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King Solomon Left God

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(I Kings 11:11)

So the LORD 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 certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates.

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King Solomon, humbly asked God for wisdom.
God loved King Solomon very much.
His kingdom was so peaceful and rich.

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But as time passed by, Solomon became arrogant and started doing things God forbid. He liked princesses of other kingdoms so he married many princesses even though they didn't believe in God.

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This was forbidden by God. A long time ago, God ordered the Israelites like this: "Do not marry people of other kingdoms. If you marry them, they will turn your hearts and make you serve idols." But Solomon broke that command and married many princesses from other kingdoms even though they didn't believe in God.

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The wives of Solomon made him serve the idols they served. "If you love me, please bow down to Ashtoreth that I serve." Solomon followed the request of his wife and bowed down to Ashtoreth.

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Another wife came and said to Solomon. "You bowed down to Ashtoreth then why don't you bow down to our Molech? If you love me, please bow down to Molech." Solomon also granted that wife's request.

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Solomon served many idols as his wives demanded. God really hated what Solomon was doing. So, God appeared to Solomon for two times and told him not to serve other gods. But Solomon did not listen to God.

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God appeared to Solomon again and told him. "You did not keep my covenant and my decrees. Now, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants." God warned Solomon. But Solomon still did not repent.

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God blessed Solomon when he was humble in front of God but God started to take away those blessings. God gives us blessings but God also takes away the blessings when we don't live righteously.

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In Aram, the neighboring kingdom, a person named Rezon became the king. This King Rezon tormented Solomon while he lived. King Rezon took Israel as the enemy and attacked Israel whenever they had a chance.

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And among the servants of Solomon, there was a man named Jeroboam. Solomon trusted this Jeroboam and made him in charge of his many other servants. Many people trusted and followed this Jeroboam.

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One day, a prophet named Ahijah appeared to this Jeroboam.
This prophet cut his clothes into twelve pieces.
These twelve pieces meant the twelve tribes of Israel.

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The Prophet Ahijah told Jeroboam, "God told me that you will be getting these ten pieces. God said, 'I will tear the kingdom away from Solomon and give you the ten tribes.'" God prophesied that He would take away the kingdom from the arrogant Solomon and would hand it over to Jeroboam.

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This prophesy was fulfilled. Solomon died and when his son, Rehoboam became the king, Israel was divided into two. The south became the Kingdom of Judah with two tribes left and on the north, ten tribes gathered and raised the kingdom known as Israel. Jeroboam became the first king of that Israel.

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When Solomon followed God's words and praised God, he was blessed with amazing blessings. But when his heart changed and ignored God's warning without listening to God's words, God took away the blessings and gave it to someone else.

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God is the owner of blessings. God can bless us or God can take away those blessings. God gives amazing blessings to anyone who praises God and follows God's words. But even though you have been blessed very much, if you leave God and do whatever pleases you, then He can take away everything you have. So do well to praise God and follow God's words. If you do, God will bless you everyday and God will give you grace daily.