Jeroboam and the Word of the Lord

October 16th, 2026
by David Bempong

[ READ ] 1 Kings 11:26–43

26 Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow, also lifted up his hand against the king. 27 And this was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king. Solomon built the Millo, and closed up the breach of the city of David his father. 28 The man Jeroboam was very able, and when Solomon saw that the young man was industrious he gave him charge over all the forced labor of the house of Joseph. 29 And at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Now Ahijah had dressed himself in a new garment, and the two of them were alone in the open country. 30 Then Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and tore it into twelve pieces. 31 And he said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon and will give you ten tribes 32 (but he shall have one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel), 33 because they have forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and they have not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my sight and keeping my statutes and my rules, as David his father did. 34 Nevertheless, I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of David my servant whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes. 35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand and will give it to you, ten tribes. 36 Yet to his son I will give one tribe, that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put my name. 37 And I will take you, and you shall reign over all that your soul desires, and you shall be king over Israel. 38 And if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, I will be with you and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you. 39 And I will afflict the offspring of David because of this, but not forever.’” 40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.
41 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the Book of the Acts of Solomon? 42 And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. 43 And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.

There's a detail in this passage I keep coming back to. Ahijah meets Jeroboam on the road, takes a new garment, and tears it into twelve pieces.
It's a strange way to deliver God's message. The kingdom Solomon had spent his life building was about to be divided. I don't know about you, but I don't particularly like it when things come apart. Especially things I've poured myself into.
And I don't want to suggest that everything that falls apart in our lives is God tearing it apart. Sometimes our own decisions catch up with us. Sometimes we're dealing with the consequences of someone else's choices. And sometimes things just happen that we can't explain.
But what I find interesting is that even as the kingdom is being divided, God hasn't disappeared from the story. He's still at work. His promises to David haven't been forgotten. Things aren't going the way Solomon imagined, but that doesn't mean God has abandoned his people.
Which makes me wonder if I've confused God's faithfulness with his willingness to keep everything in my life intact.
Maybe a question worth sitting with today is if I’m willing to trust God when things come apart.
- David Bempong

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What does Ahijah do with his new garment, and what does he tell Jeroboam the twelve pieces represent? (vv. 29–32)
+ According to the passage, why is God dividing the kingdom? (vv. 33–34)
+ Even as God announces judgment on Solomon's kingdom, what promises does he continue to make? (vv. 35–39)

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Are you spending more energy trying to hold something together than paying attention to what God might be showing you about your own heart?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, it's easy to get so caught up in keeping everything together that I neglect what's happening in my own heart. Show me where I've been drifting, even in ways I haven't noticed. Help me be honest about the things I've been holding on to too tightly. And remind me that even when things don't go the way I expected, you're still at work. Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Why do you think it's sometimes easier to keep up appearances than to admit something in our lives needs attention? How can we help one another recognize when our hearts are drifting?