Here’s how the study works: Read the chapters mentioned in the heading during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for several chapters creates the opportunity to revisit them and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
11:4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.
Was it easy for his wives to turn his heart after other gods because he was already relying on his own resources in accumulating horses (10:26)?
Or was it that he didn't know how to refuse his wives when they wanted to worship other gods? He had probably not experienced his father saying "no" to him or his brothers (1:6). Perhaps all he knew was letting his family do whatever they wanted.
11:4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.
Was it easy for his wives to turn his heart after other gods because he was already relying on his own resources in accumulating horses (10:26)?
Or was it that he didn't know how to refuse his wives when they wanted to worship other gods? He had probably not experienced his father saying "no" to him or his brothers (1:6). Perhaps all he knew was letting his family do whatever they wanted.
12:26-27 Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam.”
Jeroboam disregarded God's Word to him in 11:31,35-38 and thought he needed to secure the kingdom himself. He lead the people into idol worship to protect his own position. How sad.
12:26-27 Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam.”
Jeroboam disregarded God's Word to him in 11:31,35-38 and thought he needed to secure the kingdom himself. He lead the people into idol worship to protect his own position. How sad.
13:2 By the word of the Lord he cried out against the altar: “Altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.’”
An unnamed prophet prophesied some one from David's house would be born and called Josiah. He would destroy Jeroboam's religious system. This prophecy was fulfilled 290 years later. An amazingly accurate prophecy.
See also Isaiah 44:28-45:2 for another amazingly accurate prophecy.
13:2 By the word of the Lord he cried out against the altar: “Altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.’”
An unnamed prophet prophesied some one from David's house would be born and called Josiah. He would destroy Jeroboam's religious system. This prophecy was fulfilled 290 years later. An amazingly accurate prophecy.
See also Isaiah 44:28-45:2 for another amazingly accurate prophecy.
14:2 Jeroboam said to his wife, “Go, disguise yourself, so you won’t be recognized as the wife of Jeroboam. Then go to Shiloh. Ahijah the prophet is there—the one who told me I would be king over this people."
God said about Jeroboam, "You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods, idols made of metal; you have aroused my anger and turned your back on me" (v.9).
Yet Jeroboam still went to God's prophet hoping to get a favourable report (considering the gift he arranged) (v.3). Did he think God didn't know/didn't care about all the evil he had done?
Despite God's blessing on his life he refused to worship him.
14:2 Jeroboam said to his wife, “Go, disguise yourself, so you won’t be recognized as the wife of Jeroboam. Then go to Shiloh. Ahijah the prophet is there—the one who told me I would be king over this people."
God said about Jeroboam, "You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods, idols made of metal; you have aroused my anger and turned your back on me" (v.9).
Yet Jeroboam still went to God's prophet hoping to get a favourable report (considering the gift he arranged) (v.3). Did he think God didn't know/didn't care about all the evil he had done?
Despite God's blessing on his life he refused to worship him.
15:34 He [Baasha] did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of Jeroboam and committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.
Baasha was the one who killed Jeroboam and therefore had the perfect opportunity to lead the people to return to the Mosaic covenant and the happy days of 4:20. But he didn't. Instead he committed the same sin which had the same result (16:3).
Definition of insanity – doing the same thing and expecting a different result.
15:34 He [Baasha] did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of Jeroboam and committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.
Baasha was the one who killed Jeroboam and therefore had the perfect opportunity to lead the people to return to the Mosaic covenant and the happy days of 4:20. But he didn't. Instead he committed the same sin which had the same result (16:3).
Definition of insanity – doing the same thing and expecting a different result.