The Story Series …he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father “A Kingdom torn in Two” scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” So 1 Kings 12-16 the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared 1 Kings 12:14-15 (NIV) to him twice. Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. So the Lord Good advice comes from: God’s Word said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most Prayer certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of Wise & Godly people. your subordinates. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the Plans fail for lack of counsel, hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but with many advisers they succeed. but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for Proverbs 15:22 (NIV) the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.” 1 Kings 11:9-13 (NIV) No advice can stop God’s plan.

Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. Then he ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David his brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my father. And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king. doing.’” So they obeyed the word of the Lord and went home 1 Kings 11:42-43 (NIV) again, as the Lord had ordered. 1 Kings 12:24 (NIV) Rehoboam leads over-taxed people. Jeroboam follows bad advice. So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: “Your father put a Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom will now likely revert heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy to the house of David. If these people go up to offer sacrifices at yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.” the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, they will again give their 1 Kings 12:3-4 (NIV) allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam.” Rehoboam ignores good advice. After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. And this thing answer these people?” he asked. became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people went as far as Dan to worship the other. and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will 1 Kings 12:26-30 (NIV) always be your servants.” But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him When the present becomes the past, our legacy and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. depends on our decisions & actions of today. 1 Kings 12:6-8 (NIV)

I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to Growth Group Questions you, but you have not been like my servant David, who kept my (Questions and Scriptures for further study) commands and followed me with all his heart, doing only what was right in my eyes. You have done more evil than all who lived 1. Name a piece of bad advice you have gotten over the years before you. You have made for yourself other gods, idols made of and how it impacted you? metal; you have aroused my anger and turned your back on me. 1 Kings 14:8-9 (NIV) Name some good advice that was given to you at a key SO WHAT? time in your life and the outcome from it.

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 2. Is advice always good or bad based on the outcome? Name a Mark 3:24-25 (NIV) time when the advice was good, but the outcome was bad?

What will your legacy be?

King Asa: fully committed to the Lord. 3. Read 1 Kings 12:1-11. Rehoboam sought advice about the decisions regarding taxing the people from 2 different groups of Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David advisors. Why do you think the advice was so different from each had done group? 1 Kings 15:11 (NIV)

He even deposed his grandmother Maakah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down and burned it in the Kidron 4. Older people who have walked longer in life often carry more Valley. Although he did not remove the high places, Asa’s heart wisdom in their heart. Who is a wise and Godly person you know was fully committed to the Lord all his life. and how has he or she impacted your life? What is one of the 1 Kings 15:13-14 (NIV) best pieces of wisdom they offered you over the years?

The Story continues…

5. Who are some “overtaxed” people in your life right now? How can you ease their burden?

6. Read 1 Kings 12:26-32. Jeroboam sought to keep his power by not letting the people travel to Jerusalem. In the process he set up false Gods. He sought out advice but continued on that path. How can we confirm the advice we get is good & Godly advice?

7. What decisions or actions do you need to make today so that your legacy will be one of faithfulness?