Good Morning Friends,
Solomon died and his son, Rehoboam, took the
throne of Israel. The days of Solomon’s reign had been days of building a great
empire. The Temple and palace took Solomon 20 years to construct – that’s half
of Solomon’s reign of 40 years on just those two structures. Those and other
building projects took a great deal out of the people Solomon led … in
finances, in labor, in hardship. When Solomon died, the people were ready to
see those difficulties relaxed and they brought that request to the new king.
“The whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam
and said to him: ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh
labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.’” (1 Kings
12:3-4)
Rehoboam began his reign by practicing a small
portion of the wisdom his father had taught him … he asked for time to consider
the request and called for advice from those around him.
“Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who
had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. ‘How would you advise me to
answer these people?’ he asked. They replied, ‘If today you will be a servant
to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always
be your servants.’” (1 Kings 12:6-7)
The elders weren’t the only ones Rehoboam asked
for advice. He also turned to men his own age … those who had grown up with him
as his friends. “The young men who had grown up with him replied, ‘Tell these
people who have said to you, “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our
yoke lighter”-tell them, “My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. My
father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father
scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.”’” (1 Kings
12:10-11)
Which advice would the new king follow … the
advice of his friends that played to his own ego or the advice of those seasoned
by years of experience?
Rehoboam chose to feed his own ego and the
result was rebellion in the land of Israel and the nation was split into two …
never to be reunited.
Asking for advice is a wise thing to do when we
are faced with a tough decision. But advice is only as good as the wisdom and
maturity of those who are asked!
His, by Grace,
Steve
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