KING REHOBOAM
OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS
DATE: FRIDAY 7TH OF JUNE, 2024
THEME: KING REHOBOAM
MEMORISE: Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14
READ: 1 Kings 12:1-15
[1]And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.
[2]And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)
[3]That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
[4]Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.
[5]And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.
[6]And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?
[7]And they spake unto him, saying, 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.
[8]But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:
[9]And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?
[10]And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, 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.
[11]And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
[12]So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.
[13]And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;
[14]And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
[15]Wherefore 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.
MESSAGE
Rehoboam was the son of King Solomon who became king after his father's death. The story of King Rehoboam is a reminder to listen to wise counsel and avoid pride.
In today's Bible reading, King Rehoboam was asked to lighten the heavy burden that his father had put on the people of Israel. He sought the advice of the elders who were also his father's advisers when he reigned as king, and they told him to be compassionate with the people. Thereafter, he sought the advice of the young, inexperienced advisers, and they encouraged him to increase the burden on the people. Sadly, Rehoboam chose to listen to the young advisers and rejected the wise counsel of the elders. The stubbornness and pride of Rehoboam resulted in division and chaos, which split the kingdom in two.
Beloved, just like King Rehoboam, you have the choice to listen to wise counsel or give in to bad counsel. Beware of the pieces of advice that you listen to. Be discerning of them so that you won't make wrong decisions in life. The best way to do this is to listen to the Holy Spirit and yield to Him completely. He is the only One who can help you screen wrong advice.
KEY POINT
Take heed to godly counsel.
HYMN 21: NEARER, MY GOD TO THEE
1. Nearer, my God to Thee,
Nearer to Thee;
E'en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,(2ce)
Nearer to Thee!
2. Though, like the wanderer,
The sun gone down,
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone,
Yet in my dreams I'd be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,(2ce)
Nearer to Thee
3. There let the way appear
Steps unto heaven;
All that Thou send'st to me
In mercy given;
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee,(2ce)
Nearer to Thee
4. Then with my waking thoughts
Bright with thy praise,
Out of my stony grief
Bethel I'll raise;
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God to thee,(2ce)
Nearer to Thee!
5. Or if on joyful wing
Cleaving thy sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upwards I fly
Still all my songs shall be,
Nearer my God to thee,(2ce)
Nearer to Thee!
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Kings 2:1-3; 2 Acts 5:1-42
AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE
