead churches need to adhere to sound doctrine (2 Timothy 2:4, Titus 1:9. Titus 2:1). We need to be prepared to give an answer to those that ask (1 Peter 3:15). We need to make sure we are not a lukewarm church that God wants to spew out of his mouth (Revelation 3:16).