I Kings 11: 1-9
This tells us that Solomon, in his old age, loved and married women from all the Nations they were to have destroyed in taking their territory, Nations God had told them to not to associate with.
And these women turned Solomon's heart away from fully following the Lord. He built these wives shrines and altars to their detestable gods Chemosh and Molech and Ashtoreth, these demon-backed deities who demanded disgusting things of their worshipers. He did this even though God had appeared to him twice (v. 9).
Vs. 11-13
So God told Solomon that He would tear Israel from him, but not in his days, because of his father David, but from his son, the next king, Rehoboam.
Ch. 12
Then Rehoboam was crowned king, and he answered the people harshly, so he lost the majority of the kingdom.
But Jereboam, who became king over the Northern Kingdom, Israel, was fearful that if the people went to Jerusalem three times a year, that they would return to David's dynasty and he would lose the kingdom (vs. 26-27).
Even though God had told Jereboam that He would make his dynasty as great as He will make David's if he followed the Lord (11:38), his faith in God failed him, and he set up golden calves for the people to worship instead of the Lord (v. 28).
So his dynasty ended, and Israel had a whole litany of different kings, and they all fell into this idolatry. The Northern Kingdom of Israel never did have a "good" king.
Even the Southern Kingdom of Judah had very few kings who worshiped the Lord with their whole heart.
It is so hard for human beings to remain faithful, we are "prone to wander," even when God reveals Himself to us in so many ways.
So God has now given us His own Spirit to live inside our human spirits, so He is always there to strengthen us and remind us of who we are in Christ. Even then, some have wandered away; but God won't let them wander for long, He will draw them back into fellowship with Him again.
O my Father, thank You for Your Spirit. Thank You that You always do everything to guarantee our permanence in Your Family. Thank You that You don't depend on us for anything concerning our relationship with You, and our future with You. You have done everything we need: to draw us, to let us know that Your Son paid the eternal debt we owe for our sin, so that we could be washed white as snow in Your sight; and to lead us and guide us in obeying all Your Law of Love; then grant us such a wonderful future, which is certain, because it's already past to You.
Jesus came to be with us where we are, so that He could fit us to be able to be with Him where He lives. Where He lives with You, Father. And Heaven will come down to the New Earth, and we will all live together as one, big, happy Family forever! And who can say what wonders and experiences and purposes and joys await us there!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
