1 Kings 12:1-11 - Choosing wise counsel

Scripture:

1 Kings 12:1-11
1 Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.
2 Now when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it, he was living in Egypt (for he was yet in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon).
3 Then they sent and called him, and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,
4 "Your father made our yoke hard; now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you."
5 Then he said to them, "Depart for three days, then return to me." So the people departed.

6 King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, "How do you counsel me to answer this people?"
7 Then they spoke to him, saying, "If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and grant them their petition, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever."
8 But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him.
9 So he said to them, "What counsel do you give that we may answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, 'Lighten the yoke which your father put on us'?"
10 The young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus you shall say to this people who spoke to you, saying, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, now you make it lighter for us!' But you shall speak to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins!
11 'Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.'"
NASU


Thoughts:

While Solomon was still king, the Lord promised to another man Jeroboam, that he would rule over ten of the tribes of Israel because of Solomon's sin.  Solomon's response to this promise was anger and to seek to kill Jeroboam who fled to Egypt (verse 2).

Now Solomon is dead and his son Rehoboam has become king in his place.  Rehoboam gets his first test in leadership, and he fails miserably.  In response to the plea of the people (verses 3 and 4) he rejects the good counsel he receives (verses 7 and 8), and seeks out counsel that is more pleasing to him (verses 9-11).

This is such a critical failing that all of us can fall into.  That is, not seeking good counsel, but seeking counsel along the lines that we want.  Seeking after counselors who will tell us what we want to hear, not what we need to hear.

The consequence for Rehoboam will be that the promise God had already made is fulfilled, as ten of the tribes turn away from him to follow Jeroboam.  In the same way, our following bad counsel can have disastrous consequences in our lives.  Poor career choices, wrecked marriages, financial hardship, damaged relationships, these are just a few of the consequences we can experience.  How much better to follow after wise counsel, rather than simply our own desires.


Prayer:

Lord, grant me the humility to seek and to follow Godly counsel when I find myself uncertain of Your will.  Thank You for the Bible that so clearly handles most of life's questions.  And for Christian friends and mentors You use in the times that things aren't so clear.

Amen

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.