Listening to Councilors 1 Kings 12:10-28
This post comments on listening to councilors.
Ever been egged on until you got a ticket for speeding? I can hear friends: “Speed up and catch them.” Next, the police sirens sound. Sometimes, listening to councilors leads to trouble.
The Bible provides examples of listening to councilors.
When the people met with Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, to crown him the next king, they asked for a lighter service yoke.
Rehoboam took three days before answering. Unfortunately, during the three days, he did not pray to God or talk to the priests for guidance.
First, he asked for advice from the old men who had served his father. Explicitly, they advised him to speak kindly to the people and tell them he would serve them. The wisdom of these old men anchored this excellent advice.
But the young men counseled differently, 1 Kings 12:10-11:
“…thus shall you say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s thighs. And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”
This tragic advice caused over 80% of the people to leave the southern kingdom and form a new northern country, Israel, with Jeroboam as their new king.
King Jeroboam provides a second example of listening to councilors.
Soon, concern about keeping his kingship caused Jeroboam to reason that if the people returned to worship in Jerusalem as directed by God, then the kingdom would soon return to Rehoboam, 1 Kings 12:28-29:
“So, the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel….”
Consequently, the people accepted the golden calves as their gods even though forbidden by God to worship idols.
God sent many prophets to turn the people back to worshipping Him. But they would not. Finally, they were carried away into Assyrian captivity and disappeared as a country.
So, two lessons are evident from these examples.
- Always consult God and His word before making decisions.
- Never accept advice that is in opposition to God’s commands.
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#badAdvice #worshipIdols #seekGod’sWill #opposeGod’sLaw
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