Good Counsel in the Midst of Transitions

Teenagers on up to their class and we'll go and take your Bible throw to the book of 1 Kings tonight.

1 Kings as we look here in the Word of God a little bit here this evening.

Got some handouts for everybody here.

As we're going to continue on looking at transitions and the things that happen along the way.

And the one thing we can learn tonight as we're going to be looking through is I want you to understand

that when it comes to transitions there's always a second thing we're going to see here tonight too

and that's good counsel in the midst of transitions.

You know we're going to look here tonight at the transition as it begins to take place here

with the children of Israel and the kingdoms as they are separated just as God showed forth

and God declared that that was going to be the case and how that was going to come about in that.

And so we know at the death of Solomon it naturally leads to the declaration when one king passes

it's a natural declaration that there's going to be a new king.

That there'll be a new one that sits on the throne.

And we know this was his one that was assumed to be Jeroboam which would have been accepted to the throne.

There was never a challenge recorded in scripture here of challenging him about the throne.

And when it comes to Solomon one of the things that's interesting for a guy with 700 wives and 300 concubines

you only have three children listed in the scripture.

He has his son Jeroboam or excuse me Rehoboam.

Get the right Boam going.

I don't know what they were thinking.

They need to get it.

I need to name him like Jerry and Bob or something to help keep them separate you know.

But his son Rehoboam is the only son mentioned in scripture.

We also have two of his daughters mentioned that married two of his leaders that he had out over the districts.

And so it's interesting that to me anyways that you have somebody that had that many wives and things

and you only have three children that were made note of in scripture.

And why we don't know but we know that there was definitely no problem with Jeroboam being the one that was to assume the throne.

There was no conflict about that portion of it.

There was nobody arguing about it.

It was just stated that and Jeroboam or excuse me Rehoboam ruled in his stead the Bible tells us.

I mean it's just very clearly there with that.

And as Jeroboam excuse me as Rehoboam assumes the throne of Solomon upon his death

that would later we're going to find that he assumed the throne.

But also tonight as we begin looking at this transition

he sat upon the throne as one that was going to be installed as king.

Because you know we know from history that oftentimes when a king would die

the next one would be honored as king.

But they would have a coronation ceremony you might say

where they actually validate all that with a ceremony and a gathering.

And the people would all be in agreement with what was going on.

And we're going to see tonight this taking place

because he was going to be crowned as king there in a city called Shechem.

And the children of Israel would acknowledge and accept their kings like this.

You know one of the things you'll notice throughout the scripture

David, Solomon, and Rehoboam

all three of those we have examples of the people gathering

to validate them as their king.

In other words they were the king but the people kind of put the stamp on it

and said we will follow you.

A little different than a lot of kingdoms

because if you study history a lot of kingdoms are just like

I am so you will.

But the interesting thing you find about Israel

is Israel the elders always gathered

to kind of put a stamp of approval saying we will follow.

We will follow the king.

And we're going to see that as this plays out here

as the elders would gather.

And we find that these things were taking place.

And while Solomon

had passed

and Rehoboam was the acting king

as they come here to Shechem

where we're going to pick up here tonight

is where he was going to be acknowledged

by all Israel.

So look here in 1 Kings chapter 12

1 Kings 12 · chapter mention

as we pick up here

and we'll read through the first five verses here

as we get started here tonight.

And it says

And Rehoboam sent to Shechem

for all Israel were come to Shechem

to make him king.

And it came to pass

that 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.

And they sent

and called him

and Jeroboam

and all the congregation of Israel

came

and spake unto Rehoboam

saying

Thy father made our yoke grievous.

Now therefore make thou

the grievous

make thou the grievous service

of thy father

and his heavy yoke

which he put upon us

lighter

and we will serve thee.

And he said unto them

depart yet for three days

and then come again to me

and the people

departed.

Let's pray.

Heavenly Father

as we take a few moments tonight

as we look into your word

Lord

to see this transition

and Lord

even the importance

and the dynamic

of sound counsel

in the midst of transitions

and being able to look

for the right things

when it comes to counsel

and the desire

of what we would have

as we make wise decisions

Lord

not selfish decisions

but wise decisions

in what you would have for us

Lord

and we just ask all these things

in your precious name

Amen.

