Sermon Central
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The Problems And Consequences Of Half Obedience Series
Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 9, 2022 (message contributor)
Summary: King Rehoboam provides a striking example of what half obedience can lead us into.
- This sermon series will start with Rehoboam and go through the Babylonian captivity.
- Rehoboam is the son of Solomon.
TIMES THAT HALF OBEDIENCE CREATES PROBLEMS:
1. When we listen for what we want to hear.
- Asks for three days, listens to the wrong counselors. Doesn’t consult God.
- This is an unusual circumstance because there is an old prophecy that Solomon wouldn’t lose his kingdom but his son would (v. 15). But in general listening to God is what we want to do. Rehoboam’s free will and God’s will.
- Similar situation at the end of the chapter with Rehoboam going with his gut instead of seeking God after the death of his aide.
2. When we listen to what everyone is doing.
- Many wives, despite Deuteronomy 17:17. But it was the custom of the day among the nations and his father Solomon and grandfather David had done it.
- Listening to culture. Listening to family.
3. When we are strong.
- When he was strongly established. (Save the religious part for point 4.)
4. When we make an empty show of our religion.
- 2 Chronicles 12:1, 11-12.
- Verse 1 abandoned the Law but v. 11 going to the Temple. Verse 12 is an interesting halfway point.
- They were incorporating religious stuff from other nations.
CONSEQUENCES OF HALF OBEDIENCE:
1. A harder master.
- An interesting note of the difference between serving God and another master.
2. Weaker faith.
- They’d lost all those. They started obeying some and Rehoboam tried to rekindle some things (vv. 10-12).
- We want to think that we can individually have a weaker faith without our church or our nation having a weaker faith.
3. Endless battles.
- A life away from God is going to see more problems and heartache.
