Useful Bible Studies > 1 Kings Commentary > chapter 14
When God chose Jeroboam to be king of Israel, God did it for a clear purpose (11:29-39). That purpose was not so that Jeroboam could achieve his ambitions. It was not so that Jeroboam could live in luxury in the beautiful town called Tirzah (compare 1 Kings 14:17 with Song of Solomon 6:4). Of course God did not desire Jeroboam to act against his command (Exodus 20:4-6) and to build idols (images) at Dan and Bethel. It was Jeroboam who wanted these things, not God.
God chose Jeroboam because he (God) wanted Israel to have a good king. Jeroboam could have been a king like David, who truly loved God. David was not perfect but he was genuinely eager to please God. After David did wrong things, he sincerely turned back to God.
However, Jeroboam had chosen on purpose to do evil things. God had warned him clearly (13:1-6), but Jeroboam had not turned back to God. He would not change his evil behaviour in any way whatever (13:33-34).
God’s people should give God their constant attention (Deuteronomy chapter 6). Their king should constantly read and obey God’s law (Deuteronomy 17:18-20). However, Jeroboam had done the opposite. He had acted shamefully toward God. In the word-picture in 1 Kings 14:9, it was as if Jeroboam had thrown God behind his back.
In that way, Jeroboam had brought a terrible judgment against himself and his family. God warned him by this message, perhaps so that he had a final opportunity to turn back to God (Ezekiel 18:23). However, as we shall see, Jeroboam did not turn back to God.
Next part: The judgment against Jeroboam's family (1 Kings 14:10-11)
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