You know

so we see here

they've come to an interesting place

here to gather together

because they came to the city

called Shechem

Now this is a city

that you'll find

throughout the scripture

Shechem is mentioned

a lot of different times

and it was really

a very important place

for the children of Israel

Shechem wasn't a strange place

to them

you might say as a people

but it was a very important place

When you read the scripture

there was many things

that took place here

at this place

called Shechem

Shechem was the place

that God met with Abraham

when he came into the land

In Genesis chapter 12

Genesis 12 · chapter mention

Shechem was the place

that God met with Abraham

and Abraham built an altar

unto the Lord

at Shechem

It started right there

at Shechem

you might say

I mean that's where God

had met with Abraham

as he came out

of Ur of the Chaldees

he met him at Shechem

when he spoke to him

in the land

and so we find that

we find that Jacob

you know

Abraham

Jacob

here Jacob is

in Genesis chapter 33

Genesis 33 · chapter mention

he buys land

at Shechem

for his residence

he gave him a home

and the Bible tells us

in Genesis 33

that he built an altar

you find that

when the children of Israel

come back up

out of Egypt

that they bury

somebody very important

in Shechem

who can tell me

who that is

this is your Bible

trivia question

Joseph

Joseph

bones of Joseph

were brought up

out of Egypt

and buried

at Shechem

you find Shechem

is a very

important place

to them

because

here at Shechem

is also

when Israel

got ready

to

they got into

the land

and here at Shechem

they had

rededicated themselves

to the Lord

saying we will

serve the Lord

there in Joshua

Joshua 24 · chapter mention

chapter 24

you'll find

they made a

dedication

to the Lord

here

around Shechem

here

as Israel

dedicated them

Shechem

was also

another

interesting city

here's another

Bible trivia

question for you

so you can see

what was

what was

unique and

special also

about the

city of Shechem

it had a

special place

within all

the cities

of Israel

it was a

city of refuge

in other

words

the city

of Shechem

belonged

specifically

to the

Kohathites

it was

given unto

them

in a

city

of refuge

I think

this is

important

that they

met here

because

we'll find

as we look

through here

I think

that's the

reason that

Jeroboam

was able

to meet

there

at Shechem

was because

it was a

city of

refuge

we don't

have time

to study

that out

tonight

but if you

go back

and look

to see

there were

certain

restrictions

placed upon

a city

of refuge

there are

certain

things

if somebody

one of the

things that

would happen

at a city

of refuge

if somebody

accidentally

killed somebody

you know

as they talk

about in the

scripture

you know

somebody's out

chopping wood

and they're

trying to get

their job

done

and suddenly

the axe

head breaks

and the axe

flies off

head flies

off

and kills

somebody

with no

intention

or no

malice

a person

could flee

to the city

of refuge

and they

would have

to stay

there once

they proved

it was an

accident

and the

family could

not take

vengeance

for their

lost loved

one

it was a

place of

refuge

it was a

place of safety

it was a

place that

God designed

that's just

one of the

few things

in the land

that you'll

find about it

but also

Shechem was

in the land

of Ephraim

it was

given to

Joseph's son

this particular

area around

Shechem and

Shiloh

we talked a

little bit

about that

last week

but we

know we

don't know

specifically

it doesn't

say why

they were

at Shechem

but I

think that

being a

city of

refuge is

probably a

pretty good

reason

that they

were there

because when

Jeroboam

comes

why was

Jeroboam

down in

Egypt

do you

remember from

a few weeks

ago why did

Jeroboam have

to go to

Egypt

yeah because

Solomon was

going to

do what

kill him

because he

was trying

to usurp

the throne

so he's

on the

run

and so it

would make

sense that

somebody on

the run

would meet

at least for

counsel or

protection in a

city of refuge

because you

couldn't touch

anybody in a

city of refuge

without all the

elders getting

together kind of

like a court

trial and

acknowledging those

things

in other words

it wasn't just

it was a place

that this

who could offer

protection to

Jeroboam in the

midst of all this

and so we

find here that

if we look

back at our

text notice

here that they

gathered at

Shechem to

make him king

verse 2

and it came

to pass when

Jeroboam the

son of Nebat

who was yet

in Egypt

heard it

you know

verse 3

and they sent

and called him

in other words

the children of

Israel the

leaders sent

down to

Egypt and

said hey

Solomon has

died and

Jeroboam now

returns back

into the land

because remember

Solomon began

to reign

immediately

but he

wasn't placed

officially you

might say

until they

came to the

to the

coronation of

the king

you know

and the

people's

approval

you know

and so this

is what we're

seeing that

transition that

was taking

place we

know it

didn't just

happen overnight

in other words

there was some

time period here

in preparation

and the things

going on

preparing for

it

and so we're

we're seeing

here that this

is happening

and and

Jeroboam comes

up because he

was of the

children of

Ephraim

