Jeroboam (I)

Introduction

I began to name this the ‘Bible Person Study’, but chose to go with the ‘Bible Character Study’. I hesitated to name it that, as I don’t want to diminish the fact that these are real people we’ll be examining. But the reason that it’s named the Bible Character Study is because we’ll be focusing on the person’s character throughout. But don’t forget that these were real people, with real lives that made real choices that had real consequences.

I. Jeroboam’s Nature

((What is their History / Background?)

Served Under Solomon

Jeroboam’s story doesn’t begin with Rehoboam. He actually goes back further than that.

The Bible describes him as ‘A Mighty Man of Valour’

Was a Mighty Man of Valour (1Ki. 11:28)

Solomon recognized that this was a smart, industrious man, so he promoted him to a position of power.

That word valour means ‘a force’ - he was a force to be reckoned with.

First King of Israel Divided

Reigned for 22 years (1Ki. 14:20)

During the Reign of Rehoboam (17 yrs), Abijam / Abijah (3 yrs) & Asa (2 yrs)

* Years are rounded

1 Kings 14:21 “And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess.”

1 Kings 15:1–2 “Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah. Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.”

1 Kings 15:9 “And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah.”

Succeeded by Nadab his Son

1 Kings 15:25 “And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years.”

The Kingdom of Israel would begin in similar fashion to in essence have a ‘Royal lineage’ and the successor would be his son… but it wouldn’t stay like that.

II. Jeroboam’s Notoriety

(What they are known for?)

Rebelling Against the King

Jeroboam was not the only, but one of the leaders in what would eventually be the rebellion against the monarchy.

This of course would have lasting effects concerning the kingdom of Israel, as the kingdom of Israel was rent in twain and the earthly kingdom of the Jews would and will never be reestablished again.

The Millennial Kingdom of Christ is not a Jewish Kingdom, but a Universal one, so the Jewish Kingdom is gone forever. There is a Jewish state, which God miraculously engineered, but not a Kingdom.

Rebelling against the King

Erecting Idol Worship in Israel

Jeroboam purposefully & maliciously setup Idol Worship in the land of Israel.

This is particularly egregious because he was knowingly leading the people astray for his own personal gain.

A Withered Hand and a Broken Altar

In 1Ki. 13, God sends a man to Jeroboam to preach the Word of God unto him… yet, Jeroboam initial reaction was to let loose of the Altar and point out the man of God would wither up by the might of God, then the altar which he had holt of would be rent as well.

This would serve as the premise for a larger story concerning this man of God.

Seeking News of His Son

In the next chapter, (IKi. 14) Jeroboam has a son that is sick (Read 1Ki. 14:1-6)

After erecting the altar of false gods, when Jeroboam truly wanted a Word from God, he knew where to go. He didn’t seek the news in Bethel or Dan - but he sent his wife unto Ahijah - the man of God whom tore his garment and told him the Word of the LORD.

After that, he would certainly get the Word of God - which would not only tell him that his son would die, but all of the men born unto him would die as well.

Seeking News of his Son

Setting the Precedent for Israel

One of the things that you’ll see, that while Jeroboam’s story is not the lengthiest of the Kings, it certainly had a lasting impact. If you’re not aware, while the Kingdom of Judah would have good & bad kings, Israel only had bad ones with varying degree of wickedness.

But throughout the time of the kings, you see his name littered throughout the accounts. Here is a sample:

In speaking of Baasha - the one who would destroy Jeroboam’s house: 1 Kings 15:34 “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.”

In speaking of Zimri: 1 Kings 16:19 “For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the Lord, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.”

In speaking of Omri: 1 Kings 16:25–26 “But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all that were before him. For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities.”

In speaking of Ahab: 1 Kings 16:31 “And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.”

Jeroboam’s name became a byword for wickedness.

III. What Makes him Noteworthy

(What Lessons we can Learn from them?)

Lost his Garment, but Received a Kingdom (1Ki. 11:29-30)

The life and decisions of Jeroboam naturally tends to what I would call ‘negative lessons’ or ‘precautionary tales’. In other words - examples of what NOT to do.

However, there are a couple bright spots in Jeroboam’s record. One would be that instead of immediately rebelling against Rehoboam, he sought a peaceful existence under his kingdom before rebelling.

The other is here.

Notice that Jeroboam was wearing a new garment. (I don’t know about you, but I like wearing new clothes - especially when I’ve tried them on & they fit good - before I expand and they shrink!) So here is Jeroboam going about his business in his new garment, when he meets what appears to be a ‘crazy preacher’ who takes that garment and rips it up! Can you imagine being a little aggravated at that? (Ill.) I was at school a while back in my nice dress shirt & tie, when some kid blew up a ketchup packet & it squirted on it. I was NOT happy.

But, what it cost him is nothing compared to what he gained. He lost a garment, but gained a kingdom.

Have you heard the phrase “You can’t make an omelette without breaking some eggs?” The point being, sometimes, we must lose in order to gain.

The Proverb:

Proverbs 11:24 “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.”

