I Kings 11
Read:
1 Kings 12:1-20
Introduction:
I wish to continue my studies with you about “wising up.”
I want to speak to you about the wisdom on
allegiances
and
alliances
.
Interrogative
: Who do / should we listen to; whom should we follow and whose counsel do we connect ourselves with and why?
Question
: “What is the story of Rehoboam and Jeroboam all about and how does it pertain to this subject?”
Transition
: What I want to look at the alliances and allegiances.
Again, I ask the question, “who do you and listen to and why?” What determines the path/counsel that we follow and why?
Turn to NT book of
Jude
.
Jude -Jude, the brother of James, likely another brother of Jesus writes with apparent urgency in his purpose to warn an unknown community of Christians against false teaches.
These would-be teachers are (according to Jude):
According to verse 8f.,
they live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural; scoff at things they don’t understand, (they are like) unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them; they are rebellious, they are grumblers and complainers, and live only to satisfy their desires.”
Verse 16, “They brag loudly about themselves and they flatter others to get what they want.” Verse 19,
“These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you.”
————————————————————-
Back to 1 Kings 12
A Couple of clues in our text:
Rehoboam was faced with a decision on whose counsel to listen to.
The ‘elders’ (who had counselled Solomon) tell him,”
1 Kings 12:7
“And they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”
(NKJ)
Clues? Elders, fairness, wisdom, kindness,
1 Kings 12:8-11
“But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.
9
And he said to them, “What advice do you give? How should we answer this people who have spoken to me, saying,`Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?”
(NKJ)
Clues? Young, unskilled, rough, arrogant, rebellious, inexperienced?
Things we should be listening for
:
1. Be Informed!
Sources: Questions we should ask
?
Positions that should not factor in:
Conclusion
: As believers we must be wise with whom/what we ally ourselves with.
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