The Conflicted King: Lessons from Rehoboam

Turn your Bibles to First Kings chapter 12. First Kings chapter 12. We've been looking at the Kings of the Bible. Our series called King Me and what we can learn from their lives. These are people like you and I. Even though they were kings, they're still like you and I. And there's much we can learn from the lessons of their life. We looked at first of all, we talked about the reluctant king and that's King Saul. And then we had the heart of the king, which was David, a man after God's own heart. And then we had the wisest king, Solomon. And even in his wisdom, he still did not have the the discipline that he needed to live the Christian life.

But uh we can learn many lessons from him. And then today we're going to look at the conflicted king. The conflicted king in first kings chapter 12 and beginning with verse number one. It says Rayoboam went to Sheckchham for all Israel were come to Sheckchham to make him king. And it came to pass when Raoboam Jeroboam the son of Nabad who was in yet in Egypt heard of it for he was uh fled from the presence of King Solomon and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt that they sent and called him and Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came and spake unto Raoboam saying that thy father made our yoke grievious.

Now therefore, make thou the the grievious service of thy father and his heavy yoke which he put upon us lighter and we will serve thee. And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days. Then then come again. And the people departed. And King Royal consulted with the old men that stood before Solomon his father while he had lived and said, How do you advise that I may answer this? And they spake unto him, saying, If thou will be a servant unto this people this day, and will serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants forever. But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which had given them, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him?

And he said unto them, "What counsel give ye that ye may that we may answer this people who has spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?" And the young men that were pro grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us. Thou thus shalt thou say unto them, my little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. And now, whereas my father did bade you with a heavy laid you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

So Jeroboam and the people came to Riaboam the third day and the king had appointed saying come to me again the third day. And so we see here that the the people came and said listen your father Solomon was too tough. He was too hard on us. So we want you to just lighten the load and we'll follow you. And Rayoboam uh went to get counsel on that and uh and end up going what we know now was the wrong direction. And I think one of the problems that Raoboam had was an attitude of entitlement. Uh he knew God's promise to David and to Solomon there would be a king from their lineage on the throne and he thought that he kind of deserved it.

It was kind of entitled to it as well. In 1 Corinthians chap 11 and verse number 31, 1 Corinthians 11:31, it says, "He said to Jeroboam, take these 10 pieces of silver, thus sayith the Lord God of Israel. Behold, I will ren the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give 10 tribes to thee." Uh, he thought he was entitled, but God said, "You're not entitled to anything." In Proverbs chapter 14 and verse number 28, it says in the multitudes of people in the king's honor, but in in want of people is instruction of prince. You you can't have a kingdom a kingship without having a kingdom. You got to have people that are going to follow you.

And that's something Rail Bone forgot. And he has got this attitude of entitlement. And sometimes that's our struggle as well. Some people think, well, I'm entitled to salvation. The Bible says in John 3 and verse number three, Jesus answered and said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." You know, sometimes we get this idea that we deserve the the heaven that we deserve salvation. You know, we got this idea of I was born into the right family. My family's a Christian family. Or I was born in the right country. You know, America is a Christian country.

Or I I I go have the right religion or I do all of the right things. I want you to put a marker in First Kings and turn over, excuse me, to Philippians chapter 3. Philippians chapter 3. And I want you to look at verses 4-9. Philippians chapter 3 and:es 4-9. Philippians chapter 3 and verse number four. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh, if any other man thinkketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I mourn. Circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin. A Hebrew of the Hebrews has touched the law, a Pharisee. Concerning zeal, persecuting the church, touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

But what things were gained to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yay, doubtless, I count all things but loss, for the ecstasy of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. For whom I have suffered all things and the loss of all things, and do count them but done, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteous wisdom of God by faith. You see, Paul said, I I'm not entitled. I I I'm religious. I I've done all the right things. I I was born in the right nation, all the rest of that. But I'm not entitled to salvation.

You see, salvation is not something you get because of entitlement. Salvation is what you receive through Jesus Christ. You see, you can do everything right and still be wrong. Go over to Matthew chapter 7. Matthew chapter 7 and look at verses number 21- 23. Matthew chapter 7 and beginning with verse number 21. The Bible says, "But everyone that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall not everyone that saith me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven." Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied thy name? In thy name have done cast out devils.