The Principle

Consider the life and ministry of Christ:

Had Christ not lost His life, we’d never gain Eternal Life

Had Christ not Ascended, we’d never received the Holy Ghost: John 16:7 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

The Practice

Oftentimes, we focus on what we lose, without ever considering what it is that we gain in return.

(Ill.) We moved this past Saturday - and Mrs. Martha asked how I felt, and I said bittersweet. She said ‘You’re not happy?’ and I said ‘Oh, yes, but I’ll miss this place’. In order to gain Hebron, we had to lose the home that we’ve known for the last 7+ years.

(Ill.) I’ll never forget my daughters wedding night. We drove off from her new home & it was bittersweet. We didn’t lose our daughter, but our way of life for the prior 26+ years of her under our roof. But had we not lost that, we wouldn’t have gained a son.

So the lesson here is, oftentimes we’ll lose things in this life - but rather than focus and be distraught about what we’ve lost, we must look at what it is we’ve gained in return - because regardless of the loss, there is always a gain in some form or fashion waiting to be embraced.

He lost his garment but recieved a kingdom

Rebellion will Lead you Astray Today, and Impact your Decisions Tomorrow (1Ki. 11:40; 12:28)

Jeroboam would leave his home of promise and sojourn in Egypt. What led to that exactly, I’m not sure. It could be that nothing more than word got out that God had given him part of the kingdom - which I find hard to believe.

If I had to guess, his rebellious heart began at least sowing the seeds of division, then Solomon got word and he had to flee - BUT THAT’S JUST A GUESS!

He could have staged a coup - BUT I DOUBT IT

The bottom line is, he had to flee - but he fled to Egypt. An ungodly, pagan people, far from home.

The important thing is not what got him there, it’s more of how Egypt influenced him. 1 Kings 12:28 “Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.”

Does this sound familiar?

Exodus 32:4 “And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.”

This idea of calf worshipping is said to have been a practice of Egyptians - hence why the Israelites did it when they come forth from there, and now Jeroboam.

So what does this mean & how does it apply to us?

It means that whenever we rebel against God and get to a place far from Him, oftentimes it leaves scars that will effect future decisions that we make.

Church, sin is not done in isolation, it’s effects are not felt in only the isolation of one person, or one time period. Sin leaves scars, that oftentimes mar our testimony and influence our decisions. This is why we must seek to abstain from sin rather than dabble with the expectation of recovery.

Rebellion will lead you Astray Today & Impact your Decisions Tomorrow

Self-Prioritization Breeds Poor Decision Making (1Ki. 12:26-28)

What was Jeroboam concerned about in 1Ki. 12:27? Losing HIS kingdom and HIS life.

He was thinking ONLY about himself.

He certainly wasn’t thinking about the health and wellbeing of his people.

KNOW THIS: JEROBOAM DIDN’T BELIEVE IN THE FALSE GOD’S HE CREATED - HE CREATED THEM AND WORSHIPPED THEM FOR A SHOW AND TO FOOL HIS PEOPLE SO HE WOULDN’T LOSE HIS KINGDOM!

Do you know what caused that? Doubting God!

God promised him the kingdom of 10 tribes - but he didn’t believe God!

Church, whenever we put ourselves first, we might find a pleasure for the moment - but it’s always fleeting and shallow. We tend to make really, really poor decisions when we’re trying to satisfy ourselves.

The Sluggard: Proverbs 6:10–11 “Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, And thy want as an armed man.”

The Rich: Luke 12:20 “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?”

Proverbs 13:7 “There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.”

The Whoremonger: Proverbs 7:22–23 “He goeth after her straightway, As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; Till a dart strike through his liver; As a bird hasteth to the snare, And knoweth not that it is for his life.”

The Arrogant: Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.”

Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall.”

Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.”

The Pleasure Seeker: Proverbs 21:17 “He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.”

ONE THE CONTRARY - when we put God first, our decisions immediately improve.

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Whenever we put God and the things of God FIRST in our lives (AND THEY SHOULD BE FIRST), we make better decisions - which in turn, leads to a better life!

Self-prioritization leads to poor decision making

The Altar of a False God will Not Stand (1Ki. 13:5)

Despite your Grip

Despite your Protection

Despite your Desire

You Can’t Fool God (1Ki. 14:1-6)

You Can’t Fight Against God and Win (2Chr. 13)

Not All Remembrance is Good

Today you might be the Tool, Tomorrow it might be You

Jeroboam was an instrument used by God to bring Judgment down upon Solomon for his wicked ways. 1 Kings 11:33 “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.”

But in the end, because Jeroboam did the same thing, he got the same results: 1 Kings 14:9–10 “But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back: Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.”

(Ill.) You know what this reminded me of? The story of the ‘other woman’. A woman (It’s not a perfect illustration). The husband cheats on his wife with her, they split up, she now marries the husband, but expects different results for the same behaviour.

In other words - She was the tool to breakup the marriage, but the same behaviour will bring down theirs as well.

Just because You Know Better, doesn’t Mean you’ll Do Better

Conclusion