|
|
|
|
Rehoboam
|
|
Name Means |
"The people (family) is extended." |
|
Reference |
I Kings 11:42 - 14:31
II Chronicles 10-13 |
|
Reign |
17 years (930 - 913 B.C.) |
|
Theme |
Blind ambition can prove to be spiritually fatal. |
|
Lesson |
When seeking advice, consult only those who know God's Word and live by it. |
|
Key Verse |
"But he (Rehoboam) forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel
with the young men that were brought up with him."
(II Chronicles 10:8) |
|
Memory Verse |
"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; but he that
hearkeneth unto counsel is wise."
(Proverbs 12:15) |
|
Application |
As Christians, advice from those who are spiritually sound is nothing less than
a gift from God. Let us not allow pride to cloud the wise counsel which we are
fortunate enough to receive. |
|
Spiritual Epitaph |
"And he (Rehoboam) did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD."
(II Chronicles 12:14) |
Perhaps no other king in history had inherited as much
as Rehoboam. His father Solomon had spent his 40-year reign
over the entire nation of Israel by building extensively. Under
Solomon's supervision, the magnificent Temple of the Lord was constructed,
as well as the king's palace and numerous store cities and fortifications. Previous
to Solomon's reign, Rehoboam's grandfather, King David, had established Israel as a
military power among the world's nations, establishing peace on every side for his
descendents to inherit.
Rehoboam, at 41, was no child when he became king. Upon his ascension to the throne, the
people, lead by a servant of Solomon, named Jeroboam, made only one request of the new
monarch. "Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous
servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee"
(II Chronicles 10:4).
Given the opportunity to win the people to himself, Rehoboam sought the advice of his father's
counselors who urged him to grant the people's wishes. However, whether because of trappings
of power or the need to emerge from behind his ancestor's long shadows, Rehoboam rejected the
sages' advice and sought counsel from the friends with whom he had grown up. The new
king got the answer he was looking for "Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto
thee ... For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke:
my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions" (II Chronicles 10:10-11).
That was all Jeroboam and the Israelites needed to hear. Ten of the twelve tribes of Israel
(Judah and Benjamin excluded) rebelled against the king of Judah and formed their own
kingdom (with Jeroboam as their ruler) and remained in rebellion until Samaria was taken
into captivity by Assyria.
|
|
 Back to the "Christ-Centered Mall"
This teaching was written by David Holt Boshart, Jr. and David Ettinger.
All scans done by Christ-Centered Mall, Inc. are prohibited from being copied.
All applicable copyright© laws apply and are reserved by Christ-Centered Mall.
Web pages copyright© 1998-2006. |
|
