Psalms 8:1, 16:2, and 20:1-4.
I picked up my Bible and began reading where it was left open: 1 Kings 12. Verses 6-7 got my attention:
1Kings 12:6 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?
1Kings 12:7 And they spake unto him, saying, 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.
Rehoboam, successor to Solomon’s throne, had been approached by the men of Israel with a promise to serve him if he would ease the heavy yoke set upon them by his father (1 Kings 12:3). The people wanted relief from the pagan influenced oppressive rule of Solomon (1 Kings 11:1-10; 12:4).
The Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind in the advice of the “old men”: “If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them … then they will be thy servants for ever” (1 Kings 12:7). The power of servant leadership. But something else stirred in my thoughts.
The principle of the consent of the governed is illustrated in this story. Notice that all Israel came to Shechem to “make” Rehoboam king. Literally, Rehoboam came to Shechem because all Israel had gathered there to ceremonially appoint a new “king” (1 Kings 12:1).
A few years earlier, God sent a prophet by the name of Ahijah to inform Jeroboam, a high-ranking officer in Solomon’s kingdom, that God would give ten of the twelve tribes to Jeroboam, leaving only Benjamin with Judah (1 Kings 11:26-40; see Hosea 1:18). Jeroboam was a well known and respected leader from the tribe of Ephraim, the favored son of Joseph (Genesis 48:13-19) the first born of Jacob by Rachel (Genesis 30:25). When Solomon learned that God had appointed Jeroboam to take ten tribes, he sought to kill him. Jeroboam fled to Egypt and remained in virtual exile until Solomon’s death. When Solomon died, the majority of the leadership and the people of Israel sent for Jeroboam and appointed him to be their spokesperson (1 Kings 12:3). The people stipulated conditions before they would consent to Rehoboam being their king.
The old men advised Rehoboam to humble himself to the people and agree to serve them, saying that they would, in return, serve him forever. But Rehoboam liked the counsel of his peers better (1 Kings 12:9-11). When Jeroboam and the leaders of the ten tribes returned to get the king’s answer, Rehoboam declared he would be even more severe than was his father (1 Kings 12:12-15). The “people” refused their consent and returned to their homes (1 Kings 12:16). They did not “make him king.”
Rehoboam went with Adoram, the tax collector, to collect tribute from Israel, and “all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died” (1 Kings 12:18). The king saw this and fled back to Jerusalem. Israel gathered together to make Jeroboam king (1 Kings 12:20).
Rehoboam set his army in array, 180,000 soldiers ready to attack the new king and punish Israel for their rebellion (1 Kings 12:19, 21). But God raised a prophet, named Shemaiah (meaning the LORD has heard), to rebuke Rehoboam: “Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me” (1 Kings 12:24). Rehoboam repented and stood down his army.
Along the still waters, I reflected on all of this. Indeed, this is an illustration of the “consent of the governed” being divinely enforced and even divinely instigated. God said, “This thing is from me.” Did that mean GOD orchestrated the manner in which it played out? See 1 Kings 12:15. “Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.”
Let’s consider an alternate scenario. What if Rehoboam knew about the prophecy concerning Jeroboam and obeyed that prophecy like he obeyed the prophetic message of Shemaiah? If Rehoboam had followed the sound advice of his elders, what do you suppose would have happened? We can’t say with certainty, but what we do know for certain is that ten tribes were to be given to Jeroboam. Perhaps Jeroboam would and those following him would have pressed yet more demands, and more demands, and more demands, until finally Rehoboam would be advised by the elders to let the ten tribes make Jeroboam king, and let them depart from the kingdom of David. It’s the end result that was the prophecy, not how it was fulfilled. God acknowledged that “the people” of the ten tribes followed after Solomon’s error with a relish for idols and the fornication associated with idol worship. The separation of the ten tribes from Judah and Benjamin is what was “of the LORD,” not the foolhardy, oppressive behavior of Rehoboam and his foolish counselors.
In the valley, I reflected further on this and considered the Spirit of Jesus, Who, being equal with GOD, did not grasp at power or glory, but let it go (Philippians 2:5-11). He took upon Himself the “form of a servant” and was “made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). While in this form, He longed for the glory He enjoyed with the Father before the world was (John 17:5), but would yield it to the will of His Father (Luke 22:42). He chose to be a servant to us that we might be His servants forever (see 1 Kings 12:6-7; see John 13:5-14; see Isaiah 58:6; with Matthew 11:28-30).
He stepped into the shadow of the Cross, where I was kneeling, and when He did, the shadow disappeared in the light that shone from His countenance, the glory of His Father fully restored. And I thought, Lord, glorify me with your own self!
His words were carried to my mind on a wave of many waters: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
At the table, He washed my feet (John 13:8-10; 1 John 1:7-8), and encouraged me to wash the feet of others (John 13:14; Matthew 6:14-15). Then He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace (Psalm 23:5). I said, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever” (Psalm 23:6).
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live asap:
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