1 Kings 14:8

1Ki 14:8 And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and [yet] thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do [that] only [which was] right in mine eyes;

Ver. 8. Who kept my commandments.] Did all my wills, {Act 13:22} in desire and endeavour at least; repenting heartily for his involuntary and unavoidable infirmities, which therefore were not imputed unto him.

To do that only which was right,] viz., In mine account and acceptation.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Ki_14:8-9

David kept my commandments . . . thou hast gone and made thee other gods.

Servitude or service-which?

The people of God had left their God, and He had left them, so that Shishak, the King of Egypt, came against them; and though the Lord had respect to their humble prayer, and would not suffer Shishak to destroy Jerusalem, yet He brought them into subjection to the Egyptian king. Our text tells us the reason for this servitude: They shall be his servants; that they may know My service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.

I. There are some who have already chosen the service of the kingdoms of the countless. We have many round about us who have deliberately chosen not to serve God, but to serve other masters.

1. Some choose to be the slaves of open sin.

2. There are many persons who are not the worshippers of vice, but they are the votaries of money-making. They are the slaves of the thirst for wealth.

3. There are some others who do not try to get much money, but they are lovers of fashion, lovers of society, admirers of the world.

4. Then there is another cult that has lately come up, which some have chosen, so that they have become the devotees of culture.

5. I will only refer to one more class of those who have chosen the service of the kingdoms; these are the seekers of self-righteousness. This is an old-fashioned and very respectable deity whom many still worship.

II. Some seem to be pining to give up the service of God, and to go to the service of the kingdoms. It is a strange thing; but this evil is always breaking out even among the people of God.

1. Some want to change out of sheer love of change.

2. Some want to be off to their idols, because of the outward aspect of the new thing.

3. Sometimes men turn aside because of their loss of joy in the service of God. They are not serving the Lord as they used to do; they are doing but little for Him.

4. Then there are many who are led to want a change from the service of God by the flagging of others.

5. There are some who turn aside because religion now has brought them to a point where it entails some extra self-sacrifice.

III. There is a great contrast between the service of God and any other service.

1. If you are about to engage in the service of God, there is nothing demanded of you that will harm you. There Is no commandment of God which, if you keep it, will injure either your body or your soul.

2. Next, notice that there is nothing denied you, in the service of God, that would be a blessing to you. The promise is, No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly

3. Once more observe that in the service of God strength will always be given according to your day.

4. And all the while that you are the servant of God, you have a sweet peace in reflecting upon what you have done. As George Herbert said, when he helped a poor woman with her load, and men wondered that the parson of the parish should carry a poor womans basket for her, The memory of this will make the bells ring in my heart at night, so the service of God makes the bells ring in our hearts.

5. Lastly, there is above all this a hope of the eternal reward which is so soon to come. (C. H. Spurgeon.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Ki 14:8. Thou hast not been as my servant David — Who, though he fell into some sins, yet, 1st, He constantly persevered in the true worship of God; from which thou art revolted; 2d, He heartily repented of, and turned from all his sins, whereas thou art obstinate and incorrigible.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

14:8-9 Unlike David, who genuinely repented of his sins (2 Sam 12:13; Ps 51:2-4), Jeroboam exceeded his predecessors in doing evil. Despite clear evidence of God’s displeasure and coming judgment (1 Kgs 13:33), he failed to turn from his ways. His sin would bring grave consequences to his family and descendants (13:34; 14:10-11, 14) and, ultimately, to the whole northern kingdom (14:16). • gold calves: see 12:26-30.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

thou hast not been as my servant David--David, though he fell into grievous sins, repented and always maintained the pure worship of God as enjoined by the law.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 8. And rent the kingdom away from the house of David] That is, permitted it to be rent, because of the folly and insolence of Rehoboam.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

But hast done evil above all that were before thee,.... Not only above David, but above Saul, who never gave into idolatry, yea, even above Solomon, who, though he connived at idolatry, and might be guilty of it in some instances, yet did not attempt to draw his people into it; and if this was the latter end of Jeroboam's reign, which is probable, Rehoboam and Abijam might be both dead; and though they were blameworthy in some things, yet not so bad as Jeroboam; though perhaps this may respect only such who had been kings of Israel before him:

for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger; the two calves of gold; for however he might colour things over, and pretend he did not look upon these as gods, but as representations of God, and that he did not worship them, but God by them, yet the Lord considered it as idolatry, than which nothing is more provoking to him:

and hast cast me behind thy back; as unworthy of his regard; or my worship, as the Targum, which he neglected, and showed no concern for.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

As my servant David; who though he fell into some sins, yet, first, he constantly persevered in the true worship of God, from which thou art revolted; secondly, he heartily repented of and turned from all his sins, whereas thou art obstinate and incorrigible.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

And rent same word as in the former prophecy of Ahijah, (1Ki_11:30, 1Ki_11:31) the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David who had been proposed to Jeroboam as his example, 1Ki_11:38. This name, as that of a prince of the rival house, would now be almost hateful to Jeroboam who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart (cf., 1Ki_11:33, 38 15:5) to do that only which was right in mine eyes;

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.