January 10, 2010
SCRIPTURE: 1 Kings 12
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions. [1 Kings 12:13-14] The harsh answer of Rehoboam to the people reminds me of what Jesus says about children asking their parents for bread, and receiving stones: Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! [Matthew 7-9-11]
Thankfully, though we do have sin-twisted hearts, we still have some sense and goodness about us, so that we treat our children reasonably well. But our capacity for meanness and injustice is greater than we care to admit. There are some times when even Jesus’ assessment is too generous. We hear stories in the news of parents that neglect, abuse or murder their children. And add to this the extent to which people cruelly mistreat other people. History is full of stories when the evil in human hearts is horrifying. When we hear Rehoboam’s words, we think ‘tyrant, dictator’. How can people do this?
Stories like this make me shake my head, then they make me think how stupid we can be. But Jesus shows us that we need to look beyond what we see in this world, the good, the bad and the ugly, and focus on the HOW MUCH MORE of God. According to Jesus, God’s capacity for goodness far excels our own capacity for good or evil. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. [Romans 5:20-21]
Yes, Rehoboam’s folly destroys the nation; our sin destroys the world. But God’s grace is greater, it increases all the more. He restores the nation, He renews the world. His kingdom is coming – no matter what things may look like right now. With Jesus, I choose to focus on the greatness and grace of God!
PRAYER:
Lord, how much more!!!!! Thank You that we can look beyond our folly (like Rehoboam) or even beyond our goodness (like that of any parent with their child, and see that Your love and goodness excels us all!
Whose advice do I follow? The king Rehoboam followed the advice he wanted to hear – not the wisdom of past ages but from the young at heart who had lost the ways of the Lord. They were serving the king and not the KING!
Yet God works in mysterious ways. Rehoboam did listen to Shemaiah, the prophet. I need to listen to the word of the lord at all times and not just when it suits my fancy. And then Jeroboam thinks of his own interests and builds two altars so that the peopl will remain in his kingdom. He did seek advice on this decision, but certainly not from the Lord.
His WAY all this time. As for me and my household, I will serve the living God. As far as it depends upon me, I will live at peace with all mankind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of us should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. My attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.
Help me Lord on my way.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.