2 Chronicles 10:9 says, And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us? Having rejected the advice of the old men, as we saw in the last verse, Rehoboam the went to the young men for advice. I find no evidence of his going to God for advice, and that should always be our first step. In the church, those who have been Christians longest should be able to give us good advice about how to treat other people and we shouldn't dismiss their advice because they are old. Verse ten adds. And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. The young men that Rehoboam grew up with advised him to be even more demanding of the people than his father Solomon had been. I don't know if they didn't include themselves in the ones that this greater demand would be placed on, but I have to assume they didn't. They would be more like Rehoboam in receiving the extra benefits. I do know that we as followers of Christ should never expect greater financial burdens to be placed on others just so we can benefit from their sacrifices, even if we are in a position of leadership. Verse eleven continues, For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. They continued to tell him to treat the people even more harshly than Solomon had. We aren't told much about Solomon, who was known for his wisdom, treating the people harshly, but evidently later in his reign he had needed more and more resources to maintain a lifestyle that had become filled with foreign wives and their gods. It wasn't where they were from that was the really bad thing, though God had warned the people of Israel against marrying outside of the kingdom of Israel, though that was wrong, but it was the fact that he allowed the worship of false gods to come into his house. Verse twelve states, So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day. Jeroboam and the people returned to Rehoboam the third day as he had requested. They were still obeying his command. We should be obedient to those in power unless they start to come between God and us or start to pass laws that are disobedient to Him. Verse thirteen adds, And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men, Rehoboam didn't follow the advice of the old men but treated the people roughly as the young men had advised. We cannot treat other people with disrespect and make unnecessary demand on them and expect them to blindly follow us, and whatever we do needs to be based on God's guidance, and I see no mention of Rehoboam ever seeking God's guidance. Verse fourteen continues, And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. Rehoboam told them that he was going to treat them even more harshly than his father had. This was not a good way to start his reign successfully. We as Christians are promised that God will lighten our load instead of increasing it. Verse fifteen continues, So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the Lord might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. Rehoboam didn't listen to the people, and we are told his was so God's word to Ahijah could be fulfilled, but once more, I don't think God caused this, but He allowed it and knew how Rehoboam was going to react. We should never attempt to blame God for our bad decisions. Verse sixteen says, And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents. The people refused to obey Rehoboam and said they had nothing to do with David and went home. Of course, as people of Israel, they were still part of God's promise to David, and as Christians, we are all a part of God's promise of salvation through Jesus Christ, and we should be united in love and respect for one another, just as the people should have been then. Verse seventeen adds, But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. The kingdom was becoming divided between the people of Israel and the people of Judah, even though they were all called to be God's people. As followers of Christ, we are all a part of His people and cannot afford to be divided in doing His work here in the world today. Verse eighteen continues, Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. Rehoboam sent Hadoram who was over the tribute, or taxes, to collect it from the rest of Israel, and he was stoned to death. We don't need to kill those who would impose unfair burdens on us, but if it has to do with our relationship with God, we can never give in to them. Rehoboam fled back to Jerusalem, where those who supported him were, and I would assume this included the young men who had already given him bad advice. He could have realized his error at this time and made peace with the people by doing what the old men had advised, but he chose not to. If we are going in the wrong direction in our relationship with God, we cannot continue to go that way but must turn back to Him. Verse nineteen concludes, And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. The majority of the people of Israel rebelled against the house of David. This led to centuries of conflict between God's people, but God's promise to David was still in effect. He did establish his kingdom forever, not in an earthly kingdom, but in a spiritual on in which his descendant, Jesus Christ became the King of God's people forever. As followers of Christ, we need to be united in serving Him.
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