Sermon Tone Analysis

Shechem instead of Jerusalem

Abimelech - Judges 9:1-3 “Now Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s relatives and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother’s family, “Say in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.”

And his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.””

Convention of States - Joshua 24 “Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel.

And they presented themselves before God.

The People’s Complaints

Your father made our yoke heavy

They didn’t complain about Solomon’s idolatry and revolt from God

They demanded relief

First instance of servant leadership

Why was the counsel of the older men right and the the counsel of the younger men wrong?

It is prudent to take/seek advice

God serves His own wise and righteous purposes by the imprudences and iniquities of men and snares sinners in the work of their own hands

Wise words of the older men 1 Kings 12:6-7

Wicked words of the younger men - 1 Kings 12:8-11

Rejection of leadership

Application

Do we seek counsel for things?

From whom do we seek counsel from?

How do we know that the counsel that we receive is right or wrong?