Today as I sat before the Lord my prayer time before anyone else was awake, my heart overflowed with gladness knowing the right path and having chosen it for myself and my family.  That was on a personal level, however, on a national level there are many who have not made that choice and it is disconcerting and troubling but something that continues to be a matter of prayer.  God asked me, “Is it better to listen to the wise counsel of the old men or the ego and ideology of the new people in power?”  While there is no clear cut answer to that in many cases, in some it is crystal clear as in this biblical account.

1 Kings 12:1-5 – “Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2 Now when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it, he was living in Egypt (for he was yet in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon). 3 Then they sent and called him, and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4 ” Your father made our yoke hard; now, therefore, lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.” 5 Then he said to them, ” Depart for three days, then return to me.” So the people departed.”

CONSULTATION IS A GOOD PLAN, IF YOU PLAN TO LISTEN…

Notice verse 6, King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you counsel me to answer this people?” 7 Then they spoke to him, saying, ” If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and grant them their petition, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” 8 But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him. 9 So he said to them, “What counsel do you give that we may answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?” 10 The young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you shall say to this people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, now you make it lighter for us!’ But you shall speak to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins! 11’Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.'”

WRONG CHOICES DIVIDE KINGDOMS AND BRING RUIN…

Now move on to verse 12 and read the disturbing response he made.  “Then Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king had directed, saying, ” Return to me on the third day.” 13 The king answered the people harshly, for he forsook the advice of the elders which they had given him, 14 and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, ” My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” 15 So the king did not listen to the people; for it was a turn of events from the LORD, that He might establish His word, which the LORD spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.”

WE HAVE DIVISIONS AMONG US THAT ARE MAN MADE…

As we continue reading this chapter and account we find in verse 16 the root cause of many of our problems individually and nationally. “The Kingdom Divided; Jeroboam Rules Israel When all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, “What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse; To your tents, O Israel! Now look after your own house, David!” So Israel departed to their tents. 17 But as for the sons of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18 Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the forced labor, and all Israel stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam made haste to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

20 It came about when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, that they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. None but the tribe of Judah followed the house of David. 21 Now when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, 180,000 chosen men who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. 22 But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 23 “Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin and to the rest of the people, saying, 24’Thus says the LORD, “You must not go up and fight against your relatives the sons of Israel; return every man to his house, for this thing has come from Me.”‘” So they listened to the word of the LORD, and returned and went their way according to the word of the LORD.”  NASU

My deepest desire is for my family and me to serve the Lord in fullness with total surrender at all times and in all things.  Additionally, I want to see as many brought in to the Kingdom of God as is possible to share in this joyous life in Christ.  Likewise, I want to see our government brought back to the point where we can truthfully and proudly say that we are, “One Nation Under God” again.  In the months to come we will be bombarded with politics and political diatribe and spin.  We must pray for the mind of God or we will be deceived by the politics of politicians.  I want God’s will to be done in America in every aspect of our lives, politically, socially, economically, and spiritually. 

May the Lord Bless you as you go through your day!