1 Kings 12:1 says, And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. Rehoboam went to Shechem and all the people went there as well to make him king. Evidently, the fact that God had chosen Jeroboam to be king of most of Israel was not a well-known fact. When we select leaders in the church today, we need to make sure that they are the person that God has chosen. Who their parents were should not be a determining factor. Verse two adds, And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) Jeroboam heard that Rehoboam was to be anointed king while he was still in Egypt. We need to know what is being done in God's name today wherever we may be. Verse three continues, That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, The people of Israel, or at least most of them, went with Jeroboam to speak to Rehoboam. They didn't just come and say they weren't going to follow him but presented him with an option if they were going to. If someone is going to be placed in a position of authority in the church today, I believe that we need to make sure that they are following God's will and doing what is best for the church as a whole and not just looking for a position of power and self-glorification. Verse four continues, Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee. They told Rehoboam that Solomon had made their yoke heavy and asked that he make it lighter if they were going to serve him as their king. I believe that those in power today should be working to make the burdens of Christians lighter and not heavier. Verse five concludes, And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed. Rehoboam told them to go away for three days and then he would give them his answer. At least he was taking the time to consider what he was going to do. We today should always take the time to consider our actions before we take them, and as Christians, we should always seek God's guidance before we take any action. Verse six states, And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? Though we aren't told that Rehoboam prayed about the situation, he did consult with the old men who had served Solomon about what he should do. Of course, as Christians, the first thing we should do if we have a decision to make, whether about a personal issue or an issue with the church, is to pray about it, but then we would also be wise to consult with those who are older Christians and ask their advice. Verse seven adds, And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. These older men told Rehoboam that if he would be a servant to the people of Israel and would treat them fairly that they would be his servants forever. As followers of Christ, He is our King and we can be certain that He will always do what is best for us spiritually as long as we are following Him, so we should always serve Him faithfully. Verse eight continues, But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: Rehoboam did not listen to the old men because they didn't tell him what he wanted to hear. Some people in power today are not going to listen to anyone who tells them that they are there to serve the people and not to enrich or glorify themselves. Verse nine says, And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? He then asked what the young men would advise him to tell the people who said that he needed to lighten the yoke that Solomon his father had put on them. Leaders in the church today should not put a heavy burden on the people that they are supposed to serve in order to support a luxurious lifestyle or even to support a luxurious building that really should not be there just as a showplace. Verse ten adds, And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. The young men who grew up with Rehoboam then joined in, telling him to tell the people that the yoke Solomon had placed on them was going to be light compared to what he was going to do. We may get advice from younger people that is not consistent with what the church is supposed to be about. This is not to say that younger people are always wrong, but sometimes they can be more self-centered. Verse eleven continues, And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. The young men continued to tell Rehoboam to tell the people that he was going to be even more oppressive to them than Solomon had been. At least they were advising him to be honest about his intentions. He would have had better success by promising them that he would ease their burden and then increasing it after he was established in power. Sometimes, would be leaders today will promise us that things are going to be better for us if they are in power than they are now, but they really aren't concerned as much about all the people as they are about themself and their friends. So, the people of Israel should at least be thankful that Rehoboam was advised to be truthful with them. Verse twelve states, So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. After three days, Jeroboam and the people of Israel came to Rehoboam again for his answer. We need to remember that Jeroboam had already been anointed by God to be the king of ten tribes of Israel, but he didn't come making that claim to power. Like David with Saul, he was not just assuming the position that God had appointed him to without any respect for Rehoboam who could have believed that he was the rightful king. Still, if God has called us to a position, we need to fill that position as soon as He tells us to, and God had already told Jeroboam that the majority of the kingdom was being taken away from Rehoboam and given to him. Verse thirteen adds, And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; Rehoboam answered the people roughly while rejecting the advice of the old men. I believe he was acting out of arrogance and self-pride, and we still encounter leaders and would be leaders who act the same way today. Verse fourteen continues, And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. Rehoboam followed the advice of the young men, once again we should notice without seeking God's guidance in the matter. We as Christians can never afford to act without seeking God's guidance first. Verse fifteen concludes, Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the Lord, that he might perform his saying, which the Lord spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. Though God was credited with Rehoboam's answer to fulfill a prophesy, I believe that He just knew what was in Rehoboam's heart or nature. I don't believe that God ever causes people to act outside His will, but He will always allow them to do so.
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