Tag: wise advice
The wisdom of life experience!
Scripture reading for April 5: 1st Kings 12-16
“Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:32 “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.” Proverbs 16:31
Old people are often marginalized in today’s world and it was no different in Solomon’s time. Rehoboam became king. His mother was an Ammonite, one of Solomon’s many wives. Solomon had accumulated great wealth through forced labor and excessive taxation. The people appealed to Rehoboam to lighten the burden and harsh yoke of his father and they would serve him. He had to choose what to do and wisely consulted the elders. (1st Kings 12:4-7) They advised him to serve the people and lighten the yoke on them. But Rehoboam rejected the elder’s good advice.
He next consulted his peers, young men he grew up with. They advised him to answer the people with harshness and more taxes. The new king refused to listen to the people or the elders but instead took the advice of his peers. This divided the people and fulfilled the Word of the Lord to Jeroboam through the prophet Ahijah that Solomon’s kingdom would be divided. (1st Kings 12:13-16)
This passage of Scripture reminds us of the importance of having ears to hear the voice of the Lord. God is always ready to speak to us, if we are willing to listen. Our hearts can easily be led astray by sin and selfish ways. In the abundance of counsel there is safety, but we must be discerning with whom we listen to. We often find that those most easy to receive from are those we agree with. The younger generation often does not value the advice of the older. This often leads to division and strife as in this story.
Ask the Lord to help you with discerning His voice today. Identify an “elder” God has placed in your life who has been a source of wisdom for you. Thank the Lord for that person today. Call that person and thank them for their wisdom.
A wake-up call!
Scripture reading for April 25th: 2nd Chronicles 10-12
Have you ever slept through an important event or meeting that you were supposed to attend? Have you shut the alarm off or hit the “snooze” button and then failed to make it to work or an important gathering? King Rehoboam got an unusual “wake-up” call from a prophet of God and a pagan king, Shishak of Egypt, and his 1200 chariots! (2nd Chronicles 12:3)
Rehoboam followed his father Solomon to the throne of Israel. But Rehoboam failed to keep regular appointments with God and to obey God’s law after he was established and became strong. (2nd Chronicles 12:1-2) Instead he sought the advice of his own peers and sought his own way and welfare over the welfare of the people God had entrusted to him. It worked for a while, but soon his sins found him out!
Rehoboam soon found himself under attack by Shishak, King of Egypt. Shishak had 1200 chariots and many hired warriors. God sent a prophet named Shemaiah to warn Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah. Upon hearing the Word of the Lord, the king and the leaders humbled themselves and God relented of destroying them. But Rehoboam did allow Shishak to carry off the treasures of the Temple and the royal palace. (2nd Chronicles 12:6-9) The king and the people became subjects of Egypt. Rehoboam heard the wake-up call and responded temporarily. He was spared destruction but did not truly repent. He continued to do evil in God’s eyes and failed to set his heart on seeking the Lord in everything. (2nd Chronicles 12:14)
This sad story is repeated often in our time as well. Many Christians have divided loyalties and God sends them “wake-up” calls. Sometimes they humble ourselves and repent but often go back to doing the same things that caused the trouble in the first place. If you have trouble in this area today, ask the Lord to fill you with the Holy Spirit. Take this message as your “wake-up” call and respond with all your heart! You wouldn’t want to miss the most important appointment in all eternity!