Solomon was the wisest king but still failed to be faithful to the Lord until the end due to his lack of knowledge and fear of the Lord. The Lord says, “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD” (Jer 9:23-24). His son Rehoboam was worse, he did not fear God and made an unwise decision from the beginning.
- Having No Heart to Seek the Lord: The Scripture usually mentioned the kings’ mothers, who played important roles in their spiritual life. Moses’ mother took good care of him in the fear of God, so when he was grown up he did not forget God nor His people. Samuel’s mother did the same. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also” (2 Tim 1:5). It is important for you and me, as parents, to “train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Prov 22:6). Rehoboam’s mother was an Ammonitess (2 Chron 12:13), an unbeliever, so his spiritual life was not nurtured in the fear of the Lord, not to mention the fact that his father Solomon failed to set a good example for him to follow due to his backsliding. Therefore, Rehoboam “did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD” (2 Chron 12:14). It is foolish before the Lord if we do not know Him, trust Him and fear Him no matter how wise, intelligent or scholarly we may be in the eyes of men! We must thank God and appreciate our godly parents for their prayers and admonishment in the fear of the Lord. We even thank God more for by His grace alone that we may know Him, fear Him, and serve Him even when our parents are not believers.
- Having No Heart to Serve: Rehoboam was born in purple, and without any godly example around him he was spoiled. He had not the heart to serve. When the people of Israel came to him with their request, “Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee” (1 Kings 12:4). “And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?” (1 Kings 12:6). Using the personal pronoun “I”, Rehoboam did not have the same mind like the elders’. He only asked them with the expectation that they would give him a piece of advice according to the desire of his heart. When hearing their advice, “If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever” (1 Kings 12:7), Rehoboam “forsook the counsel of the old men” and “consulted with the young men that were grown up with him” who had the same mind, desires and ambitions like his, asking them, “What counsel give ye that we may answer this people?” Rehoboam followed their unwise, unkind and arrogant advice, “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” (2 Chron 10:11). With this foolish reply, the people of Israel left him and “rebelled against the house of David” (2 Chron 10:19), and Rehoboam lost the support of ten tribes, except Judah and Benjamin. The kingdom was divided into two exactly as the Lord had spoken to Solomon due to his backsliding.
- Taking God’s Grace and Blessing for Granted: Because of David’s sake and God’s Name’s sake, the Lord graciously sent help to Rehoboam with all the priests, Levites and those who feared God and wanted to worship Him according to His way, “And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts… And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers. So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon” (2 Chron 11:13, 16-17). Sadly, Rehoboam neither appreciated God’s grace and blessings nor encouraged the priests and the Levites to fulfil their duties faithfully.
- Forsaking God and His Word: After three years, “when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him” (2 Chron 12:1). A leader plays a very important role. If he fears God and honours His Word, he will lead his people or his congregation according to God’s Word. If he doubts or questions God’s Word, he will surely cause his people or his congregation to follow his stand. Here, Rehoboam “forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.” Rehoboam might not have thought that he had forsaken God, but when he “forsook the law of the LORD” (God’s Word), God said to him and the princes, “Ye have forsaken me” (2 Chron 12:5). Many nowadays think that they still honour God, worship Him and glorify Him while they fail to honour His Word! Is God pleased with them? Absolutely not!
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