Decision-Making in the Old Testament

Decision-making is a critical aspect of leadership and faith in the Bible. This study guide focuses on the contrasting approaches to decision-making by King Saul, King Solomon, and King Rehoboam, as well as the consequences of their actions.

1. Saul’s Reliance on a Medium (I Sam. 28:3-25)

Towards the end of his reign, Saul faced a massive Philistine invasion. God had stopped communicating with him through dreams, Urim, or prophets because of his disobedience. In desperation, Saul made a fatal decision to consult a medium (the witch of Endor), despite having previously expelled all mediums and spiritists from the land.

• Context: Samuel was dead, and Saul felt abandoned by God.
• The Act: Saul disguised himself and visited the medium at Endor. He asked her to bring up the spirit of Samuel.
• Consequence: The spirit of Samuel informed Saul that God had departed from him, the kingdom was given to David, and Saul and his sons would die in battle the next day.

2. The Wisdom of Solomon (I Kings 3-5, 8)

Solomon’s reign began with a focus on seeking God. His decision-making was initially characterized by divine guidance and humility.

• The Source: At Gibeon, God appeared to Solomon in a dream. Instead of asking for wealth or long life, Solomon asked for wisdom and an understanding heart to judge the people.
• Practical Wisdom: The famous judgment of the two harlots claiming the same baby demonstrated his God-given discernment.
• Intellectual Prowess: Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. He possessed vast knowledge of nature (trees, beasts, birds).
• Religious Dedication: Solomon decided to build a magnificent Temple for God, fulfilling the promise made to his father David.

3. Unwise Policies of Solomon and Rehoboam

Despite his wisdom, Solomon’s later decisions led to the decline of the United Monarchy.

Solomon’s Failures (I Kings 9, 11)

• Forced Labor: Solomon used forced labor (levy) for his building projects, which burdened the Israelites.
• Apostasy: Solomon married 700 wives and 300 concubines from foreign nations. These women turned his heart toward idols like Ashtoreth, Milcom, and Chemosh.
• God's Judgment: God declared that the kingdom would be torn from Solomon's son, leaving only one tribe (Judah) for David's sake.

Rehoboam’s Foolishness (I Kings 12)

After Solomon's death, his son Rehoboam faced a request from Jeroboam and the people to lighten the heavy yoke of taxation and labor imposed by Solomon.

• The Elders' Advice: The older counselors advised Rehoboam to be a servant to the people to win their loyalty.
• The Peers' Advice: His younger friends advised him to be harsher than his father ('My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins').
• The Decision: Rehoboam chose the advice of his peers, leading to the rebellion of the ten northern tribes.

4. Consequences of Unwise Decisions

• National Division: The United Kingdom split into the Northern Kingdom (Israel) under Jeroboam and the Southern Kingdom (Judah) under Rehoboam.
• Spiritual Decay: Solomon’s idolatry set a precedent for future kings.
• Loss of Divine Favor: Both Saul and Solomon's lineage eventually lost the throne over all Israel due to poor decision-making.