Topical Bible: Government: God In in Raising Adversaries Against Solomon

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In the biblical narrative, the reign of King Solomon is marked by both unparalleled wisdom and eventual decline due to his disobedience to God's commandments. The Scriptures reveal that God, in His sovereign governance, raised adversaries against Solomon as a consequence of his turning away from the Lord. This divine intervention serves as a pivotal moment in the history of Israel, illustrating the principle that God remains actively involved in the affairs of nations and their leaders.

Solomon's Apostasy and Divine Judgment

Solomon, son of David, began his reign with a heart devoted to God, seeking wisdom to govern the people of Israel. However, as his reign progressed, Solomon's heart turned away from the Lord due to his marriages to foreign women who led him to worship other gods. This apostasy is recorded in 1 Kings 11:4-6 : "For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been. Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD; unlike his father David, he did not follow the LORD completely."

In response to Solomon's disobedience, God declared that the kingdom would be torn from him, though not during his lifetime, for the sake of David, his father. This divine judgment is articulated in 1 Kings 11:11-13 : "Then the LORD said to Solomon, 'Since you have done this and have not kept My covenant and statutes, which I commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. Nevertheless, for the sake of your father David, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom away from him, but will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.'"

Adversaries Raised by God

In fulfillment of His word, God raised up adversaries against Solomon to chastise him and to set the stage for the eventual division of the kingdom. The first adversary was Hadad the Edomite, a member of the royal family of Edom, who had fled to Egypt during David's conquest of Edom. Upon hearing of David's death and Solomon's reign, Hadad returned to Edom and became a thorn in Solomon's side (1 Kings 11:14-22).

Another adversary was Rezon son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah. Rezon gathered a band of men and became the leader of a marauding band, eventually reigning in Damascus and becoming an adversary to Israel throughout Solomon's reign (1 Kings 11:23-25).

The most significant adversary raised by God was Jeroboam son of Nebat, an Ephraimite and one of Solomon's officials. The prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met Jeroboam and prophesied that he would rule over ten tribes of Israel, symbolized by the tearing of a new cloak into twelve pieces (1 Kings 11:29-31). Jeroboam's rise to power was a direct result of God's judgment on Solomon's house, as stated in 1 Kings 11:37-38 : "But as for you, I will take you, and you shall reign over all that your heart desires, and you will be king over Israel. If you listen to all that I command you, and walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, keeping My statutes and commandments as My servant David did, I will be with you and will build you a lasting dynasty as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you."

Theological Implications

The raising of adversaries against Solomon underscores the biblical theme of divine sovereignty and justice. God's actions serve as a reminder that He holds rulers accountable for their actions and that disobedience to His commandments can lead to national and personal consequences. The narrative also highlights God's faithfulness to His covenant with David, ensuring that the Davidic line would continue despite Solomon's failures. Through these events, the Scriptures affirm that God is actively involved in the governance of His people, orchestrating history according to His divine purposes.

Nave's Topical Index

1 Kings 11:14,23
And the LORD stirred up an adversary to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom.
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Library

At the Temple Gate
... Christ's crowning miracle"the raising of Lazarus"had sealed the ... great gift rests
with those whom God has blessed ... We are to recognize human government as an ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 6 at the temple.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem.
... the deaf to hear, cleansing the lepers, raising the dead ... of God, the foundation of
His government in heaven ... the people were to wait for deliverance from God. ...
/.../1 the destruction of jerusalem.htm

A Treatise of the Fear of God;
... If God, I say, hath put that reverence upon his Word as to call ... its authority, by
denying it to be his Word, and by raising cavils against its authority ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a treatise of the fear.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem
... the deaf to hear, cleansing the lepers, raising the dead ... of God, the foundation of
His government in heaven ... the people were to wait for deliverance from God. ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 1 the destruction of.htm

And ii.
... With the raising up and equipping of such a leader ... in ver.8 (9), of their adversaries
and enemies ... a shadow placed between, so that God's government was then ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i and ii.htm

The General Conference of 1828
... additional proof that God's design in raising up the ... nor seek to be lords over God's
heritage.' In ... any obligation or necessity to conform the government of the ...
/.../chapter 9 the general conference.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1828 to the Beginning ...
... or Congregational plan of church government, as might ... Temperance Society, particularly
as regarded raising a permanent ... "His zeal for the glory of God and the ...
/.../chapter 10 from the close.htm

Abraham, his Trial in Egypt; his Humility
... its exercise, [71]204; final cause of consanguinity, society, etc., [72]204,
[73]205; and also of government, [74]206 ... Joy in God a defence against pain, [970 ...
/.../abraham his trial in egypt.htm

James the Brother of the Lord.
... very closely with the Mosaic dispensation, yet raising it by ... time even to our own,
received the government of the ... saying:, I entreat thee, O Lord God and Father ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 27 james the brother.htm

The Puritan Conflict.
... Parliament itself he raised a military government which inspired ... for no other crime
than obeying God rather than ... blazoned to the world by raising his numerous ...
/.../ 92 the puritan conflict.htm