because remember

Jeroboam's

job he was

head over the

house of

Joseph you

know Ephraim

and Manasseh

and so we see

this connection

coming in and

and we

understand that

he had had

been met

there by the

prophet Ahijah

and proclaimed

that he would

have a kingdom

of ten of the

tribes that we

talked about

last week and

even take ten

of them from

Rehoboam and

and but we

find here that

the people had

gathered they

knew all these

things they knew

what God had

said but the

people still

gathered together

and you know I

think it's probably

just like us today

I think they

gathered even

though they knew

what would have

been prophesied

they gathered out

of many reasons

that you could put

in there one is

loyalty hey this is

our people this is

where we belong this

is this is family

there's a loyalty

that plays in there

may have been

patriotism you

know or you get

the other side of

the coin you get

sometimes people just

don't like change

you know they like

the status quo you

know don't rock the

boat you know any of

those things or other

things but we do know

that the people all

gathered together under

the understanding that

they were going to

crown Rehoboam as the

new king over all the

tribes that was their

intention but we know

that God had already

said what that he was

going to take ten

tribes away but we

find those tribes

still meeting to honor

Rehoboam so let's take

a look here tonight at

what's going on here as

we look through this and

we find that they came

for one thing was to

address the grievances

that they had with

Rehoboam's father

Solomon to redress

grievance you know and

that that happens you

know and we're going to

look at this grievance

or this complaint here

tonight that's the first

one we're going to look

at the complaint that

they made and I think we

can all relate to their

complaint you know when

we look at what's going

on because look here in

verse four it says thy

father made our yoke

grievous now therefore

make thou the grievous

service of thy father and

his heavy yoke which he

put on us lighter and

notice what they say we

will do what serve thee

that's the reason I think

they came wanting the

status quo or loyalty or

whatever they were even

though they knew what had

been said to Jeroboam at

least the children of all

Joseph Ephraim and

Manasseh because Jeroboam

was their leader and he

tried to overthrow Solomon

so you know the word was

out of what the prophet

had told him you know we

understand that that

would have been known but

they still all came and

said hey address the

grievances and we will

serve you we'll stick with

you we'll stay with you if

you address the grievances

and so we see here that

this yoke was grievous put

on by Solomon what was it

it was as many projects

projects which meant they

had a need for money and

manpower to complete you

know there's really no

difference today is there I

mean if we have projects

and things going on it

takes money and manpower and

it's going to take it's

going to cost people there

was a levy there was going

to be a tax you know the

one thing we know is it

hasn't changed amen you're

going to get taxed there's

going to be a levy to build

things for for the

government and all those

things that's just part of

what's going to take place

it's what's going to

transpire as we look at

these things and it was

not their forefathers that

had been had not been

warned about this I mean if

you think about when they

got ready to set up the

king if you we won't take

time to read tonight but

first Samuel chapter 8 where

1 Samuel 8 · chapter mention

Saul the people are calling

for a king before Saul gets

put in and Samuel comes and

says hey let me tell you

what God tells you and some

of the things he says

there's going to be heavy

taxes there's going to be a

big demand on your goods and

there's going to be a big

demand on your children and

your families because a king

is going to take your money

he's going to take your

goods he's going to take your

family and he's going to put

them into his service they

were warned way before this

exactly what was going to

happen and that this was how

it was going to come together

there in first Samuel chapter

eight and but this specific

levy or yoke placed by

Solomon we find take a look

back a few chapters go to

first Kings chapter four

tonight first Kings chapter

four because what would

happen is Solomon had 12

officers over Israel which

provided victuals for the king

in his household and each man

his month in a year made

provision in other words

each group that was under

the taxing authority said

here is your month to

provide everything that's

needed for everybody to eat

and consume and all the

things that were needed we're

going to call up and this is

what you're going to be doing

but we see here that he also

Solomon raised a levy of

people first Kings chapter five

just over a page there in your

Bible and verse 13 it says in

King Solomon raised a levy out

of all Israel and the levy was

30,000 men in other words

Solomon sent out and said hey

we're going to get together and

we're going to take 30,000 young

guys that are healthy in the

prime of their life and we're

going to take them and they're

going to we're going to put them

into service and we're going to

put these men are going to serve

the king but in this they also

collected heavy taxes and

