Week of June 14

What’s in a name? Names meant much in the Scriptures, and a person was expected to live up to the name given to him. Rehoboam’s name meant, “one who enlarges the people,” but today we will learn the irony of his name. Instead of enlarging, he actually divided the people, due to his lack of wisdom. Wisdom is a key element to God's creation and to a flourishing life (cf. Proverbs 1). His folly became the watershed moment in the book of Kings because the unified kingdom of Israel split, and he was left as king over the greatly reduced realm that became known as Judah (HCBC). We do well to learn from Rehoboam’s weakness today.

Many people fail to understand that good decisions, in one sense, are made like a person in a rowboat, looking behind at what has transpired, before he or she even reaches the point when a choice must be made. Rehoboam obviously did not do this. He had no true grasp of history under his father’s rule, for he does not assess accurately the level of dissatisfaction with Solomon’s policies (cf. NAC). He meets the people of Israel in Shechem, and their presence indicates they were ready to give him the benefit of the doubt about the nature of his leadership. However, he was not looking at either the people or their needs, so this quickly eroded the support he could have experienced (12:1).

Value human life. The northern tribes were weary of being used as conscripted labor for building projects in the southern kingdom. Their burden had been a heavy one and they were wanting to receive some relief from the load they had been forced to carry (12:2-5; cf. 1 Kings 11:28). Solomon's rule had grown abusive, robbing the people of their God-given dignity (Cf. Genesis 1:26-28). Political and sectional divisions had always been present, even during the reigns of David and Solomon, so one would think that Rehoboam would have been alert to the fault line that ran down the middle of his kingdom (cf. EBC). He failed to understand a key element of leadership; namely, that unity does not require uniformity to be successful.

Hunger for Godly counsel. Rehoboam was given some sage advice by the older leaders that provided him with counsel. They knew the circumstances of Solomon’s reign and how the people were near the point of rebellion, so they counseled the new king to blaze a new trail of success by taking on the role of a what was essentially a “servant leader!” (12:7). They knew that respect for this value begins within the home and extends into church and culture (Ephesians 4:1-6; 5:21-6:9).

Lead by serving. The word “servant” means that he would yield and offer to serve the needs of the people who were downtrodden (cf. Matthew 9:36). The word is used typically of a slave in Israel, but this status involved rights. The King could have been a “type” of what would later become understood as a messianic designation, but instead, he refused to lead in this way (cf. Isaiah 39-53; “servant” is mentioned 20 times in the singular; Theo Wrdbk). Let's apply a key principle from this passage to our lives.

If I plant an acorn, then I will grow an oak tree. If plant a mimosa seed, then I will get a “weedy, short-lived, insect- and disease-prone” tree. The tree looks good for about two weeks per year, but it is not worth it! You get what you plant and nurture. 

Here is a spiritual point: One wonders how many leadership opportunities have been squandered and legacies diminished because of a bad seed—an unwillingness to serve others? (cf. John 13:12-20; Matthew 20:24-26). Rehoboam, the one whose name was intended to enlarge the people saw his kingdom come to an end. Jesus, the one whose name means “God is salvation,” served his people and his kingdom will never end (Philippians 2:9-11). Choose your name and life path well! Legacies depend upon it.

1. If the fruit in your life is poor leadership, then check the tap root. Is it being fed by God’s wisdom that calls you to lead by serving? Plant your roots in God’s wisdom.

2. Lasting legacies are built across a lifetime of commitment to the Lord. Choose this day to serve and honor the Lord with your life and watch Him bless you and your name for generations to come.

3. For Families: Our families are training grounds, or schools of character, for the instruction and identity-building of our children. That is a sobering responsibility for us as parents! Godly wisdom begins with the reverence of God. 

Deuteronomy 6:5-9 reminds us to:
In Matthew 22:37-38, Jesus quotes this Old Testament verse as the greatest commandment, and then adds to it, declaring that the second greatest commandment is to "Love your neighbor as yourself." 

A good way to reinforce the wisdom of loving God and loving people might be to paint these verses from Matthew on your ceiling's crown molding, or upper wall, all around your dining room, or even upon your door frame. Help your kids visually to see, memorize, and act upon these words of wisdom.

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock