Compare Rehoboam's actions with Proverbs 3:5-6. What lessons can we learn? Setting the Scene: Rehoboam’s First Test Solomon dies, and his son Rehoboam takes the throne. All Israel gathers at Shechem, pleading for lighter labor and taxes. Rehoboam asks for three days, consults the seasoned elders (who advise compassion), then turns to his young peers (who advise harsher policies). He chooses the latter, proclaiming, “My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist” (1 Kings 12:10). The ten northern tribes rebel, forming a separate kingdom (1 Kings 12:16-20; 2 Chronicles 10:16-19). Proverbs 3:5-6—God’s Timeless Principle “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Where Rehoboam Fell Short • Trusted in personal authority and peer approval instead of the Lord. • Leaned on immature, self-serving counsel (1 Kings 12:8). • Never acknowledged God—no prayer, no prophetic consultation until crisis struck (12:22-24). • Result: A fractured nation, looming wars, and later Egyptian invasion (2 Chronicles 12:1-5). Point-by-Point Contrast • Trust vs. Pride – Proverbs: wholehearted reliance on God. – Rehoboam: overconfidence in royal power. • Lean Not vs. Lean In – Proverbs: shun self-reliance. – Rehoboam: embraced peer-driven bravado. • Acknowledge vs. Ignore – Proverbs: bring God into every decision. – Rehoboam: bypassed divine guidance entirely. • Straight Paths vs. Shattered Kingdom – Proverbs: God directs peaceful outcomes. – Rehoboam: civil split, weakened defenses. Practical Take-Home Lessons • Godly counsel safeguards (Proverbs 11:14). • Humility invites favor; arrogance precedes ruin (Proverbs 16:18). • Major decisions warrant prayerful submission (Philippians 4:6-7). • Youthful zeal must yield to tested wisdom (Job 12:12). • Ignoring God brings painful but corrective consequences (Hebrews 12:6). • Ask for wisdom—He delights to give it (James 1:5). Encouragement for the Journey Choices echo beyond the moment. When we trust, lean on, and acknowledge the Lord, He straightens paths we could never manage alone. Unlike Rehoboam, we have the indwelling Spirit and the full counsel of Scripture. Grasp these resources, choose dependence over self-reliance, and watch God keep His promise to direct your steps. |
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