Rejecting wise advice

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. – 1 Kings 12v8

The advice we saw yesterday looked pretty wise. The best way to lead is to serve and to cut taxes. How could that go wrong?

But Rehoboam did not like that advice; he rejected it out of hand.

So he went to the young guys, his friends, the guys he grew up with. He asked them for their advice. I can almost imagine this scene. It seems like when we are young we have all the answers and a cure that our way is the best way to do it. I can see these guys all throwing in their advice on how to run the kingdom.

While there is much to praise in the fervour and intensity and impetuosity of youth it can have its problems Their advice was what one might expect. ‘Show them who is in control. Raise taxes. Fill your coffers! You are king now! You deserve it!’.

So that is what he did. Rehoboam went to the people and told them ‘You think my dad was tough? My little finger is going to be harder on you than all my father’s strength!’

The result was what we might expect. The people rebelled. The nation was torn in two. Ten of the tribes followed Jeroboam and formed the new nation of Israel while Rehoboam was left with two tribes and the nation of Judah. It was a rift from which Israel has yet to recover and will not recover the Jesus returns to set up His kingdom.

What are our lessons from this passage? There is wisdom is seeking the advice of those who have been around for a while. The advice of the aged is not to be dismissed out of hand. True wisdom comes from experience. Sure, it is important to get advice from a variety of sources, Youth has a lot to offer, but lets me sure that we give weight to the wisdom of the aged.