*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*GENERATION: BOOMERS, BOOSTERS, OR BLOOPERS?*
*Scripture Treasure.*
1 Kings 12:8 *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:*
*Insight and Highlight.*
Rehoboam made an embarrassing error. His generation was not a bloom but a bloop.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
The story in 1 Kings 12 tells us about events following the death of Solomon and the subsequent enthronment of Rehoboam as King over Israel.
Rehoboam was faced with a national problem. He was confronted by Jeroboam, a one-time servant of Solomon, the father of Rehoboam.
Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel advised that Solomon ruled with caution and humane manner than his father did.
Rehoboam's father (Solomon) had ruled with *"...yoke grievous..."* and *"...a heavy yoke..."*, 1 Kgs 12:3-4.
It was this and fear and terror during his father, Solomon, that drove Jeroboam, a servant of Solomon' away to exile, 1 Kgs 12:2.
Rehoboam immediately consulted two different generations, the youths and the elders, 1 Kgs 12:4-12.
The elders advised that Rehoboam resolved to rule with a servant heart while the youth advised that he ruled by more terror than his predecessors, Solomon, his father.
Rehoboam followed the advice of the youth. It was a bad move. Israel as a nation was divided, ten tribes to the north called Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and two tribes of Judah and Benjamin to the south, Jerusalem was capital. for the sake of David, 1 Kgs 12:20. This was the southern kingdom known as Judah
This will be the unending division of the nation to the time they were taken captivities to Babylon. Unto this day, Israel, as a nation today, remains divided, 1 Kgs 12:19.
What can we learn from the mistakes of King Rehoboam?
What are the impacts of the ideas, ideals, and thoughts in nation-building where different generations find themselves in the same time of this social and national issue?
Today, we will look at answering the first question under two reasons.
First, there were two sets of people.
The first set were *".....the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived...."*, 1 Kgs 12:6.
The second set were *"....the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:...."*
We can call the first set, the elders, as his father (Solomon's cabinet of advisers).
The second set (the youth) is Rehoboam's current advisers.
One of the mistakes of Rehoboam was having wicked people around him. This has very little or nothing to do with youthful age. They were simply wicked, regardless.
How could anyone advise for a more wicked system of governance?, 1 Kgs 12:11. Jeroboam fled under Solomon's reign of terror, Prov 29:2.
As youthful as Rehoboam's cabinet of advisers could be, they should know it was bad to advise Rehoboam this way.
Prov 20:11 tells us that *Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure and whether it be right.*
Attimes it is not who qualifies that will matter but who can do it well.
As much as qualification in areas of administration is important, its importance must never outweigh good, responsible, and godly virtues.
Solomon says in Prov 25:5 *Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.*
Second, it is important that a leader rules with the fear of God.
Rehoboam had no fear of God.
Job 34:17 asks a question: *Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,*
A king like Rehoboam, who agrees to a wicked plan, may himself be wicked but only waiting for an opportunity to kick his wickedness into effect. He and his cabinet must have been nothing but evil.
David said in 1 Samuel 23:3 *The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.*
Rehoboam could have preserved his reign, but he chose to ruin it.
A bad decision will be blamed on a leader, not necessarily on those who advised him.
He can choose to bloom and boost it rather than bloop by his godly decisions.
*Remorse corner.*
A monarch, nation, or country is in trouble when its king is a youth and its leaders feast all night long, Esther 1.
*Call to Word action.*
Eccl 10:16 *Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!*
*The Christian clarion duty.*
Proverbs 14:28 *In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people, a prince is ruined.*
*Prayer.*
Lord, help me to boost my generation with godly fear, in Jesus name.
Good morning all and have a blessed day.
God bless you.
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