tribute to support the projects

you know and I tell you what one

thing we know is that Rehoboam had

quite a bolsterous proud spirit

about him because we'll look a

little later even after the people

all left and said we're not we're

going to set up our own king he

sends out the tax collector to go

collect money we'll look at that

next week we'll find out it didn't

end so well for the tax collector

that's one of those things that

talk about rock and a hard place

he had to go do his job because

the king sent him knowing that it

probably wasn't going to go over

very good that's a true old

fashioned rock and a hard place

amen matter of fact we find it

cost him his life trying to collect

the taxes sent out because Rehoboam

said hey go collect it from him

they owe it so we see here the

conflict and as we see this that

Rehoboam looks at the individuals

and says well go away for three days

and come back and I'll have an answer

for you so as we look at this what

what are the people asking of Rehoboam

they're not telling him to remove all

this from them they said to do what

make it lighter in other words the

burden is too great and we know

under your father it was like this

but now you have an opportunity to

make a change you have an

opportunity to do things a little

different you have an opportunity to

to do things that were going to be

beneficial for the people as a whole

and we're going to see here that the

the counsel that he gets because

we're going to spend a lot of time

here tonight talking about the counsel

that Rehoboam gets but also his

response to that counsel because this

is where it meets the road for us

because when we come in times of life

of transition and things of having to

make a decision what direction are we

going to go we need to understand what

part does counsel and sound counsel play

into that and how does that look in our

life here because let's pick up here in

verse 6 and it says in King Rehoboam

consulted with the old men that stood

before Solomon his father while he yet

lived and said how do you advise that I

may answer this people so what does

Rehoboam do Rehoboam calls together the

counselors that his dad had before him

and he says hey guys here's the

situation you heard what was going on

what do you say I should do what's your

advice because you know what how are we

going to handle this you know how are we

going to deal with that and and really

that's where counsel comes in when it's

like hey there's two different directions

to go which one is the right one how do

we deal with this situation or the

specifics even in our own life and we're

going to see here what he do this Rehoboam

was very smart in because he did what all

us ought to do if you don't sure what to

do or you need to make sure you're

thinking correctly because counsel does

two things counsel helps us to get

guidance but counts good counsel also

make sure that we're thinking correctly

because sometimes what we desire is not

what we ought to desire good counsel

helps us make sure we're thinking and

seeing things properly have you ever

heard somebody you go talk to them and

they and they'll start pointing out

things and you're like huh hadn't thought

about that that's sound counsel it's

making you process all the elements that

are going to be involved all the things

that are a part of it and it's not to be

entered into lightly but we find here that

was a solid decision to seek the advice of

others you know look over the book of

Proverbs Ramon it's interesting Proverbs

was written by Rehoboam's dad you know

Solomon penned the Proverbs and let's look

back and see what Solomon his father told

him you know and you'll find in Proverbs

that Solomon charges his son to follow

sound counsel as you read through Proverbs

but notice here in chapter 11 in verse 4

notice what the Word of God tells us it's

where no counsel is the people fall but in

the multitude of counselors there is safety

we're going to look here tonight at getting

counsel because sometimes we go for

counsel for the wrong reasons or we seek

out the wrong counsel and we're going to

look at this a little bit as we go through

here because notice he seeks the opinion

of the old men that stood with Solomon and

he asked him a good question how do you

advise that I may answer this people

now I don't know about you but that's a

good question to ask counselor if you're

going for counsel how should I what's your

well how are you thinking I should answer

this you know what's what's your input

what's the details that I need to to have

you know to get a right perspective because

what counsel does is help us get the right

focus on the right things and to grab a hold

of that and we see here verse 6 he asked

that question how do you advise that I may

answer this people and it says and they

spoken to him saying now notice what they

tell him here because they as they were

there these were men they were aware what

had been told Solomon remember they were

told before Solomon was told that the

kingdom was going to be taken from him if

this is Solomon's counselors they already

knew this stuff that would had gone on they

were aware of it but I want you to see

their answer was not a bad answer because

they're telling Rehoboam it says hey humble

yourself lighten the taxes and these people

will serve you notice how they respond to

him he says and verse 7 and they spake unto

