Solomon’s Replacement Chosen

God had caused Hadad the Syrian and Rezin the Edomite to begin raiding into Israel in an effort to make Solomon aware God was no longer blessing him as freely because of his sin.  Like many people, since the raids did not affect him personally, Solomon didn’t think about why they were happening, treating them as normal opposition.  When that didn’t work, God sent another man to shake him up, in I Kings 11:26-28.  “And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.  And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.  And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.”

Almost a hundred years before, Saul had been much like Solomon, putting his own desires and convenience ahead of God, finally deliberately disobeying.  When he did, God chose David to be the next king.  This time, he sent his prophet to Jereboam to inform him that he was to be the next king, in I Kings 11:29-37.  “And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field: And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.

Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes: But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.  And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.  And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.”

Because Solomon had not followed God, the Lord was going to fulfill the warning he gave in I Kings 9:4-9.  “And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.  But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them: Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people: And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house?  And they shall answer, Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the LORD brought upon them all this evil.”

Because of Solomon’s sin, the nation would split with only the the tribe of Judah chosing to remain with David’s family.  They would only retain that tribe because of God’s promise to David because of his faithfulness.  He promised that if Jereboam would serve God, he would be blessed in the same way God had offered to bless Solomon if he would obey, In I Kings 38.  “And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.”  God was not forgetting his promises to David, despite Solomon’s sin.  One day he would bring David’s family back into power and fulfill the promises to David, as I Kings 11:39 tells us.  “And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.”

When Solomon learned Jeroboam had been chosen to be the next king, he reacted just like Saul did, trying to kill him.  Jeroboam fled to Egypt for protection until Solomon’s death, as I Kings 11:40 describes.  “Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.”

Unfortunastely, when leaders or those in authority go into sin they tend to become very selfish, unwilling to give up control and often doing their best to ensure that whoever is chosen to take their place cannot succeed.  While modern leaders seldom resort to actual murder, they often make false accusations and distortions to assassinate his character or stir up conflict driving people away in an attempt to destroy either the organization, whether it is a nation, a business, or a church.