King Rehoboam

What to Ask a Fence

In the matter of reforming things, as distinct from deforming them, there is one plain and simple principle; a principle which will probably be called a paradox. There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, "I don't see the use of this; let us clear it away." To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: "If you don't see the use of it, I certainly won't let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.[1]– G.K. Chesterton

I was scrolling through Facebook last week and saw a post from a young man who was delighting in the fact that he had been right about something (I don’t know what) and that an older adult had been wrong. He was rallying his young friends to celebrate with him and suggested that the older person (and generation) was frequently wrong and that they needed to listen to young people more. I suggest that he reads some Chesterton and some Proverbs that were written specifically for young men to learn wisdom.

I’m not saying that the young don’t have anything to add – they certainly do. But, there is something about the wisdom that comes with experience. There is something about the ability to look at a fence and move to the second level of thinking before taking it down. Is there a value to the status quo before you quickly enact change?

Well, this isn’t a leadership class (well, maybe….) but it is an engaging thought to consider before we move into the next lesson from the kings. We will be discussing King Rehoboam but let’s set the state first.

The National Cost of King Solomon’s Unfaithfulness

We looked at King Solomon last week and saw how a humble choice for a discerning heart brought the favor of God. Unfortunately, Solomons reign became corrupted with the introduction of the worship of foreign gods into Israel. Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines which is disturbing but more disturbing was his foolishness to embrace other gods.

As a result, God introduces two enemies against Solomon.

1 Kings 11:14 NIV

Then the Lord raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom.

1 Kings 11:23 NIV

And God raised up against Solomon another adversary, Rezon son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah.

Solomon’s governing relied on two strategies for national security – military might and alliances through marriage. Both enemies that arise are “(1) international (which is ironic, since a major reason for Solomon’s many marriages was to secure international peace), and (2) associated with the results of David’s military activities (see especially 11:15–16, 24). If God wills otherwise, peace cannot be guaranteed, whether by diplomatic alliances or by military activity. Solomon, whose very name means ‘peace’ (cf. 1 Chr 22:9), and who was promised peace earlier in his reign (3:11–14; also cf. 5:3–4), will notleave a lasting legacy of peace, for his heart did not remain truly devoted to his Lord.”[2]

So, as the next king steps into leadership, there are issues in the nation of Israel, and they will need a strong leader to guide them. Unfortunately, they will not get that in the leadership of King Rehoboam.

[Slide 30]

King Rehoboam Listens to the Wrong Voices

Let’s look at the inauguration of King Rehoboam and the 1st thing that confronts him.

1 Kings 12:1–17 NIV

Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: “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.” Rehoboam answered, “Go away for three days and then come back to me.” So the people went away. Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked. They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.” But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?” 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.’ ” Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite. When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse’s son? To your tents, Israel! Look after your own house, David!” So the Israelites went home. But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.

[Slides 28 & 29]

Clearly, King Rehoboam’s first decision is fatal for the nation. It highlights the importance of the voices to whom we listen. It can be very difficult at times to show wisdom when we hear our ‘advisors’ speaking into our ear the things that we want to hear. In this case, there seem to be a few lessons that we can pick up.

The Young Advisors Misread the Times

It had been 40 years since the death of David. How many people here this morning remember the Reagan presidency? The Miracle on Ice at the 1980 Olympics? High mortgage interest rates in the 70’s? The disaster of the shuttle Columbia? These are the types of things that inform us today and help us navigate through to tomorrow. Those under 40 didn’t experience those things first hand.

King Rehoboam’s young advisors only knew the latter years of King Solomon’s rule. They have enjoyed the luxury of the court,

1 Kings 10:4–5 NIV

When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed.

They may have known a religion of only costly buildings and elaborate ritual, rather than a concern for the well-being of all, ‘administering justice’, and wish to safeguard their own position.

1 Kings 3:28 NIV

When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.

Power and privilege are not easily relinquished.[3]

The moorings of the leadership had shifted from administering justice to elaborate parties and appointed positions. King Rehoboam didn’t like the idea of softening his position. But the reality was that “Rehoboam was in a particularly weak position at this time, and the older advisers knew that. Rehoboam himself, however, apparently did not (or did not care); his actions were provocative and immature… The elders embraced reality, and finessed the issue as best they could. The youngsters were less aware of reality, or less concerned about it (either option very blameworthy), and thus they counseled abrasive frankness. And thus, they helped ensure the division—or redivision—of the kingdom. Frankness, at times, can be devastating.”[4]

The Young Advisors Misunderstood the Role of the King

Service! When the people asked for a king in 1 Samuel 8, they did so because they saw the prophet Samuel as old and his sons as unfaithful to God. They demanded a king to lead them. This displeased God because His plans are always better, but He allowed for Samuel to anoint Saul. We have already seen that the king was a servant of the people, responsible to God. That was the perspective that these young advisors missed.