Thy name done many wonderful works. And then while I profess, I never knew you. Depart from me that work iniquity. Here were people that had done all the right things, but they were still wrong because they weren't entitled to heaven he heaven because of what they did. You see, you you you're not born into salvation. You have to born again into salvation. Go over to the book of John chapter 3. John chapter 3 and look at verses number 3-7. John chapter 3 and begin with verse number three down through verse number seven. John 3 and verse number three, the Bible says, Jesus answered said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Nicodemus say, "How can a man be born when he's old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter in the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which born of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I say unto thee must be born again. Of course, we all know John 3:16, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. You see, you're not born into salvation, but you need to be born again into salvation.

You see, if you want to be a child of the king, you've got to put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Look at John chapter 1 and look at verses number 12 and 13. In John chapter 1 and:es 12 and 13, he says, "But as many as received him, to them gave you the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name, which were born not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God." You see, you got to be born again through Jesus Christ as your savior. You got to be born again to become a child of the king. You see, Rayob was Solomon's only son, known son. We the only children we know he had was Raoboam.

Now he had 700 wives and 300 concubines and yet this is the only child we know of. Now we don't maybe he did have other children but maybe Roam said I I I deserve this kingship. I'm a child of the king and that makes it right my right to have the kingship and and and all you know and and maybe Solomon didn't have other kids. That's possible. We had a lady in the church years ago that uh she was the first girl born in her family for 100 years. Uh can you imagine the first girl on one side of the family for a hundred years she said I was spoiled rotten you know and uh uh you know that can happen but maybe I don't know if Rael was only son but somehow he had this entitlement I deserve it and

folks you're not a born again you're not a child of God because you were born in America you're not a child of God because you were born to Christian family you're a child of God because you're born again you see you got to be born again through Jesus Christ as your savior turn over to Romans Romans chapter 8. Romans chapter 8. God wants us we need to be born again and we also need to be adopted in Romans chapter 8 beginning with verse number 15. For we you have not received the spirit of uh of bondage again to fear but you receive the spirit of adoption whereby we cry abba father. The spirit itself bear witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

and have children in the heirs of God and and and joint hes with Christ. If so be that we suffer with him that we may also be glorified together with him. You see, when you're born again, you not only are born into God's family, but you're adopted into God's family. Uh growing up, I had some friends, a friend that was adopted, and I always thought that was kind of neat. Uh to be chosen to be someone's child, not just by accident, but on purpose to be their child. And and God has chosen you. And God has chosen me to be his children. But we have to be born again. We have to be adopted into his family to become a child of God.

To become a joint heir with Jesus Christ. In 1 John chapter 5 and verses 12 and 13, it says, "He that hath the son hath life. He that hath not the son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God." You see, you can know for sure if I were to go up to your children and I were to say to them, "Is that your mom? Is that your dad?" Would you be happy if they said, "Well, I I think so." I hope so. I I thought they were, you know, but I was bad yesterday and I'm not sure if I am anymore or not.

Uh that's not the way that God works. God wants us to know that we're his children. God wants us to know that we're part of the family of God. God wants us to know that we have eternal life. But that comes not through a religion but through a relationship. In John 3 and:e 10, Jesus answered and said unto him, "Art thou a master of Israel and knowest not these things?" Nicodemus was a a religious leader, but he did not understand the need for salvation through Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 2:8:9, it says, "For by grace are you saved through faith, then not of yourselves. This is a gift of God, not of works any man should boast."

We're not entitled to to eternal life. We're not entitled to heaven. We're not entitled to be a child of God by what we have done, but it's by what Jesus Christ did for us. In John 19:30, when Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished." And he bowed his head and gave up the ghost. Jesus did everything necessary for your salvation when he died upon the cross for you. And there's nothing that you can add to it. There's nothing you can take away. It's only through him. We're not entitled to eternal life, but we can receive eternal life. The Bible says in Romans chapter 10 and verses 9 and 10 that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God has raised the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. In Romans 10:13, for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. And you need to call upon Jesus Christ. You're not entitled to go to heaven. It is a choice that you have to make by receiving Christ as your personal savior. You see, God has chosen you, but you need to choose him also. You need to put your faith and trust in him for eternal life. And Rayobo's problem was he felt he was entitled to the kingship. He felt he was entitled to that position. But we're only entitled, we're not entitled to the kingdom.

In Matthew chapter 6 and:e 33 it says, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." As Christians, you are and I are not entitled to the kingdom. We have to seek first the kingdom of God. You see, God's promises don't apply if you don't obey. Turn over your Bibles to 2 Chronicles chap 11. 2 Chronicles 11 and look at verses number 1-4. 2 Chronicles 11 and:es 1-4. It says, "When Raoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered the house of Judah and Benjamin 104 score thousand chosen men which were warriors to fight against Israel that he might bring the king again to Rayoboam."

