[Stuff we're skipping:
* We learn that Solomon was one rich dude.
* We learn that Solomon liked women...foreign women...forbidden women (try 700 wives and 300 concubines). It says that these women turned his heart away from God. Oh oh... He also built places to worship other gods...uh oh.
* Because Solomon turned away, God promised to tear the kingdom from him (but, because of David's faith, He wouldn't do it during his lifetime and would also let the Solomon's son have the throne in one tribe). Bottom line. This ain't good.
* Then it says that God raised up adversaries for Israel. One was a guy named Hadad, whose entire family was destroyed by David and Joab's army. He fled and ended up being raised in Egypt. Now that those two were dead, Hadad was thinking it was time to come home. Rezon, the king of Damascus, also wreaked havok during Solomon's reign.
* But the big rival of Solomon was one of his own servants, Jeroboam. The reason he was a threat was because a prophet had told him that he was going to take and rule over ten of the twelve tribes of Israel. He escaped to live in Egypt until after Solomon died. And, eventually, Solomon died; and his son, Rehoboam took over as king.]
So…things just went from awesome to really bad. Let’s not forget the cause…Solomon chose the gods of his women over the God of his father…
1. Uh oh…the body isn’t even cold yet and Jeroboam is seeking to take the kingdom from Rehoboam. Not good…
2. The people take the opportunity to complain about how hard Solomon made them work. They basically say, “Lighten the load, and we’ll serve you.” Let’s see if Rehoboam is as wise as his dad when it comes to labor disputes.
3. The old school guys told him to lighten up, because then he could win the people over. But, Rehoboam decides to ignore that advice. Instead, he decides to go with advice of his homies. Uh oh…
4. And who was the genius who came up with the statement that his pinkie finger was thicker than his daddy’s thighs? Weird.
5. So…basically, Rehoboam makes the people hate him. Then again, this is what God had pre-ordained through that prophet who talked to Jeroboam. Uh oh… Then again, God is in control…
6. So basically the people leave “the nation of Israel.” They decide that life is better on their own. When Rehoboam tries to lay the smack down by sending his leader over forced-labor, they stone him to death. So…he does what any thinking man would do…he high-tails it out of Jerusalem.
7. And just like that, the people chose Jeroboam to be king. He was basically the default choice.
8. Thankfully, instead of starting a civil war, Rehoboam listens to God and doesn’t try to “take the power back.”
Questions…
What do you think of…
Solomon’s life?
Jeroboam’s rise to power?
Rehoboam’s loss of power?
God’s “behavior” during this time?
