Proverbs 15.22
“Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.”
To whom do you go for advice? Who are the truth-tellers in your life? What can you learn from the story of Rehoboam in 1 Kings?
Rehoboam was the son of Solomon, and he ascended the throne after his father’s death. The wise elders advised Rehoboam to lighten the “heavy yoke” and “hard service” which Solomon had placed upon the people. The elders also advised Rehoboam to “serve the people and speak good words to them.”
In other words, the elders advised Rehoboam to lower the taxes.
Unfortunately, Rehoboam, being arrogant and lacking discernment, rejected the advice of the elders. Instead, he sought the counsel of his younger friends, who were also arrogant and lacking in discernment.
“But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him. And he said to them, “What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke that your father put on us’?” (1 Kings 12:8-9)
These young men had neither the experience nor the expertise to help Rehoboam make wise decisions. Despite their ignorance, they had a strong opinion about what taxation policy Rehoboam should use.
“And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Thus shall you speak to this people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us,’ thus shall you say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s thighs. And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’” (1 Kings 12:10-11)
In case you didn’t pick up on it, Rehoboam’s statement of “my little finger is thicker than my father’s thighs” is a vulgar sexual reference. The translators cleaned it up to make it more family-friendly.
Wow! What a bad combination: inexperience + ignorance + arrogance. These young friends did not tell Rehoboam what he needed to hear; they told him what he wanted to hear. Sadly, Rehoboam listened to the advice of his buddies, and the result was a disaster that affected Israel and the Middle East for generations—and millenia—to come.
Who do you surround yourself with? Who are your advisers? From whom do you seek counsel? Who is in your circle of influence?
More tomorrow …
Coram Deo