him saying if thou will be a servant unto this

people this day and serve them and answer

them and speak good words to them that they

will be thy servants forever you know the

counsel you get is important and you

definitely want to have the counsel you

want to have wise counsel you know take a

look in the scripture go to Proverbs

Proverbs 19 · chapter mention

chapter 19 Proverbs chapter 19 because you

Proverbs 19 · chapter mention

know the Bible has a ton to say about getting

good counsel and what kind of counsel should

we listen to and why should we listen to

it but Proverbs chapter 19 here in verse

Proverbs 19 · chapter mention

20 notice what the Word of God says it

says hear counsel and receive instruction

that thou mayest be wise in thy later end you

know that's some good good stuff to absorb

right there good counsel helps make you

wiser and smarter helps you understand what's

going on now notice verse 21 there are many

devices in a man's heart nevertheless the

counsel of the Lord that shall stand you know

one of the things you'll find is that

oftentimes when it comes to counsel we're

going to look here at this here but notice

Solomon's counsel counselors that he had of

his dad the old men they referred to in

other words they've been seasoned around a

little bit you know they'd they'd been

seen the things going on they'd seen the

the struggle of the people they'd seen

basically the schism that had been caused

between the people because of the levy the

weight that was upon them and the

extravagance and also the excess of

Solomon when you read about Solomon think

about what was spent in Solomon's palace and

all those things when people would travel from

afar just to see the wonders of Solomon's

palace the Bible tells us that he had gold

shields lining the area around the throne

battle shields in solid gold now I don't know

who would think that's extravagant I mean

that was Solomon in all his glory and

splendor people would travel just to hear his

wisdom and just to see the glory of his

kingdom and all these things and and we find

this extravagant and excess of his father put an

attitude upon Rehoboam because really he lived if

his dad was living like that you can imagine his

son was living pretty well

Rehoboam probably had the easy life man it's

just hanging out you know always just doing what

you want to do whenever you do it somebody

brings you something when you need it you know

you have everything that you need because of the

extravagance and when you understand when you

read through the book of Ecclesiastes this young

man would have grown up in the midst of Solomon

doing all the things he talks about in Ecclesiastes

all the things that he sought with wisdom and

women and money and everything looking for joy and

satisfaction in life Rehoboam would have seen Solomon

through that stage of his life

it would have had an impact on how he thought

seeing his father do those things

the choices you make impact more than you

we need to understand that picture

of why Rehoboam was that like he was

he was influenced by his father

how do you know that because that's normal

that's how it works parents influence children

the choices you make the priorities you make the

things that you put forth impact the generation that

follows you

but notice here the old men knew something very

important because notice the advice that they

give Rehoboam simply summed up this it said they're

basically telling Rehoboam this he says humble

yourself to serve them in other words get off your

high horse and consider the purpose that you really

are as king and that is for the benefit of the people

to watch over to protect and to to guide and to to move

the nation in a direction

you know these men would have been witnesses for

for themselves to the burden that was upon the people

notice here their advice was not to be arrogant but to be

gracious

they said hey if you're gonna if you would humble yourself these

people would serve you forever

look over to Proverbs chapter 16 for a moment

Proverbs 16 · chapter mention

Proverbs chapter 16 verse 18 who's got that one for me tonight

Proverbs 16:18

Proverbs 16 18 got that Ethan

think about that pride goeth before what

destruction and a haughty spirit before fall

we're gonna look here that Rehoboam had both

he had a mindset about who he was and what he was expecting

the old man Solomon's advisors look at him and say be a servant

he was advised to humble himself and to think of the people

really he's given him the same advice that Jesus

gave us an example and encouraged us to be

think about Jesus Jesus said the greatest among you will be what a

servant

think about even Jesus's example

you know and what Jesus told Mark chapter 10 verse 43 says

Mark 10:43

but so shall it not be among you but whosoever will be great among you

shall be your minister

that word minister is servant

it's there for the benefit of somebody else

you know have you considered that even political leaders have a responsibility to be good ministers or servants of the people

Romans chapter 13 and verse 4 calls him a minister of God to thee for good

Romans 13 · chapter mention

now I want you to understand God said that's what they're supposed to be doing

but we all know that's not necessarily what they do

that's no different than any other area of life we have sometimes God makes it very clear what we're supposed to be doing

