Follow Up with Clay - 10.23.24

Rehoboam:  (1 Kings 12)

930 B.C. - Solomon dies and his son, Rehoboam becomes king.

Solomon had built the temple and accumulated great wealth. Some of this had been financed by taxing the people of Israel.

We remember God’s warning when the people first asked for a king—He will force you into hard labor and tax you. Solomon did these things. Not that this was necessarily bad, it was just the way things worked.

When Rehoboam became king, the people came with a request:

1 Kings 12:4, Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.

We’ve worked really hard and have been taxed excessively… how about a break?

1 Kings 12:6, Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?”

Excellent process, very good counsel that he sought from the old guys, the same ones who counseled Solomon.

1 Kings 12:7, And they said to him, “If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever.”

As mentioned, good counsel that consisted of things like show them that you hear and that you care. They will love you forever.

1 Kings 12:8, But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.

“But…” Not a good start. He decided to neglect the advice of the mature men and surround himself with a bunch of guys just like himself.

1 Kings 12:10-11, And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Thus shall you speak to this people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us,’ thus shall you say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s thighs. And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”

Set yourself apart, be stronger and harsher than your father was.

1 Kings 12:13-14, And the king answered the people harshly, and forsaking the counsel that the old men had given him, he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men….

The older men had experience, wisdom,  knowledge, and spiritual maturity. The young men had a lot less of all that.

Read the story. What follows is rebellion, civil war, and a divided kingdom (God hates division) Could have been prevented if he had given more weight to the mature men?

Who are you listening to? People just like you, “yes” men, flatterers, or do you seek ones with maturity.

Mentors and leaders are like a bullpen; different guys with different areas of expertise.

LESSON: Seek direction from men who walk in front of you. Those who are aa little further in life than yourself

• In their Christian walk
• In their marriage
• In their parenting
• In their leadership
• In their anything that would be beneficial for you to observe and follow the example

Proverbs 19:20, Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

Bible often refers to “gray hair” as a way of recognizing these men. Obviously not every old guy is filled with wisdom but it is more of a general statement.

Proverbs 16:31, Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.

Proverbs 20:29, The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.

Great news: We want to be productive, helpful, and do something important.

Psalm 92:14, They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green.

We all know that The Bible teaches to respect our elders. This is absolutely true. But more than that; it is more than just being polite to older people. Don’t miss out on the counsel that they can provide.

QUESTIONS:

• Who do you go to for advice? (Probably not the same person for everything)
• How can we pray for you?
• Who do you know that needs this group?

Next Week: Elijah (1 Kings 17-19)