1 Kings 12:1-24 Rehoboam s Ignorance

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1 1 Kings 12:1-24 Rehoboam s Ignorance There are only 2 paths in this world: 1. The way of the righteous 2. The way of the unrighteous The way of the righteous can only be found in the Word of God: Proverbs 1:7 9 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 Listen, my son, to your father s instruction and do not forsake your mother s teaching. 9 They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. 1 Kings 11-12: Solomon s only son (of Biblical record) was Rehoboam Well would Rehoboam have done if he had listened to his Grandfather: King David: Psalm 1 1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish. The righteous man does not : 1. Walk 2. Stand 3. Sit o With the unrighteous o From casual to collusion (walking to sitting) 1Kings Rehoboam s Ignorance 1

2 Allen P Ross: A godly person is influenced not by unrighteous people but by his meditation on the Word of God. 1 What role should advice play in your life? Godly advice is essential o Godly advice should originate with God. God helps those that help themselves 2 old western movie God wants you to be happy Oprah Winfrey, 2001 BUT is our happiness God s greatest goal? Cleanliness is next to Godliness your grandmother Hate the sin, love the sinner - Mahatma Gandhi, This too shall pass Famous Gastroenterologist Money is the root of all evil depression era misquote of 1Tim 6:10 When God closes a door, He opens a window. - Dumb & Dumber Don t be a doormat for others your three-time divorced friend Just follow your heart and believe, and you can do anything. Disney Charity begins at home o Godly advice comes from God s Word. 1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king. About 40 miles north of Jerusalem. 2 days journey 1 Allen P. Ross, Psalms, in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), In a "Jaywalking" sketch on The Tonight Show, comedian host Jay Leno asked random people on the street to name one of the Ten Commandments. The most popular response given was "God helps those who help themselves."

3 2 So it happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it (he was still in Egypt, for he had fled from the presence of King Solomon and had been dwelling in Egypt), 3 that they sent and called him. Then Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4 Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you. 5 So he said to them, Depart for three days, then come back to me. And the people departed. It was wise of Rehoboam to take time to seek counsel o He should have spent the majority of these three days fasting, praying, studying God s Word. Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Notice that those that seek your counsel may sometimes come with a major chip on their shoulder against you already! o The people sent, and called Jeroboam to their side to question Rehoboam because Jeroboam hated Solomon. o Jeroboam wanted Rehoboam to FAIL! Because a prophet had told him HE would be great, instead of Rehoboam. 6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, and he said, How do you advise me to answer these people? 7 And they spoke to him, saying, If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever. 8 But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him. 2 Chronicles 13:7 Then worthless rogues gathered to him, and strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and inexperienced and could not withstand them. Proverbs 18:24 (NIV) One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 27:9 10 (NIV) 9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. 10 Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative s house when disaster strikes you better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away. 3 9 And he said to them, What advice do you give? How should we answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, Lighten the yoke which your father put on us? 3 The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), Pr 27: Kings Rehoboam s Ignorance 3

4 10 Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us thus you shall say to them: My little finger shall be thicker than my father s waist! 2 Corinthians 6: Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? Proverbs 15:1 2 1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. 11 And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges! 12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had directed, saying, Come back to me the third day. 13 Then the king answered the people roughly, and rejected the advice which the elders had given him; 14 and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges! 15 So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from the LORD, that He might fulfill His word, which the LORD had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 1. Answered the people roughly

5 2. Rejected Godly advice 3. Accepted the world s advice 16 Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying: What share have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Now, see to your own house, O David! So Israel departed to their tents. 17 But Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah. 18 Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was in charge of the revenue; but all Israel stoned him with stones, and he died. Therefore King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. 20 Now it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back, they sent for him and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel. There was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only. Don t expect the church to follow you off your cliff. 21 And when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah with the tribe of Benjamin, one hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, that he might restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. 22 But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 23 Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying, 24 Thus says the LORD: You shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel. Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me. Therefore they obeyed the word of the LORD, and turned back, according to the word of the LORD. Godly advice preaches repentance (to turn back) Godly advice preaches humility through forgiveness Godly advice seeks reconciliation through the Blood of Jesus Christ. 1Kings Rehoboam s Ignorance 5