June 30, 2026

In 1 Kings 12 we read that Rehoboam sought councel from the old men that served with his father, King Solomon, regarding how he should respond to the people's petition for a lighter yoke. When they told him to make the burden lighter, he then sought counsel from his younger friends who he grew up with. They said the opposite, make the burden heavier. He chose to follow his friends advice and thus the kingdom split and ten tribes left Judah and became Israel under Jeroboam.

We can instructively relate the old men who served the wise King Solomon to prophets who have spent time serving the wisest King, Jehovah, and the young men to the world, those who imagine they are wise and pursue the vanity of the natural man. The world is loud and flashy, always advertising to get something for nothing and find the easiest path. We must choose to follow the prophet and follow God.

Later, when Rehoboam wants to go to war against Israel, a prophet warns him not to. This time, he listened. We can always start listening to the prophet today.