1 Kings 11 will set up what leads to the example we’re going to use, so if you would like some more background on the story you may want to read that chapter. 

I will begin by saying that Solomon was King following his father David.  King Solomon did what was evil in the sight of YHVH, so the Father told him that He was going to strip the kingdom from him and give it to his servant.  That servant would be Jeroboam.  Jeroboam wouldn’t be given all of Israel because of the covenant YHVH made with David, but he would be given ten of the tribes to lead.  This split did not happen while Solomon was alive.  What did happen was that Jeroboam rebelled against King Solomon when the King closed up the breach of the city of his father David.  Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam and he fled to Egypt to escape until the death of Solomon. Solomon has died and his son Rehoboam is the reigning king.  We will now pick up in 1 Kings 12.

1 Kings 12:2-5; “2 Now when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it [that Solomon had died], he was living in Egypt (for he was yet in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon). 3 Then they sent and called him [Rehoboam], and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4 “Your father made our yoke hard; now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.” 5 Then he said to them, “Depart for three days, then return to me.” So the people departed.”

Notice what happens next:

“6 King Rehoboam consulted [counseled] with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you counsel me to answer this people?” 7 Then they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and grant them their petition, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”  Notice the things they listed in order for them to be his servants forever.  Serving and speaking good words go hand in hand.

8 But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted [counseled] with the young men who grew up with him and served him. 9 So he said to them, “What counsel do you give that we may answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?” 10 The young men who grew up with him spoke [counseled] to him, saying, “Thus you shall say to this people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, now you make it lighter for us!’ But you shall speak to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins! 11 ‘Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions [Scorpions were a type of whip that did far more damage than the customary whip used.].’”  There is counsel and then there is wise counsel.  There is a danger when we don’t get the counsel we desire to hear to go and seek counsel somewhere else until we find that which we want to hear.  This is what Rehoboam did. He followed through with the young men’s counsel and this is what ultimately led to the division of the kingdom of Israel.  Did the Father know this was going to happen? Yes, in His foreknowledge He knew.  But would He have relented to do what He was going to do if Rehoboam would have humbled himself and followed wise counsel.

Often the decisions we make don’t just affect ourselves; it almost always has a further reaching affect on those around us. When seeking counsel always pray to be led to wise counsel!!!

Have a blessed and shalom filled day!!

Tammy McLendon

Courtesy of
River of Life Tabernacle
Tammy McLendon
Great peace have they who love Your law. Psalm 119:165a