Over and over again the Bible reinforces the idea of stewardship, servanthood, and mutuality. Whether Paul is talking about wife/husband, parent/child, or master/slave relationships; it is always with a phrase of mutuality.

Ephesians 5:21 NIV

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Mark 10:45 NIV

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Philippians 2:5–7 NIV

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

The stronger provides the example: the king does not order subjects to ‘serve’, rather the people willingly respond because they see him ‘serving’ them. There is awareness of being together, with differing responsibilities.[5]

A couple of the ministry principles that we have adopted for ourselves and for the ministry of Grace Chapel are:

We are Stewards and Servants First

– it is not about a title (pastor, board member, sound board, worship team, etc.). It is about stewarding the resources of the Kingdom and serving others with excellence.

Luke 17:10 NIV

So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ”

We are Faithful in Small Things

– Gratitude is Key!

As I was preparing this message our preschool teachers were in a training. The trainer (a Christian) was encouraging our staff in professionalism. What does the facility look like? How are you dressed? Do you make eye contact with parents? What does the community see as they drive by? What do you express? Do people want to be around you?

These apply to Christians as a whole. Do you see yourself as a servant in service of a great and mighty King or do you see yourself as a king with servants around you?

The Young Advisors Were…Well, Young

There is no greater indication of the juvenile minds of this group of young advisors to the king then their statement, “My little finger is thicker than your father’s waist.” Bible scholars and historians recognize this phrase as a popular, but rude, phrase from the time. Basically, the advisors are telling Rehoboam to say that his maleness is greater than his father’s maleness. You wouldn’t think that a statement like this could be found in the Bible, but the Bible is amazingly blunt and accurate. It is shocking to hear statements like that existed then just as it does today. Just this past week this same type of juvenile behavior took place between the billionaires, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerburg today. The point is, this should not be the language or the policy of kings. For that matter, it is not the behavior of any Christian.

Immature Christians are controlled by their fleshly impulses.

1 Corinthians 3:1 NIV

Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.

Later, in Galatians he describes immature behavior.

Galatians 5:19–21 NIV

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

If you are like me, you see people who call themselves Christians but live their lives in the flesh. One day they are telling the world that they are blessed by God and the next day they are sleeping with a new person, partying, unable to control their anger, on and on. It grieves me! I know it grieves the Spirit.

King Rehoboam rejected the wise council of the elders and chose to follow the advice of the fleshly young advisors and the Kingdom split in two.

Who is Advising You?

You are in a good place this morning. The lesson of King Rehoboam brings up a very interesting point – there are voices out there that are competing for our attention. Who will win?

Rev. Billy Graham used to tell a story about an Eskimo and his two dogs.

An Eskimo fisherman came to town every Saturday afternoon. He always brought his two dogs with him. One was white and the other was black. He had taught them to fight on command. Every Saturday afternoon in the town square the people would gather and these two dogs would fight and the fisherman would take bets. On one Saturday the black dog would win; another Saturday, the white dog would win but the fisherman always won! His friend began to ask him how he did it. He said, “I starve one and feed the other. The one I feed always wins because he is stronger.” This story about the two dogs tells us something about the inner warfare that comes into the life of a person who is born again. We have two natures within us, both struggling for mastery. Which one will dominate us? It depends on which one we feed.”[6]

Everything in this world and in the spirit is competing to get our attention. I’m convinced that the spirit of the antichrist is in this world today and calling people to the flesh and foolishness. How can a movie like Sound of Freedom that exposes the sex traffic trade be accused of being extreme right-wing propaganda? How can the truth about the nature of men and women be so distorted? Those are extreme realities of 2023. Even more subtle are the attractions of pride, pleasure, and lust as described by Jesus in the Gospel of John.

1 John 2:16–17 NIV

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Who is advising you? Better yet, who are you listening to? Which dog are you feeding? We have an opportunity today to learn a lesson from King Rehoboam and reject the bad advice of the devil and embrace the truth of the Spirit. Will we?

[1] Chesterton, G.K. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/833466-in-the-matter-of-reforming-things-as-distinct-from-deforming [2]William H. Barnes, 1-2 Kings, ed. Philip W. Comfort, vol. 4b, Cornerstone Biblical Commentary (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2012), 110–111. [3] John W. Olley, The Message of Kings: God Is Present, ed. Alec Motyer and Derek Tidball, The Bible Speaks Today (England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2011), 132–133. [4]William H. Barnes, 1-2 Kings, ed. Philip W. Comfort, vol. 4b, Cornerstone Biblical Commentary (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2012), 116–117. [5] John W. Olley, The Message of Kings: God Is Present, ed. Alec Motyer and Derek Tidball, The Bible Speaks Today (England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2011), 133. [6] Billy Graham. The Holy Spirit. Dallas: Word Publishing, 1988, pp. 92-93