LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for January 2: Anatomy of a grave decision

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for January 2: Anatomy of a grave decision focuses on 1 Kings 12:3-8, 16-18, 22-24.

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One of the things we learn from the first chapters of 1 Kings is that the decisions we make can have life-altering results. In Solomon’s reign, he not only allowed his wives to worship idols and build altars to them, but Solomon also chose to worship these false gods. Instead of insisting his wives worship the one true God of Israel, Solomon made decisions that would change the course of his family’s ability to lead the entire nation of Israel.

In 1 Kings 12, we find Solomon’s heir, Rehoboam, making a decision that will cause his nation to be divided. Not only was Rehoboam’s decision wrong, but his decision-making principles were flawed.  

In the first two verses, we are introduced to Rehoboam and Jeroboam. Rehoboam, after Solomon’s death, was anointed king of Israel in Shechem. It was custom to have his coronation in Jerusalem, but Rehoboam saw trouble brewing with the northern tribes. He desired to rule over a united kingdom. In order to cultivate good relations with those tribes, he chose Shechem, the ancient location for making covenants located in the northern tribal area.

It was Jeroboam, one of Solomon’s officials, who had rebelled against the king because of the way he had treated the tribes of the north. Because of this rebellion, Solomon attempted to have Jeroboam killed. To protect himself, Jeroboam fled to Egypt until Solomon died. In 12:2, Jeroboam, who had been hiding in Egypt out of fear of Solomon, returned with the intention of mediating with Rehoboam better conditions for the northern tribes.  

In our lesson, we see four good decision-making principles Rehoboam should have used when confronted with the issues Jeroboam and the northern leaders brought to him. The issues described in 12:3-4 dealt with the Rehoboam easing the harsh social policies established by Solomon. In 12:5, Rehoboam asked for three days to consider the matter.

When pressed by others or circumstances to make key decisions about future relationships or practices, it is wise to take time, if possible, to carefully consider the decisions, the alternatives and their repercussions. When key decisions are to be made, time is the decision-maker’s friend.

In 12:6-8, Rehoboam practiced the second important principle when he sought the counsel and advice of two different groups. First, he sought out the elders who had served in his father’s court. They remembered Rehoboam’s grandfather’s tactic to win over the northern tribes’ confidence. By ruling them as a servant with kindness, David was successful in gaining their loyalty.  The elders said, “… give them a favorable answer, they will be your loyal servants” (v. 7). He rejected their advice.

Rehoboam then consulted the young men who had grown up with him and now served in his court. The young men responded by advising him with what he desired to hear. They told him to reject Jeroboam’s request and threaten the northern tribes with even harsher treatment. The lesson to be learned was Rehoboam’s failure to discern the wise course of action.

We can gain help in making good decisions by seeking advice from those who will tell us what we need to hear and not just what they think we want to hear.   


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After taking the wrong counsel, Rehoboam sees the results of not weighing the effects of his decision with great care in 12:12-18. His actions divided the nation.  Because he did not listen to the people, the people of the northern tribes rejected Rehoboam’s authority over them. This terribly poor decision tore down in a few days what David and Solomon labored 80 years to build. From this we learn that by carefully weighing beforehand the short-term and long-term effects of our decisions, we can avoid making choices that intentionally harm people or hinder the Lord’s purposes.

In 12:20-21, when Jeroboam returns to the northern tribes, they called him to an assembly and made him king over all Israel with only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin remaining loyal to Rehoboam. When Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem, he mustered an army of 180,000 men to subdue Jeroboam and the northern tribes.

However, as he prepared to go to war, he did something he did not do with his first decision—Rehoboam listened to and obeyed God. In verse 22, we read where the “word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God.” The word instructed Rehoboam, “Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites … for this is my doing… . So they obeyed the word of the Lord.” (v. 24).

Rehoboam obeyed God in this matter. Israel had been irreparably split. Because of Solomon’s blasphemy of rebelling against the God of Israel in his worship of idols, God made it possible for Jeroboam to become the king of the northern kingdom. However, it was Rehoboam’s terrible decision-making that cemented this breach of God’s people.  

From this passage of Scripture, we learn that if we always are willing to hear God’s Word and obey it, we can make wise decisions and avoid causing bad choices we have made to become even worse.  This is made possible when we follow the principles of decision making. When confronted with a decision we should, if possible, take time, seek advice, with great care weigh the effects of the decision and listen to the Lord.


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