Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria Grace for Living Devotional Thursday August 3, 2023 TOPIC: LESSON FROM REHOBOAM

 Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria 

Grace for Living Devotional 

Thursday August 3, 2023

TOPIC: LESSON FROM REHOBOAM

BIBLE READING:

1 KINGS 12:1-10

1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. 2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) 3 That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, 4 Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee. 5 And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed. 6 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? 7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. 8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: 9 And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? 10 And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.  

KEY VERSE:

“So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king. O Israel now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.” 1 Kings 12:16  

MEDITATION:

Rehoboam was Solomon's son who came to the throne in Israel after the death of His father. Sad that Solomon missed it badly after a great start as King in Israel. The elders who were with him were disillusioned towards the end of his reign because of his ungodly lifestyle (1 Kings 11:1-6).  

Soon after Rehoboam took over as King, he engaged his subjects in some interesting dialogue - that the burden of taxation and other harsh demands imposed by his late Father, Solomon be lightened. Rehoboam sought counsel first from the old men that stood before his father, and also from the young folks who grew up with him.  

One notices first that Rehoboam did not seek God's will at all unlike his father who went to God to ask for how to rule his people (1 Kings 3:5-11) as soon as he was made king.  

The old men gave him a wise counsel that would prolong his rule because these were same wise men who had seen Solomon in his prosperous years. He rejected their counsel. Instead, Rehoboam accepted the shallow, rash, harsh and brash counsel of his fellow young men which was devoid of depth.  

By his preference for the young folks' counsel, he lost the followership and loyalty of eleven of the twelve tribes of Israel.  

Where do you turn onto for counsel when you are in a 'straight betwixt?'  

PRAYER:

Father Lord, give me wisdom and grace to seek you first in all issues of life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

JOB 32-33, ACTS 27:1-12