2017-11-12 A Divided Kingdom

The Divided Kingdom: A Lesson in Wise Counsel

The Burden of Solomon’s Success

Today we look at the final part of our story before the Christmas season. It isn’t one of the epic, familiar tales, but it is a pivotal one. It concerns Rehoboam, the son and successor of Solomon, and Jeroboam, an administrator who had served under Solomon.

Solomon had become incredibly wealthy, acting exactly as the prophet Samuel had predicted years prior. While he received many gifts from rulers who honored his wisdom, he also heavily taxed the people. He took the best for himself—the best lands, the best workers, the finest crops, horses, and flocks. Though he was once the wisest of men, over time he allowed his many foreign wives to draw his heart away from God.

By the time of Solomon's death, the people of Israel were exhausted by the burdens he had placed on them. When Rehoboam took the throne, a delegation approached him to ask for relief. Leading this group was Jeroboam. Jeroboam had previously fled to Egypt to escape Solomon’s order to have him killed, but he returned upon the King's death. Because the people trusted Jeroboam, they asked him to be their spokesman. Their request was simple: “If you will ease the harsh labor and heavy demands placed on us, we will serve you faithfully.”

The Choice Between Two Paths

At first, Rehoboam seemed to act wisely. He sought advice from two different groups.

First, he went to the elders who had served his father. These men were experienced and seasoned. They advised him to be a servant to the people that day, easing their taxes and labor. They told him that if he did this, the people would love and serve him forever.

Next, Rehoboam went to the young men he had grown up with. Though the Bible calls them "young," they were likely in their late thirties. These were men of privilege—sons of high-ranking officials who enjoyed the wealth of the elite. Their advice was the opposite: “Tell the people that your little finger is thicker than your father’s waist. Tell them that while your father scourged them with whips, you will scourge them with scorpions.”

This was exactly what Rehoboam wanted to hear. He didn't want to appear weak, and he didn't want to risk losing any bit of his royal wealth. He ignored the elders, followed the advice of his cronies, and denied the people's plea.

A Kingdom Divided

It was a disastrous decision. The people left angry, and the ten northern tribes rejected Rehoboam as their king. They instead crowned Jeroboam, leaving Rehoboam with a much smaller kingdom—Judah—comprised of only two tribes.

When Rehoboam raised an army to force the northern tribes back into submission, God stopped him, explaining that this division was allowed by His own hand. Unfortunately, neither king followed the example of David. Both are described as "doing evil in the sight of the Lord." Jeroboam, fearing that his people would return to Rehoboam if they traveled to Jerusalem to worship, took bad advice of his own: he built two golden calves for the people to worship, deliberately leading the nation into idolatry to protect his own power.

Despite this human failure, God’s ultimate plan remained. His promises to David concerning the lineage of the Messiah would not fail. While Jeroboam’s line eventually died out, the line of David was preserved. God’s purposes are never thwarted by the weakness or evil of people.

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Seeking the Advice We Need vs. the Advice We Want

Wisdom is clearly not genetic. Rehoboam lacked the discernment his father once possessed. While he was smart enough to ask for advice, he kept asking until he heard what he already wanted to do.

We often do the same thing. It’s like a child asking their mother for permission to go to a movie; when she says "no" because there is yard work to do, the child runs to the father hoping he doesn't know about the chores. Rehoboam knew the elders gave him the right answer, but he didn't like it. He sought out "yes men" who would validate his ego.

To be wise, we must not only seek advice but also seek sound counselors. As historian Doris Kearns Goodwin noted regarding leadership, you must surround yourself with people of diverse perspectives who can disagree with you without fear of retaliation. If you think you have all the answers, you are likely mistaken.

The Value of Perspective

Several years ago, my church was assigned a new pastor fresh out of seminary. As the chair of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC), I met with him to share our order of worship so he would feel comfortable on his first Sunday. He immediately dismissed it, saying, “I don’t need that. We’re going to do it the way I want to.”

When I suggested he first get to know the congregation and the worship team before making drastic changes, he ignored me for weeks. Eventually, I sat him down privately. When I asked why he wouldn't work with me, he said, “You disagreed with me, so I knew I couldn’t work with you.”

I had to explain that offering a different perspective isn't the same as being "against" someone. Disagreement is an opportunity for growth. Over time, we learned to work together and became a great team. We must remember that others have valuable ideas, even if they aren't the ones we first thought of.

Discerning Sound Doctrine

We have a perfect advisor in Jesus and an entire book of divine counsel in the Bible. Solomon himself wrote:

• Proverbs 11:14: “Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory.”

• Proverbs 12:15: “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.”

However, even in church, we must be discerning. Faith does not mean you leave your brain at the door. When a speaker or pastor gives a message, they have prayed and researched, but they are still human beings voicing their own interpretations.

For example, I hear "prosperity preachers" today advising people that if they just have enough faith, God will give them a mansion or a luxury car. When I look at the Bible, I see no basis for this. Jesus was homeless and poor. The disciples were not rewarded with earthly wealth but often faced oppression and imprisonment. Because their "advice" contradicts the life of Christ and the Apostles, I reject it.

Conclusion

Whether it is a question of how to dress or how to live, you must use your own God-given reason. Be rational and wise about whose advice you follow.

1. Accept sound advice that aligns with Scripture.

2. Reject poor advice that feeds the ego or contradicts the Gospel.

3. Don't just seek those who agree with you.

Seek God, seek wisdom, and remember that while a giant of pride might knock you down, you don't have to stay there.