But the word of the Lord came to Shima, the man of God, saying, "Speak unto Raoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel and Judah, and Benjamin, saying, Thus sayeth the Lord, you shall not not go up, nor fight against your brethren. Return every man to his house, for this thing is done of me." And they obeyed the words of the Lord, and returned from going against Jeroboam. You see, Railobone thought, well, I can I can solve this. I can do it by myself. and and he tried to go and do it on his owns but you know he split the kingdom and he was trying to reunite it reunite it through force and sometimes as Christians we got this idea that I can fix this I can do this without the power of God without the blessings of God and we need to understand that that if we want to claim God's promises we've got to also obey God as well and in first kings chapter 14 and verse 30 it says there war between Raoboam and Jer Jeroboam all their days.

You know, God kept them from that battle that day, but Raoboam never let it go. It was constantly conflict between them. Kind of like borderline skirmishes going on between them. And you know, so what happens so often is is we we as Christians are constantly battling each other rather than battling the enemy. You know, by battling each other, they were given the enemy opportunity to defeat them. And you and I need to realize that we can't we're not in a battle against other Christians. We're in a battle against Satan. We're in a battle against this world. And we need to focus on those things. In 2 Chronicles 11 again, and look at verses 16 and 17.

And after them, out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel, came Jerusalem to sacrifice on came to Jerusalem sacrifice unto the Lord God of their fathers. So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rayoboam the son of Solomon strong three years. For three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon. You see these are people that focus on what was important. What had happened is they had the split of the kingdom. They had the two tribes that stayed under Raoboam and then they had the 10 tribes that followed Jeroboam and it kind of split the kingdom and Jeroboam he wanted to keep the people with him.

So what he did is he forbade them to go to Jerusalem. He forbade them to worship God. He built his own altars and tried to pull the people away from the Lord. But there were people there that said, "You know what? Uh, we're going to go and continue to serve the Lord. We're going to continue to follow God." And and they they said, "We're not going to get caught up in all the politics and in fighting. We're going to follow the Lord." And I want to challenge you. Sometimes we get caught up in the politics of Christianity and we stop realizing that we're here to serve God. We're here to follow God.

And that's so important. And Raoboam, he thought he was entitled to the kingdom. He thought that he could make it happen without obeying God, without being obedient to the Lord. Go over to 2 Chronicles chapter 10. 2 Chronicles chapter 10 and verse number 13. How you treat people is important. 2 Chronicles chapter 10:3. The king answered them roughly and King Raoboam forsook the counsel of the old men. You see, we need to treat people with kindness and the grace of God. I I I got to walk around during the handshaking time and greeting one another and I heard some people talk about it and I heard over again about the grace of God, the forgiveness of God.

That's what God wants us to share is what he has given to us as well. And Rioam, he was a a king that uh he felt entitled. And folks, you're not entitled to salvation. You need to trust Christ as your savior. And you're not entitled to the kingdom of God. You got to seek first the kingdom of God. You've got to obey if you want to claim the promises of God. But also, the other thing about Railob, see, is that he didn't do a very good job of listening to counsel. In Proverbs 12 and verse number 15, the Bible says, "The way of the fool is right in his own eyes, but he that hearken unto counsel is wise."

and and you need to learn in your life. One of the best things that you can learn is to listen to counsel. In Proverbs 15:22, it says, "Without counsel, purposes are disappointed, but in the multitude of counselors, they are established." And and that's a principle God repeated over. Proverbs 11:14, Proverbs 24:26, is that counsel is so important if you want to know the will of God in your life. See, the problem with a lot of people is when they seek counsel, they're really not seeking counsel. They want to hear their opinion coming out of somebody else's mouth. That's really what they're seeking.

They're coming to you to say, "It's okay what you're doing instead of asking what they should do." In Proverbs 26 and verse number 12, it says, "Seeest thou a man wise in his own conceit. There's more hope of a fool than of him. So often people come to me for counsel. They're not coming to hear what I have to say or what I can share with them. They're just coming to get me to endorse what they've already decided to do. And and this is where Rio Bowen was was at. He didn't listen to counsel. You know, you watch commercials all the time. You ever hear them say at the end of commercial, nine out of 10 dentists agree or nine out of 10 doctors agree.

