Introduction
The divided kingdom is an epoch change for Israel. After the death of Solomon, Israel would never be the same. The reign of Solomon was lustrous but produced only a fraction of the dynasty it could have been. God was displeased with Solomon because 700 wives and their gods stole Solomon’s heart from following God and God alone. (1 Kings 11:1–5)
Three Theological Points to Consider
Theological point #1
God is just. God is not a God the punishes people for the actions of other people. It was not only Solomon that was worshiping other gods. The people of Israel were doing the same. We note that when Jeroboam takes over the ten tribes, he sets up Golden Calves for the ten tribes to worship; (1 Kings 12:25–30) yet no one seems bothered by this egregious sin Jeroboam committed. In Romans 1, Paul explains what God has done here in Israel,
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
(Romans 1:21-23, ESV)
and since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
(Romans 1:28, ESV)
Most of Israel had already forsaken God and His law. So, God justly gave them over to a leader who would lead them into doing “what ought not to be done” (Romans 1:28, ESV).
Theological point #2
God decrees the ends and the means. In 1 Kings 11:35–37, the prophet tells Jeroboam that he will be king over the ten tribes of Israel. When the time comes for this to happen, God uses the foolishness of Rehoboam and his hardheadedness to take the favor of the people away from him. God is in control of all human actions so that people make choices, but God’s design is always the outcome. See The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith Chapter 9 for details (https://www.arbca.com/1689-chapter9)
Theological point #3
God shows mercy for his own reasons. Judah was no better off than Israel when it came to the worship of false gods. However, God in his mercy said, “[y]et to his son I will give one tribe, that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put my name. (1 Kings 11:36, ESV). Thus, God showed Judah mercy, not for their own sake, but for God’s reasons alone.
Map
This is a map of the divided kingdom.
Timeline
By this point in Biblical history, most scholars agree as to the dates of things. The division of Israel into the Northern and Sothern kingdoms happen very near 950 BC.
Conclusion
God had a decree that he was bringing about. We understand God’s purpose for Judah; indeed, God’s whole purpose in making David the king and guiding David to follow Him was so that Christ would be king in the line of David. It was not David that kept his heart after God, but God that kept David’s heart. We understand today that all the promises to Israel, indeed all the mercies of God together find their fulfillment in Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” (2 Co 1:20–22, ESV). Indeed let us say Amen!