but yet we don't do it

it's no different so we see here

that consider the response

here is really a critical point

because Rehoboam was instructed

also to use good words in other words

be careful how you address this back

Proverbs 25 verse 11

Proverbs 25:11

who can look that one up quick for me

got that David

Proverbs 25

11

a word fitly spoken

you know

it's like apples of gold and pictures of silver

I mean it's something that's beautiful and beneficial

you know

something that helps the situation

you know

but I want you to see here

how we respond to counsel

and the choices we make regarding counsel

determines more than what we sometimes consider

in the midst of something

because I want you to see here

here's the counsel that the old men gave him

hey Solomon your dad was harsh

he was hard upon the people

he demanded much

and the old counselor says

hey

you have a chance to make a change

in a transition

there's a great opportunity for change

he had a choice to make

of what he was going to do

what he was going to go

how that was going to come together

because

I want you to see here

how he responded

look at verse 8

it says

but he did what

he forsook

the counsel of the old men

which they had given him

and consulted with the young men

that were growing up with him

which stood before him

now

it says

he forsook

the counsel of the old men

I want to make a statement here

they're not wise

because they were old

that's not the reason

that God puts that statement there

because

you can be old

and foolish

but these were men

of sound experience

and when we look at it

I mean

I think we can look at this today

the advice

the old men gave him

was that sound advice

was that wise advice

I mean

hey

these people are mad

these people are upset

you better do something

to de-escalate

the situation

you better do something

to deal with what's going on

you know

I want you to understand

though

this very important thing

even though age

is not a measurement

of wisdom

we need to understand

that we by nature

sometimes reject

sound counsel

we reject sound counsel

just as Rehoboam did

he got sound counsel

and this is very important

to look at

because notice what he did

he got sound counsel

he rejected it

and went looking

someplace else

for it

this is something

we can apply

to our lives today

because sometimes

we get sound counsel

and we go looking

for somebody else

to affirm our decision

look over to Psalm

Psalms 1 · chapter mention

chapter 1

for a moment

because there's two forms

of counsel

you'll get

Psalm 1 1

you can catch that one

for me tonight

got that

Don

okay

blessed is the man

that does what

walketh not in what

the counsel of who

the ungodly

when you boil it down

to it

you have two types

of counsel

you have good

godly counsel

and you have

ungodly counsel

now the variants

underneath that

are big

but really

that's the essence

of it

either

counsel that

lines up with

God

lines up with

his word

or it doesn't

wise counsel

Proverbs chapter 12

Proverbs 12:5

verse 5

look at the word

of God

the thoughts

of the righteous

are right

but the counsel

of the wicked

are deceit

and we're going

to see this here

because Rehoboam

didn't like the

counsel of his

father's counsel

maybe he thought

because he didn't

receive the

desired answer

you know

well they'd

advise dad

and you know

this didn't

you know

I'm going to

do my own

thing

you know

I want to

do what I

want to do

of how I

want to do

things

because notice

here in verse

8 of our

text it says

which when they

had given him

and consulted

with the young

men that were

growing up with

him which stood

before him

in other words

he rejected

what was said

before seeking

the counsel

of the young

men

in other words

he got sound

counsel and said

I don't like

that I'm going

to look for

something else

let's put it

in a little

different situation

of presentation

here for a

moment

I'll put it

this way

he didn't like

the counsel

so he went

shopping for

some of the

counsel he

