If you think the Old Testament is boring or irrelevant, consider Solomon’s son, Rehoboam.
In 1 Kings 12 we read about his first (and worst) decision as the newly crowned fourth king of Israel. He started off well, just as his once-wise father Solomon had, by recognizing his need for advice in how to rule the nation. Solomon had turned to God for wisdom. Rehoboam, on the other hand, consulted two groups of people.
The first group, older men who’d served under Solomon and understood matters of national importance, advised the new king based on their years of experience and wisdom. They’d observed firsthand how Solomon had foolishly neglected his kingly duty of shepherding Israel, a calling his father David had fulfilled so well. Instead Solomon compelled about 30,000 of his own people into hard labor to build the temple, and imposed heavy taxation on the citizens. So these older men appealed to Rehoboam to ease their load, cut the taxes, and start serving rather than exploiting God’s people.
Instead of wisely deferring to mature voices, Rehoboam turned to his peers for advice–younger men who’d grown up with him and now served him. Drawing on their worldly wisdom (see James 3:14-16) they heartlessly urged the king to instead add to the people’s burden.
Following his friends’ advice, King Rehoboam made a fateful decision, fueled by greed and self-importance. His foolish pronouncement led to rebellion, a divided kingdom, idol worship, and a new level of sin that resulted in destruction and captivity. With one ruling, he tore down what had taken King David and King Solomon 80 years to establish.
(2 Chronicles 10 repeats the story because the authors of both books, Ezra and Jeremiah, wanted future generations to learn from this crucial turning point in Jewish history.)
Rehoboam’s bad decision? Asking people for advice without first asking God. Solomon had sought the Lord in his early days of kingship, and God graciously answered. Perhaps Rehoboam ignored God after having seen his father gradually slide into a life of self-indulgence. Yet God would have answered Rehoboam had he only asked.
Although I’ve never met any newly crowned kings, I know everyday people. And too often everyday people follow Rehoboam’s bad example.
“I know– I’ll take a survey of my Facebook friends to decide whether I should do this ridiculous thing!”
Not everyone on Social Media is foolish, but leaning on uninformed collective opinions may serve no better than leaning on your own.
James 1:5 instructs us,
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
And 1 Corinthians 15:33 teaches,
Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
Seek God’s wisdom, and keep godly friends.
Heeding these two simple guidelines could save us years of heartache and regret.
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