ACCEPT WISE COUNSEL
Friday, 19th August 2016
2 Chronicles 10:1-19 (NKJV)
And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king.
2 So it happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it (he was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon), that Jeroboam returned from Egypt.
3 Then they sent for him and called him. And Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,
4 “Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.”
5 So he said to them, “Come back to me after three days.” And the people departed.
6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, saying, “How do you advise me to answer these people?”
7 And they spoke to him, saying, “If you are kind to these people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever.”
8 But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.
9 And he said to them, “What advice do you give? How should we answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?
10 Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you should speak to the people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us’—thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist!
11 And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!’”
12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had directed, saying, “Come back to me the third day.” …
Today’s Bible passage details the consequences of rejecting wise counsel. King Rehoboam rejected the wise counsel of the experienced and God-fearing elders of Israel and took the counsel of inexperienced godless youths to the detriment of his throne. We must learn the following lessons from his folly:
To test every spirit, to ascertain the integrity of the person(s) from whom one receives advice
To accept wise counsel from experienced elders and servants of God, and reject foolish counsel from inexperienced youths and violet persons
To avoid using harsh and provocative words, but rather speak wisely and kindly, following the wisdom of Prov. 15: 1 that “a gentle answer turns away wrath …”
Above all, to seek the face of God in every situation.
Sometimes, when our actions are controlled by the views of our selfish friends and associates and not by wise counsel from the Word and genuine people of God, we err grossly and regrettably. Today, the Holy Spirit is asking us to repent, to seek and receive wise counsel from Him, to accept the advice of honest elders and God’s messengers, to learn from the error of Rehoboam and take correction, to follow the word and will of God in all situations, and to keep looking unto Jesus.
Prayer: O God, please grant me the wisdom and grace to recognize and accept wise counsel in all situations in my life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.