liked

the problem

of advice

shopping

is no different

today than

it was in

days of

Rehoboam

matter of fact

I think it

might be

more prevalent

today

than it was

in his day

because of

our communication

but I want

you to see

here

that the

young men

that had

grown up

about Rehoboam

spoke

what he

wanted to

hear

even though

the counsel

was opposite

of the old

men

because notice

what it

tells us

here in

verse 9

and he

said unto

them

what counsel

give you

that I

may answer

this people

who had

spoken to

me

saying

make

the

yoke

which my

father

did put

upon us

lighter

and the

young men

that were

growing up

with him

spake unto

him

saying

thou shalt

thus speak

unto this

people

that spake

unto thee

saying

thy father

made your

our yoke

heavy

but thou

but make

thou it

lighter

for us

thus shalt

thou say

unto them

a little

finger

shall be

thicker

than my

father's

loins

and now

whereas

my father

did

laid you

with heavy

yoke

I will

add to

your

yoke

my father

hath

chastised

you with

whips

I will

chastise

you

with

scorpions

that's

the young

man

advice

put them

in their

place

that's

really the

advice

the young

men

gave

be proud

be arrogant

be self

centered

be self

focused

the old

men said

humble

yourself

and serve

the people

the young

men said

you have

a right

you can

do this

it's your

right to

do that

you know

the problem

is

that this

was exactly

what

Rehoboam

wanted to

hear

he went

advice

shopping

and found

what he

wanted

today

often times

even

believers

will go

advice

shopping

because

today

with the

great invention

of Al Gore's

internet

some of you

will get that

joke

if you've

been around

a while

but the

internet

is a

just a

massive

amount

of

information

and today

in that

often times

even

Christians

will look

to Google

for an

answer

instead

of the

Bible

what did

somebody else

have to say

about it

you know

what you'll

find

if you

Google

what you're

looking for

you'll find

somebody

that will

agree

with you

you'll

find

if you

search

long enough

you'll

find

somebody

that holds

your

thought

on it

doesn't

make it

wise

doesn't

make it

smart

but you

feel better

because

somebody

agrees

with you

when we

go

advice

shopping

we get

in trouble

you know

one thing

I've said

for many

years

a true

friend

is one

who will

tell you

what you

need to

hear

not what

you want

to hear

somebody

that's

really your

friend

will tell

you what

you need

to hear

and not

just what

you want

to hear

and we

need

friends

that speak

that into

our life

that we

have a

relationship

with

that have

the power

and ability

to speak

that into

your life

in the

right way

because that's

different from

the one who

just wants

to be the

smart aleck

that comes

up and

tells you

what you

ought to

do

if you're

going to

have

counsel

that they're

talking about

here

there needs

to be

a

relationship

there needs

to be a

trust

saying I

know this

person well

enough

to know

what they're

telling me

is not

out of

spite

or meanness

or just

trying to

be angry

or just

trying for

some other

means of

selfish means

of their

own

when they

come and

speak to

me they're

speaking to

me from

a place

that say

hey I

love you

and I

need you

to know

what God

says about

this

Rehoboam

did exactly

what many

people do

today

he wouldn't

advise

shopping

it'll be

okay

somebody

agrees

with me

remember we

ought to

walk not

in the

counsel of

the

ungodly

we need

to be

careful

in these

things

because today

with social

media and

internet

you don't

have to

look long

before you

definitely

find somebody

who knows

and agrees

with you

but the

question is

we need to

not measure

it is there

somebody that

agrees with

me how

does it

measure

according to

God's

word

Micah

Micah 6 · chapter mention

chapter 6

dealt with

that and it

tells us what

we're supposed

to do that

which justly

rightly and

humbly before

