“BAD COUNSEL MEANS BAD CHOICES”
2 Chronicles 10:1-19; Psalm 1
INTRODUCTION: Rehoboam, the only mentioned son of Solomon, had the opportunity to continue the dynasty of David, his grandfather and Solomon his father, with the same blessings that they enjoyed. Instead, he sought bad counsel and lost the blessings that could have been his had he listened to wise counsel. He suffered greatly for his bad choices… The kingdom that his grandfather and father knew was split and he began to rule in Judah.
I. THE COUNSEL THAT REHOBOAM RECEIVED (Vv. 1-11)
Rehoboam was told by the old men that if he would “be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.” For those of you who may be desiring to increase your leadership skills, this will certainly be very good advice. Even as pastors, we ought to realize the value of being kind to our people. Kindness is often a missing ingredient in our homes, on our jobs, and yes, even in our pulpits. To please someone is not necessarily a sign of weakness. It is not even a sign of compromise. With true leadership going on, there should be a deliberate effort to please those who are following you with the spirit of being a servant. The word servant is used in 1 Kings 12 to describe the way that the leader should lead to inspire servitude in his followers. The Greatest Servant of them all was the Lord Jesus Christ… Then, the advice to “speak good words to them” is also good counsel. Often we neglect to use the most appropriate good word or words when communicating instructions and while exercising leadership.
A. The Wise Counsel Refused (Vv. 1-9)
The wise counsel was refused. This could have been attributed to pride or even insecurity on the part of Rehoboam. Two reasons come to my mind why this might be so. He was the son of Solomon. He may have proudly thought that just being the son of Solomon gave him the right to exercise strong control and leadership on a more intense and greater plane than did his father. Or, because he was the son of Solomon, he may have felt intimidated while walking in the shadow of his father, even though his father was deceased. As wise as Solomon was, he did not set a good example for his family. He had over 700 wives and also many concubines. He obviously could not give quality time to his children, whether it was only one or over one hundred. With Rehoboam not having good counsel from his father or because he refused the counsel that we find in the Book of Proverbs, that his father had written, he now seeks the wicked counsel from someone else and did not have the character to receive the good counsel that was given to him by the old men.
Notice what Proverbs 1:1-6 teaches us: 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
B. The Wicked Counsel Received (Vv.10-11)
He was instructed by the young counselors: 10 And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.
11 For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
For reasons already expounded upon, Rehoboam took the advice of the young men. This is not an indictment against all young people, but it is a warning that there may be times when the gravity of a situation will require the more seasoned and the more mature to offer counsel. This is not a necessary law, but it is a strong principle. As Evangelist C.L. Roach used to tell me, “There are some things that you only get by getting older”.
II. THE AWFUL CHOICE THAT REHOBOAM MADE (Vv. 12-15)
The choice made by him was an awful choice because it was ill advised and was very inconsiderate of the people that served his kingdom. A strong leader does not have to force his leadership. A stubborn horse or mule will teach you that. This is the reason for the old saying: “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink”. The little boy in school was told to be seated by his teacher. He reluctantly did so. The boy upon doing so told his teacher: “I may be sitting down on the outside, but I am standing up on the inside”. The people were willing to serve Rehoboam for ever if he had only followed the advice of the old men. Sadly, he did not and his cold, calculating, calloused heart would have no compassion for the people whom he led. Jesus was touched by the feeling of our infirmities and loved us with that spirit and leads us with that spirit.
A. It Was a Choice That Was Awfully Calloused (Vv. 12-14)
To use scorpions as whips to beat the servants demonstrates just how calloused or hard Rehoboam really was. This kind of hardness found in leaders does not demonstrate quality leadership. I know preachers who try to pastor their churches with this mentality. They and their churches are doomed to failure. Many times the pastor is allowed to go through very difficult life experiences before he can tenderly lead his people. Dr. Lee Robinson lost a daughter as did Dr. Harold Sightler. A youth camp and children’s home were birthed from their personal tragedies. I am familiar with a number or well known preachers who are some of the tenderest men I know, because of their personal tragedies that they experienced. Dr. Benny Beckum’s prayer revival ministry came after the death of his wife…
B. It Was a Choice That Had Awful Consequences (V. 15; cf. 16-19)
The first Psalm tells us of the consequences of receiving bad counsel: 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
III. THE CONSEQUENCES THAT REHOBOAM FACED (Vv. 16-19)
Just as awful consequences come to Rehoboam, so do the same to those who reject the counsel of God. It is a dangerous thing to despise the counsel of God. To do so means that one must “eat of the fruit of their own way”. Listen to the proof of this given in Proverbs.
30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
33 But whoso hearkened unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. (Proverbs 1:30-33)
Rehoboam faced the rebellion of his kingdom and this could have been avoided had he listened to wise counsel. (V.19)
A. He Could Not Enjoy His Reign (Vv. 16-19)
How could he have enjoyed his reign with his subjects in rebellion? When God allows you to have good and Godly counsel, as found in His Word, please receive it. One of the primary purposes of preaching is to deliver good counsel. God uses your preacher, your parents, and your personal devotion to the Word of God to accomplish this.
B. He Could Not Escape the Rebellion (V. 19)
There will be definite consequences that cannot be avoided when one receives and follows bad counsel. We should very carefully listen to the counsel that comes from God and also the Godly. As the first Psalm says, we should not only hear the Word of God but should meditate on it, as well. The Law of the Lord is the counsel that Proverbs speaks of and to meditate on it and to be established by it brings a Godly happiness.
CONCLUSION: Perhaps you are here today and you acknowledge that you have been seeking the wrong counsel. One of the worst counselors is the television. If you listen to it and watch it without restraints you are being programmed by its evil and wicked counsel. The messages and the counsel that Hollywood has to offer are so degrading and Anti-God. Our current election as it involves selecting a president shows how wicked our nation has become. It appears as though we will have a man in the White House who does not embrace the values of God’s Word. The secular universities of our day do not embrace the counsel of God’s Word and it is expressed in the philosophy of its graduates. May we strive for good and Godly counsel.
