1 Kings 12 -- Solomon's Son's Short Reign

Wow, my commentary had a lot to say!  "Solomon wrote, ' ... I must leave it to the man who will come after me.  And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool?'  His successor was his son Rehoboam who ... for the most part was a foolish ruler."

It noted four characteristics of Rehoboam's short reign:

He was an arrogant king:  "Leaders who try to impress people with their skills, but take no time to seek God only prove that they don't know the most important thing in spiritual leadership:  they are second in command."  It  didn't just happen during Rehoboam's reign.  My commentary said, "I've seen so-called Christian leaders take the Rehoboam approach, do terrible damage to the work of the Lord, and then walk away from the mess, leaving behind poison and debris that will take years to remove."

He was an angry king:  "His choice of mediators was unwise, because Adoram was in charge of the forced labor ... Rehoboam had followed the wrong counsel, used the wrong approach, and chosen the wrong mediator.  What else wrong could he do?  He could declare war!"

He was an astute king:  "He heard and obeyed God's message from Shemaiah, and the Lord began to give him wisdom and bless his life and his work.  Had he stayed on that course, he would have led Judah into godliness and true greatness, but he turned from the Lord and lost the blessings he and his people could have enjoyed."

He was an apostate king:  "Rehoboam walked with the Lord for three years after becoming king, but in the fourth year of his reign, when his throne was secure, he and all Judah turned away from Jehovah to worship idols.  'And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord."

Father God, please help me to listen when You speak and grant me wisdom and discernment.  I want the blessings that obedience to Your will brings.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford