The Flaws of Folly
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Welcome/Prayer
INTRODUCTION:
Merriam-Webster defines folly as this:
lack of good sense or normal prudence and foresight
Criminally or tragically foolish actions or conduct
a foolish act or idea
an excessively costly or unprofitable undertaking
an often extravagant picturesque building erected to suit a fanciful taste
The book of Proverbs is full of truths about folly and its counterpart wisdom.
Interestingly enough, it was Solomon who compiled for us the book of Proverbs and many of them he wrote himself...
Yet, ironically… to the son for whom they were written, Rehoboam… many of their truths were ignored...
In our passage, 1 Kings 12:1-24, we are going to see Solomon’s son in his folly tear apart his father’s kingdom that had seen such great prosperity...
In doing so, I want us to see some of the marks of folly that Rehoboam exhibits and consider how we me avoid engaging in foolish acts ourselves
(READ 1 Kings 12:1-24)
Not the actions of a wise king
Starts out well...
Rehoboam doesn’t handle the grievance well… (1 Samuel 8:11-18)
Ends horribly with the death of Adoram… and with rebellion (words of Sheba from 2 Sam 20:1 echoed here in v. 16
The Flaws of Rehoboam’s Folly
Insecurity
Though Rehoboam began well.... seeking guidance… which is a mark of wisdom according to Pro 1:5...
5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,
Rejects the wise council of the older generation who knew and heard Solomon’s wisdom and according to Pro 1:7 this is the act of a fool...
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Instead… he embraces the council of his peers… (want’s affirmation)
The youthful counsel is not wise and more like the counsel warned of in Prov 2:12-15… counsel that wisdom & understanding delivers a person from
12 delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, 13 who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, 14 who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, 15 men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.
Arrogant
Rehoboam’s actions are oppressive to his fellow Israelites… they are rooted in pride and arrogance related to his position as king… he’s a man of power, yet lacks wisdom…
R.D. Nelson comments - “Rehoboam chooses slogans over wisdom, machismo over servanthood”
His actions mimic those of the wicked men of Psalm 94:3-5
3 O Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? 4 They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. 5 They crush your people, O Lord, and afflict your heritage.
Rather Rehoboam should have been more humble as the wisdom of Pro 16:19 suggests...
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Rash & Harsh
His answer after three days is an object lesson of Prov 15:1...
1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Then when the anger was stirred up he sends one of his own (Adoram) to his death…
And rather seek peace or reconciliation peacefully… prepares for more bloodshed (averted by God)… this is the action of evil men that Proverbs 1 warns against… Pr 1:15-16...
15 my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, 16 for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
These actions are that of a foolish man… a man without wisdom… a man caught up in his folly…
But let’s not miss something important here… note v. 15
Why did Rehoboam act this way? So God’s will would be done...
God is ultimately behind Rehoboam’s actions… yet, Rehoboam is responsible.. his decisions are his own…
An example of the tension between God’s sovereign will and our will in regard to choice and moral responsibility… (consider the other examples in Scripture)
And in light of our moral responsibility and God’s sovereign will… There’s a choice for us now… either follow the path of Rehoboam… the path of folly...
Or follow the path of wisdom... but what is that path exactly? What wisdom are we to follow?
Is it even possible?
Does the will of God allow for it? Yes...
Or....
Maybe you see Rehoboam in yourself… the insecurity… the arrogance… the harshness… the lack of wisdom...
And fathers, husbands… you ought to be exceptionally aware of this… for if you exhibit these traits or actions in your own life… consider what happened to the kingdom under such a fool… and consider what may happen to your marriage, to your family if you mimic similar actions and traits....
So, what must we do...
Lean into the sovereignty of God…
You may run from God in the idea that you refuse to obey Him...
May you will never be able to run from His sovereign will and power…
So, instead of running against the will of God will only leads to condemnation… run with the will of God that leads to life everlasting...
This is the start.... pick your verse from Proverbs… wisdom, understanding… and it all begins by fearing God and trusting Him… recognizing His sovereign power and obeying Him...
Remembering that God had a plan from before time itself to call you His own… to adopt you as His child… to make a way for you… a child of wrath to be born again and made into a new creation… into a child of grace...
All by the blood of His one and only Son… Jesus Christ...
To lean into the sovereignty of God is to lean into the truth, the reality of the cross and the resurrection… the climatic event of all creation and time… of which all eternity points to and proceeds from…
The event made possible only by the sovereign power of God… therefore, we must throw ourselves down before God and seek His help… seek His wisdom...
Therefore… Secure yourself in Him
Find your identity, your worth in Him....
not others… (family, peers, coworkers, social media)
not things of this world (success, wealth, health)
In your security, in your new identity, trust the protection of God and fear Him and Him alone....
And allow that to guide your emotions, your responses and actions to the things of this world...
Don’t be like Rehoboam who allowed his foolish peers to guide him… or his fear of the northern tribes gather men together for war...
Do not allow the worries of this world impact you...
Do not get caught up in paranoia and conspiracies… Isaiah 8:11-13...
11 For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: 12 “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
The anchor in all of this is to Remember your righteousness (your means of salvation) is not yours, but His… 2 Cor 5:21, Phil 3:8-9...
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
Humble yourself...
It’s only by the will of God that you are in Christ Jesus… therefore drop any arrogance or pride you have… 1 Cor 1:31
31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Phil 2:1-4...
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
If you have a servant mindset… you’re less likely to be angry… to be rash… harsh…
This leads to you being gentle… to giving the soft answer to turn away wrath… rather than a harsh word that stirs up anger...
Train yourself in righteousness
In light of what God has done for you in accordance to His gracious will...
As you live out your identity in Him
As you humble yourself before Him and thus others
Equip yourself with His Word....
Feast upon it...
Know His wisdom
Know Christ.... know your Savior...
Serve others in light of His Word...
Pray for others in light of His wisdom
Discern the things of this world to know what is wise and what is folly...
Repent when needed… fearing God so He may guide your way down the path of wisdom Psalm 25:12…
12 Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
And Delight in God’s word… Psalm 37:23-24
23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; 24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.
If you struggle with anger… with insecurity… with pride… go to Christ...
Go to His Word… not the bestsellers at the bookstore… go to God Himself… stop looking elsewhere… look to Him! Isaiah 45:22...
22 “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
And if you already know Christ… bring Christ to those who don’t...
Stop hiding the treasure of grace of which God has blessed you with… bring it out and share it with those in need...
Stop being unloving and selfish… be loving, humble, and bold… share the Word of God with others… not for the sake of morality… not for the sake of prosperity… but for the sake of Christ… for the conviction of sin and moments of re-birth by the Holy Spirit