God

that's our

responsibility

you know it

gives us a good

parameter to hang

everything else

from

to do good

before God

you need to

make sure it's

just it's

right and

you're doing

it humbly

Micah

6

8

Micah

6

8

we need to

be careful we

don't follow

the internet

expert

and that's

dangerous

today

I couldn't

even if I

we'd have a

new building I

think if I

had a dollar

for every time

I heard this

well I looked

up on the

internet and

this guy said

this

you know

we have more

YouTube experts

than we know

what to do

with

look over to

Proverbs

Proverbs 19 · chapter mention

chapter 19

Proverbs

Proverbs 19 · chapter mention

chapter 19

look there

at verse 20

we read this

just a little

bit ago but

this plays

back right in

Proverbs 19

20 says

hear counsel

and receive

instruction

that thou

mayest be

wise in

thy latter

end

there are

many devices

in a man's

heart

nevertheless

the counsel

of the

Lord

that shall

stand

when we're

measuring

counsel that

people give

us we need

to filter it

through the

word of

God

we need to

filter it

is what

they're

telling me

is there

a conflict

in the

word of

God

does it

conflict or

get caught

up on

something in

God's

word

because if it's

caught up on

the things in

God's word

there's a

problem

and we all

need to do

that you know

the young men

affirmed the

ideas of

Rehoboam

in not only

maintaining the

levy but

basically they

said don't

just you know

these people have

more to give

just take more

from them

increase it

now as we

look at this

we're going to

see that there

was a cause

that the ten

tribes left

you know when

you read this

and as I read

that I'm like

you know I

think I probably

agree with the

ten tribes right

here you know

here's a guy

supposed to set

up to be your

king and all

he's looking out

as far as

his self

interest

but I want

you to see

here that

after three

days they

reconvened to

hear the king

and an answer

was given

notice as we

look down

through here

verse 12

so Jeroboam

and all the

people came

to Rehoboam

the third day

as the king

had appointed

saying come to

me again the

third day

and the king

answered the

people notice

this roughly

and forsook

the old men's

counsel that

they gave

him

he spoke to

them roughly

and spake to

them after the

counsel of the

young men

saying my

father made

your yoke

heavy and I

will add to

your yoke my

father also

chastise you with

whips but I

will chastise you

with scorpions

wherefore the

king hearkened

not unto the

people for the

cause was from

the lord that he

might perform his

saying which the

lord spake by

Ahijah the

Shilonite unto

Jeroboam the son

of Nebat

so I want you to

understand this

didn't catch God

off guard but God

allowed the very

nature of man to

play things out

this word roughly

though is

interesting

because when you

read that you

think he was just

gruff with them

you know or very

loud or angry

but the Hebrew

word here is the

same word that

God uses to

describe the

children of Israel

as being stiff

necked

other places this

word is translated

as stiff necked

hard hearted

and obstinate

so when he said

that he spoke

roughly

now do you get a

different picture

he wasn't just

loud to them

he was arrogant

and bolsterous

to say you

have to submit

to me

and because you

said this I'm

going to extract

even more

you know we

need to listen

to the right

counsel

we're going to

see the impact

of this counsel

as it plays out

here in this

transition

because we're

watching this

important transition

of where Israel

goes from the

12 tribes

bonded together

to being

separated by

10 and

ultimately by

two because

we're going to

see here a little

later the tribe

of Benjamin

goes with

Judah and

there'll be some

reasons behind

that I think

we'll talk about

a little later

that was part of

the other problem

that Solomon

did but I want

you to understand

that we need to

listen to godly

counsel both

first from the

word of god

and also the