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When King Solomon died, his son Rehoboam became king. The scriptures reveal that a large group of people went to speak to the new king. They wanted change. Their request in 1 Kings 12:4 states: “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you” (NIV).
Rehoboam sought advice from the elders who had served his father. They advised him to grant the people’s request. Doing so would show that Rehoboam had a heart to serve to the people.
1 Kings 12:8 states: But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him (NIV).
To ‘reject’ something means to dismiss or refuse to agree with. Rehoboam refused to agree with the advice from the elders. Instead, he sought guidance from those who would likely tell him what he wanted to hear. Those who would tell him what likely aligned with what his heart was leading him to do.
1 Kings 12:10-11 states: The young men who had grown up with him replied, “These people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions’” (NIV).
Sadly, Rehoboam followed the advice of the young men. This unwise decision had negative consequences. Among them is that Israel rebelled against Rehoboam.
Up front, it is quite okay to seek guidance from others. I certainly do. But I have to be cautious that my heart is not leading me to seek advice from people who will say what I want to hear. Remember, we can’t always trust our heart. Jeremiah 17:9 states: The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it (NKJV)?
What then should believers do?
James 1:5 states: If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you (NIV).
As believers, we should want to make wise decisions. Decisions that please God. Unfortunately, worldly wisdom falls short. But there is help. As James 1:5 tell us, we can ask God for wisdom. So, let’s do that. Let’s ask God for the wisdom we need so that we can make wise decisions. Let’s ask God for the wisdom we need so that, in all we do, we glorify God.
Except where indicated, scripture references are from the American Standard Version (ASV), Darby Translation (DARBY), or King James Version (KJV) – all public domain.
