“And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people? And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.” — 2 Chronicles 10:6-7
Good advice can make a significant impression on an individual. Shortly before Mother’s Day here in the United States, I saw a magazine article in which readers answered the question, “What was the best advice your mother ever gave you?” The responses ranged from heartwarming to hilarious. A few were practical, like “Always park your car so you can get out quickly.” Others focused on helpful social skills, such as “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all” and “Be on time or be early. Being late implies other people’s time isn’t as important as yours.” Some were presented in the form of a question: “If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you jump off too?”
As I pondered the value of good advice, my mind went to individuals in our church family who testify about how a few words of godly counsel had an impact on them spiritually. A retired pastor tells about receiving his sanctification at the altar of prayer after a camp meeting service. As he stood up to leave, intending to go out and tell his friends what had happened, a brother who had been praying with him suggested, “Why don’t you stay and get your baptism?” He followed that good advice, and as he knelt back down and began praying once more, God filled him with the Holy Spirit.
A veteran missionary recounted some good advice he received shortly after getting saved. He said, “I remember going through my first trial after receiving salvation. Until then, it seemed that the Lord had blessed me from day to day. I expected it to be like that all the time, but all of a sudden, it wasn’t that way anymore. I felt like a weight was on my shoulders, and I did not understand what was happening. I looked up one of the young men from the Bible class and said, ‘Pray for me!’ He said, ‘Go and pray for yourself. You are young and healthy!’ I didn’t crawl into a corner and say, ‘Well, Lord, I guess You don’t love me and he doesn’t either.’ I just did what he said! I got down and did a little praying, and the Lord lifted me right back up.”
In today’s text, the young king Rehoboam needed advice. His father, King Solomon, had imposed burdensome demands upon his subjects, and the people wanted relief from them. When Rehoboam began his reign, they came and offered loyalty to him if he would agree to ease the “heavy yoke” that his father had put upon them.
Our focus verses indicate that Rehoboam initially went to the elders who had served his father to seek advice. They suggested, “If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever” (verse 7). However, Rehoboam rejected this wise counsel and turned to his young contemporaries for input. They recommended an approach that was even more harsh and severe than that of Solomon. Sadly, that was the advice Rehoboam followed—a decision that led to disaster. The young king forfeited the possibility of leading a peaceful and united kingdom because he rejected good advice.
The value of advice depends on its source. If we heed the suggestions of individuals whose knowledge is based on personal ideas or worldly wisdom, we are at best wasting our time. At worst, we may be steered toward disaster, as Rehoboam was.
The ability to give good advice stems from a strong connection with the Source of all wisdom. A person whose life clearly demonstrates a close walk with God will be in the right position to give good counsel. And when we receive such admonition—advice that aligns with the principles of God’s Word—let’s be careful to follow it rather than rejecting it and looking for another option.
This chapter covers the period when Israel, which had reached its zenith under David and Solomon, divided in two. For more than two centuries following (until the Northern Kingdom fell to the Assyrians in 722 B.C.), there were two nations. The division was precipitated by the actions of Rehoboam, who succeeded his father Solomon on the throne. Verses 1-15 describe the foolish counsel Rehoboam received from his peers and his harsh response to the leaders of Israel, and verses 16-19 tell of the resulting revolt of the ten northern tribes.
For his coronation, Rehoboam chose to assemble Israel in Shechem, a city about thirty-five miles to the north of the capitol city of Jerusalem, because he hoped to win support in that region for his rule.
Verse 2 refers to the return of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. According to 1 Kings 11:28-40, he was a “mighty man of valour” who had previously served Solomon in a key position. However, the prophet Ahijah had foretold that the nation of Israel would be divided and that Jeroboam would rule over ten of the tribes. When Solomon became aware of this prophecy, he attempted to kill Jeroboam. Jeroboam then fled and was granted political asylum in Egypt, remaining there until after the death of Solomon. After being called back by the people to his home nation, he was part of a group of elders who addressed Rehoboam.
The people of Israel wanted relief from the heavy taxation and forced service that Solomon required during his reign, and they offered allegiance to Rehoboam if he would agree to this. Verses 6-8 indicate that Rehoboam sought advice concerning their request from the elder counselors who had served his father, but ultimately ignored it. Instead, he took the advice of his young and inexperienced peers, who suggested a harsh and adversarial approach that they suggested would make Rehoboam more feared than Solomon (verses 9-14).
As a result of Rehoboam’s harsh declaration regarding the course of action he planned to take, ten of the tribes of Israel revolted, leaving only Judah and Benjamin under the control of Rehoboam. According to verse 16, they not only rejected Rehoboam, but also the entire dynasty of David.
Rehoboam sent Hadoram, his chief tax collector, to the people, perhaps to quell the rebellion or to punish those who opposed him. Hadoram would have been the embodiment of the oppression that brought about the rebellion, and the people responded by stoning him.
II. The division of the kingdom (10:1-19)
A. The folly of Rehoboam (10:1-15)
1. Jeroboam’s request (10:1-5)
2. Rehoboam’s answer (10:6-15)
B. The secession of the ten tribes (10:16-19)
Following poor advice can lead to problems for ourselves and others. Let’s take time to prayerfully consider who we go to for advice, and be sure that any counsel we choose to follow aligns with the principles of God’s Word.
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