“And they spake [spoke] unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer [pay attention to] them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.” 1 Kings 12:7.

(Note “1 Kings 12:7” is a reference to the Bible, which is a collection of books. It means that the quotation above referred to as “1 Kings 12:7” is taken from the book of 1 Kings in the Bible, the 12^th chapter, and the 7^th verse, where a chapter consists of numbered sections called verses.)

This post will look at both the literal and symbolic meaning of 1 Kings 12:7.

The Context

God created the nation of Israel when He made promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For the early history of Israel see my previous post.

Initially, Israel was a theocracy when God was their invisible Ruler. At that time, God chose Israel’s earthly leaders who were subject to God’s authority. The last such leader was a man named Samuel who was a judge over Israel.

Israel Desires a King

“And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel…And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre [gain], and took bribes, and perverted judgment.” 1 Samuel 8:1-3.

“Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel…and said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.” 1 Samuel 8:4-6.

God’s Response

“And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken [be obedient] unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.” 1 Samuel 8:7, 8.

“Now therefore hearken [be obedient] unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly [give warning] unto them, and shew [show] them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.” 1 Samuel 8:9, 10.

“Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay [No]; but we will have a king over us; that we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken [be obedient] unto their voice, and make them a king.” 1 Samuel 8:19-22.

The First Kings of Israel

God chose Saul to be the first king of Israel. However, God later rejected Saul as king because of his sins (evil and wrongdoings). God then chose David to be the second king of Israel. Before his death, David appointed his son, Solomon, to be the third king of Israel as God had commanded him.

The Death of Solomon

“And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. And Solomon slept with his fathers [Solomon died], and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.” 1 Kings 11:42, 43.

Israel’s Request

“And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.” 1 Kings 12:1.

“And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) that they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, Thy father made our yoke [labour] grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke [labour] which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.” 1 Kings 12:2-4.

“And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.” 1 Kings 12:5.

The King’s Foolish Response

“And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.” 1 Kings 12:6, 7.

“So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.” 1 Kings 12:12.

“And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him; and spake [spoke] to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke [labour] heavy, and I will add to your yoke [labour]: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions [knotted whips].” 1 Kings 12:13, 14. 

“Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake [spoke] by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.” 1 Kings 12:15.

The Breakup of the Kingdom of Israel

“So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.” 1 Kings 12:16, 17.

“Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.” 1 Kings 12:18, 19.

“And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.” 1 Kings 12:20.

So the united kingdom of Israel split into two kingdoms, the northern kingdom called Israel and the southern kingdom called Judah.

War Between Judah and Israel Prevented

“And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore [eighty] thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.” 1 Kings 12:21.

“But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren [brothers] the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.” 1 Kings 12:22-24.

This then is the context and the literal meaning of 1 Kings 12:7.

Humanity’s Problem and God’s Solution

All humanity has a problem. They are under the condemnation of God’s law of love because of their sins. Therefore, all humanity is destined for eternal death.

Praise God for He has a solution to humanity’s sin problem! Every human being may come into a right standing before God and, finally, be found faultless “in his eyesight.” Psalm 18:24. No one need experience God’s penalty of eternal death for their sins. Through repentance and faith in Christ all mankind may be accepted in Jesus Christ, the Beloved. Glory, honour, and eternal life may be ours.

The Life of Jesus Christ

The Godhead—the Father, the Son called Christ, and the Holy Spirit—spoke among themselves regarding the salvation, the saving, of all mankind from eternal death. They said,  “If thou wilt be a servant unto this people” ( 1 Kings 12:7), all humanity, “this day, and wilt serve them, and answer [pay attention to] them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.” 1 Kings 12:7.

Therefore, Jesus Christ, spoke of His service to humanity. He said, “Whether [who] is greater, he that sitteth at meat [at a meal], or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat [at a meal]? but I am among you as he that serveth.” Luke 22:27. For “the Son of man [Jesus Christ] came not to be ministered unto [to be served], but to minister [to serve], and to give his life a ransom for many. ” Matthew 20:28.

“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain [win] the more” (1 Corinthians 9:19) to myself that they may be saved. That is, “This I do for the gospel’s sake.” 1 Corinthians 9:23.

The Death of Jesus Christ

“And he [Jesus Christ] is the propitiation” ( Ephesians 1:7 ), the atonement which is to be a satisfaction, “for our [the Jews] sins: and not for ours [the Jews] only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2. “In whom we have redemption [a full ransom] through his blood, [and] the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace [unmerited favour].” Ephesians 1:7.

Hence, “Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, [are] being rooted and grounded in love.” Ephesians 3:17.

Therefore, Jesus Christ, in His death was a servant to all mankind. He made possible two things. Firstly, the forgiveness of sins. Secondly, that individuals may stand “holy and without blame before him [God] in love.” Ephesians 1:4. That is, past sins may be forgiven. Also, by “being rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17), the individual ceases to sin. So, present and future sins are prevented. In other words, the individual has become sinless.

Christ as High Priest

“Who is he that condemneth [humanity]? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession [mediation] for us.” Romans 8:24.

“He [Jesus Christ] is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession [mediation] for them.” Hebrews 7:25.

“For such an high priest became us [was fitting for us], who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.” Hebrews 7:26, 27.

Thus, as a High Priest, Jesus Christ is the servant of all mankind in order to save them from eternal death.

Christ and the Saved in Heaven

Jesus Christ said, “Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching” (Luke 12:37), being vigilant to avoid sinning: “verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat [at a meal], and will come forth and serve them.” Luke 12:37. Amazingly then, Jesus Christ Himself will be a servant in heaven to all the saved of earth!

The Saved as Servants

“Jesus Christ…is the faithful witness…and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us [the saved of the earth], and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5, 6.

In the new earth made by God, “there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb [Jesus Christ] shall be in it; and his servants” (Revelation 22:23), “all the saved from the earth, who are the redeemed, “shall serve him.” Revelation 22:23.

For the saved of earth are they who “have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb [Jesus Christ].” Revelation 7:14. “Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them” (Revelation 7:15) in the new earth.

Thus, the redeemed will be servants to God throughout all eternity. How will they serve God? Their experience in overcoming sin in their lives, will be a testimony to keep all the angels and the inhabitants of the “worlds” (Hebrews 1:2) from themselves falling into sin.

God as a Servant

God then, who is “meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29) is the ultimate servant. Therefore, God is the perfect Pattern to all His created intelligences who are likewise servants to each other. Gone is the sin of self-exaltation from the universe. Praise God!

This then is the symbolic meaning of 1 Kings 12:7.

How This Blog Teaches Bible Study

My blog posts take one or more Bible verses and unpack what is often the hidden meaning in them, to help you to gain in your understanding of the Bible, and to receive insights into how to study it. For God says, “Study [the Bible] to shew [show] thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [interpreting] the word of truth [the Bible].” 2 Timothy 2:15. There are new blog posts every two weeks on a Monday at 12:01 a.m. in timezone UTC-5 (GMT-5).

Further Reading

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