The Consequences of Ignoring Wise Counsel

 

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2025 - MR RYAN MALONE

1 KINGS 12 VERSES 1 - 24

THE CONSEQUENCES OF IGNORING WISE COUNSEL

I want you to think back to your teenager years and when you started to make decisions for yourself. It goes from generation to generation – “I wish my mum would get off my back” or “dad is so controlling, I wish he would let me have some freedom.” I am sure there have been certain times when we felt like we wanted more freedom in our lives. Or maybe you have said “I don’t care what they think I want to use my money myself” or “I want to dress my own way.” It is sad sometimes when we see the consequences after a rebellion. Maybe we ended up in trouble. Maybe even we have been like the Prodigal Son with no money. Rehoboam ignored the counsel of the wise old men. Older men and women have said to me on occasions “been there, done that.” They have been there and lived through experiences. Either go for it or don’t go down that path. Maybe people are living in regret. Wish I had went for that. 2 avenues to look at. Verse 12 shows that “pride goes before destruction” Proverbs 16 verse 18. Consequently we see the kingdom under King Solomon is now divided into the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom. I want to show that it is possible for a divided kingdom to be united in Christ. 1 Kings 12 marks the turning point in Israel's history. Chapter 11 verse 40 shows us that King Solomon died and a new generation is entering in. For Rehoboam he had a father who was the wisest man who ever lived yet he ignored the wise counsel of the old men of his father's age. He came to make a foolish decision which ended up dividing the kingdom.  I want to look at the significance of this decision. The people would have been looking for a wonderful man to rule and reign over them. Notice 3 points ...

The failure of human kingship - verses 1 to 14

The division of the kingdom and the consequences of sin - verses 15 to 19

Christ the true king who unites - verses 20 to 24

Firstly, the failure of human kingship. Rehoboam is first mentioned in the bible verse before the chapter begins - chapter 11 verse 43. Rehoboam is made king in 931 BC. It is believed that he came from Jerusalem to Shechem because the northern tribes were grieved at Solomon and Rehoboam wanted to negotiate with them - verse 4. The old men came and asked for an easier yoke. These were men who served with his father. Then Rehoboam looked to his own contemporaries for their advice. The wise old men had told him to respond well to the request - to make their burden lighter. Solomon had used these men to help him build the temple. It tells us in chapter 5 verse 13 that it took 30,000 men to build the temple. "Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety." Proverbs 11 verse 14. Rehoboam takes 3 days to consider his decision. Should he make the burden lighter? Notice the significance of the number 3. It is a sign of waiting.  Jesus was 3 days in the tomb before he rose again. Daniel was in prayer 3 times a day. The counsel Rehoboam received contained a conditional offer - notice verse 7 "if" followed by "then": "If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever." This is seen throughout scripture. It shows the tragic missed opportunity for Rehoboam. He received wise counsel but he ignored it and went with the young men who had no life experience. It was not God's fault but God did allow Rehoboam to use his own free will and choose himself. He chose the option God didn't want him to make. It shows us the choices we make have consequences. Instead of the heart of humility he takes control over the people - verse 10 "Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins." Rehoboam planned to make his reign more oppressive than his father's. Basically he was saying "if you think it was bad before think again. The strength in my finger will be more than in the strength of my leg." He was referring to the bodily strength he would have. Rather than lifting the burden he would make the situation worse for them. He goes on to say that whereas some of them had been chastised with whips now it would be with scorpions. Why this metaphor? The scorpions venom would be stronger and more painful. Apparently the venom raised blood pressure. It would be a heavier judgment than that shown by Solomon. Even today leaders are prone to failure and selfishness and sin. It is easy for them to make decisions that suit themselves. We can see it even in families and organisations as well as local politicians. The people who want to rule for personal gain. We see in Jesus the perfect king. He is set to return and will reign perfectly for 1000 years. We should find comfort and hope in knowing that.

Secondly, the division of the kingdom and the consequences of sin. Jeroboam was Solmon's servant and he led the northern tribes into rebellion. 2 tribes remained loyal to Rehoboam - Judah and Benjamin. Verse 15 "Therefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the Lord, that he might perform his saying, which the Lord spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them." These verses show God's plan of work in a time of human failure. The consequences of sin and judgment on the land when people rejected God's way. A clear division caused by sin. Just as this division was caused by sin we see God's mercy at work. The true king will not cause division. There is division in this world which can be traced back to Genesis 3. It is a division between God and man. We are reminded in God's word that there is only one mediator between God and man - the man Christ Jesus.

Thirdly, Christ the true king who unites. One day in heaven we will meet people from all over the world. Believers we have never met or seen before. They are going through things even today that we are going through now. The division in Rehoboam's day became permanent. There were 2 tribes who remained loyal to him. It was the end of Solomon's kingdom being united. Verses 22 to 24 "But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the Lord, and returned to depart, according to the word of the Lord." This division is part of God's plan at that time. The division sets the stage for the greater plan of redemption. Jesus will come to heal that division. Sin was the root problem. The 10 Northern tribes were eventually captured by Assyria in 722 BC. In 2 Kings 17 the tribes of the Southern kingdom, Judah and Benjamin were captured by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Jerusalem was finally conquered and destroyed. In 586 BC there was the complete fall of Judah. This happened in the ninth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon - 2 Kings 25 verse 2 when Zedekiah was king in Israel. Ephesians 2 verses 16 to 18 "And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father."  Through Christ's death, burial and resurrection he has reconciled us to himself. He gives grace to those who believe in him. Human failure in human leadership is inevitable due to the power of sin. It points forward to the true king and it is through grace that we are united to him. God's kingdom is not one of harshness like under Rehoboam. That should bring us comfort as we discover his grace, mercy and justice. 

The challenge this morning is to not be prideful but be humbled. To not be agraid to ask other believers for help. We are a body of believers that should unite and come together. Some might have wiser counsel than us but when the whole body comes together we can bring glory to God. We should accept the wise counsel from the scriptures, the word of God. The bible talks of us being joint heirs with Christ. Once saved he is the elder brother. We can always go to him for wise counsel and he will speak to us through his word, the bible.