A HOUSE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF

PROCLAMATION

“So the king did not listen to the people … all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them … So the Israelites went home.  But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.”  2 Chronicles 10:15-17 (NIV)

EXPLANATION
King Solomon reigned over Jerusalem for forty years.  When he died, his son Rehoboam succeeded him as king. (2 Chronicles 9:30-31)  Rehoboam consulted the elders of Israel and rejected their advice.  He decided to follow the advice of the young men that he grew up with.  This eventually caused him to lose the support of the people (2 Chronicles 10:16) and led to the division of Israel with only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin supporting Rehoboam.  (2 Chronicles 10:17 and 11:1)  These events were also recorded in the twelfth chapter of The Bible Book of First Kings.

APPLICATION

All too often the young ignore, reject, and do not follow the advice of their elders.  They feel that they know better and that their elders are “old fashioned”, uninformed, and out of touch with reality.  If they listen to any advice it is usually that which comes from their friends and peers.  Rejecting good advice usually results in bad outcomes and rifts can develop within families.  A house divided against itself cannot stand. (Mark 3:25)  Only after they mess up and get into trouble do the young realize that their elders, their father and mother, really knew what was right. (Proverbs 5:12-14 and 30:17)  Listen to the advice of your elders for with age and experience comes some wisdom.