Growing Through 1 & 2 Kings

But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.--1 Kings 12:8

Rehoboam failed to follow good counsel and rashly rejected the elders' ideas. How ironic that the son of the wisest man on earth would not take the advice of his dad's proverbs which underscore the importance of hearing and heeding the good advice or good counsel:

• Proverbs 11:14--For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.
• Proverbs 15:22--Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
• Proverbs 24:6--For waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers.

Rehoboam listened to his buddies rather than to wise advisers--with disastrous consequences! God has provided you with a variety of sources for obtaining wisdom to assist with the decisions you must make. Sure, like Rehoboam, you can reject help so you can proudly proclaim, "I did it my way!" Or, you can use your Bible, the leading of the Holy Spirit, church leaders, and the sage counsel of older brothers and sisters in Christ to help you in your decision-making process.

It wasn't just Rehoboam that rejected the resources God provided for holy living. There were other kings who lived in opposition to the will of God. For example:

Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king...he did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done.--2 Kings 21:19-20

Real revival didn't happen in the kingdoms until the people returned to the ultimate resource for living: The Book of the Law. God's Word is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12) and has the power to restore faith and change lives!

Hilkiah the high priest said..."I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord." ...When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. [He said]..."Great is the Lord's anger that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us."--2 Kings 22:8; 11; 13

Don't neglect God's Word! Read it every day. Let it restore your faith and revive your life.