1. I will scourge you with scorpions (1-14)

When Rehoboam was crowned king, seeds of rebellion were already growing. Solomon had burdened the people with a heavy yoke of harsh labor. The elders asked Rehoboam to lighten their load. He was a proud young prince with no shepherd heart for his people. He took the advice of the young men, and announced a hard policy--he would increase their burden, not reduce it.

2. To your tents, O Israel! (15-19)

A young man named Jeroboam had come back from exile in Egypt. The prophet Ahijah had predicted that he would be king of Israel (1Ki 11). Solomon knew his political aspirations--that's why he had fled. Now he returned to be the spokesman for the people. When the people of northern Israel saw that Rehoboam had no intention of lightening their load, they rebelled and went home. So Israel was divided. The southern kingdom was Judah; the northern kingdom was called Israel.

Application: Lord, help me to follow wise advice, not my own pride.
One Word: One man's pride destroys a nation