Day 155-11

Wow!  Rock and roll!  Whoo hoo!  Impressive!  Thank you LORD!  I know, I know, such a small, minute thing in comparison to all that is going on around us.  Still, remember to thank Him in e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g!

Israel

2Ch 10:7  And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.

The advice of the elders.  Do not forsake the counsel of the aged.  Especially do not forsake a multitude of counselors.

Interestingly, those young whipper snappers which gave Rehoboam advice?  They were probably in their 40s!  Hmmm...again, counsel from many.

Pro 11:14  Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

As I was browsing for counsellors, a few verses:

Psa 33:10  The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. 

Psa 33:11  The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

God's counsel in the matter, His judgment against Rehoboam would/did stand.  I thought it interesting that Jeroboam, though he had been anointed to be king of 10 tribes, still gave Rehoboam a chance to be honorable.

2Ch 10:12  So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day. 

Then Jeroboam leads Israel into idolatry!  You would think he would know better!

1Ki 12:28  Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 

Do I hear an echo?

Exo 32:4  And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 

And while I could (and do) point a finger at what appears to be utter ignorance of NOT learning from previous mistakes, I must remember those 3 fingers pointing back at myself.  The question then, how much have I NOT learned from my previous mistakes.  How oft do I blunder into the same sin.  Am I truly desirous of not repeating my mistakes again and again and...well you get the idea.

Israel and Judah

2Ch 10:19  And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

and

1Ki 12:19  So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. 

My note...how true...because Christ Jesus is the Messiah and the head of the house of David (or of the lineage) and yet Israel rebels against Him.  Denying (because they are blind) that Christ Jesus was the anointed one of God.  The sinless lamb, sent to take away sin, once for those whom He had chosen.

Judah

1Ki 12:22  But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 

I know :-( I cut it off in mid sentence.  Shemaiah?  Who is he?

Shemaiah - H8098 - From H8085 and H3050; Jah has heard; Shemajah, the name of twenty five Israelites.

Quite a few men so named.  25!

• H8085 - A primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively to tell, etc.)
• H3050 - Contracted for H3068, and meaning the same; Jah, the sacred name.

How well did Rehoboam hear?  How well do we?  How can we hear if we are not spending time in His word, l-i-s-t-e-n-i-n-g?  O Lord, give us a passionate desire to know You, to spend the first fruits of our day with You, learning at Your feet.  Soaking up the wisdom and counsel that only You can give each of us individually for the day You have provided.  Lord, help Your people to hear and speak boldly for You, where ever You place them.