I always wonder who that disagreeable person is. You know, that one person that that doesn't want to agree with everybody else. But you know sometimes we got to realize that the majority is not always right. You remember about Joshua and Caleb how they came back 12 spies were sent into the land. They came back 10 of them said we can't do this and Joshua and Caleb said we can. It's not always the majority that is right. You know when everybody does agree that helps you to know what you're doing is right. It it helps you to know that you're on the right path. But you know you've got to learn also to listen to the one.

Sometimes when there's only one person that disagrees, he's got a good reason to disagree. He he's got a good reason not to go along with the crowd. And and you need to listen to that reason. And uh why do they disagree? Now, I'm not saying you should always listen to the old men. Raobalam, he didn't listen to the old men. He listened to the young men instead. But you probably what he should have done is combined the counsel of both of them. He should have taken the wisdom of those old men, but also young men. uh they also have something to offer as well. And maybe he should just gone back and said, "Listen, we need to run a kingdom, but we want to talk.

We want to work together as a team." But he didn't listen to counsel. And when you're listening to counsel, you need to consider the source. In Proverbs chapter 24 and verse number six, it says, "For the wise counsel thou shalt make thy war. For by the wise counsel thou shalt make thy war, and multi counselors there is safety. and having wise counselors to listen to people. You know, look at the people you're seeking for counsel. You know, he went to these young men to get counsel. These were young men of privilege. These were young men that have had grown up with a in the palace and and uh they didn't understand what the average person was going through.

They were living a privileged life. And sometimes when we get counsel, we need to go to people outside of our box. We need to go with people that have a different perspective than we have that can help us to see things from a different angle as well. But what we need to seek is good counsel. In Proverbs chapter 27:E9 it says, "Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart. So does the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel." In verse 17, "Iron sharpenth iron, so a man sharpenth the countenance of his friends." You know, you want to find good counsel, people that can give you wisdom. You know, the the old men, they had the wisdom of years.

The young men, here's the thing, folks. When you get counsel from your peers, remember, they're just as stupid as you are. They've got no more life experience. They've got no more training than you do. Uh you need to get counsel outside of your peer group, outside of your box, seeking wise counsel, good counsel. In Psalms chapter one and verse number one, it says, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth the way of sinners, nor sinners to see the scornful." You need to find not only good counsel, but godly counsel. You want your counselors to say things like this, the Bible says.

You want him to say things like this. Let's pray about this together. You want him to say things like, "What is the right thing to do?" You see, you want to get good counsel. Raoboam he had this entitlement attitude and he thought he had all the answers and he didn't need to listen to the wisdom of others as well and you need to seek good counsel and that includes the hory head the grey head. Uh in Leviticus chapter 19 and verse 32 it says thou shalt rise up before the hory head and honor the face of the old man and fear thy God I am the Lord. In Proverbs chapter 20 and verse 29, the glory of young men is their strength and the beauty of old men is the gray head.

And um you need to realize that people with gray hair like mine, we have earned every one of these gray hairs. Uh we have earned it through the the challenges of life and these gray hairs represent wisdom that has been learned in life. It represents wisdom that has been hardearned uh because we've had to go through it. Many times the gray hairs are because we made the wrong decision. And what the advantage you have is we can tell you don't do what we did. Many times the gray hairs have come because we have learned through the the trials of life. And and you don't have to go through those same trials.

You can learn from the wisdom of your elders and the wisdom of those that have experienced that life. And you ought to in your life, you ought to be looking for gayheaded people. You ought to be looking for people that are at least 10 years or older older than you or more. And you ought to get them to be your counselors in life to tell you tell you what they have learned to tell you what they have experienced to give you the wisdom of of their time. These men had been through the kingdom with Solomon. They had seen the good and the bad and they had much wisdom to share with Raoboam if he'd only listened.

Now understand old age does not always equate to wisdom. In Proverbs 16:31, it says, "The hory head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousness." There are some people that are older, but still haven't learned. There are some people that are 50 and 60 and 70 year old teenagers still in in life. And and and I'm not saying that every person that's older is wiser, but I'm saying as a rule, you're going to find that when people have lived life, they've had experiences. And experiences have taught them things that you need to learn. And they've learned through the hard knocks of life.

They learn through the trials and tribulations of life. They learn through their mistakes as well as the things that they did right. And you can gain from that wisdom. And I would challenge you, find wisdom. find counselors that are older and wiser than you are. But we older also need to show the next generation. In Psalms 71 and verse number 18, it says, "Now also when I am old and gay-headed, oh God, forsake me not until I have showed thy strength unto this generation and thy power to everyone that has come." Those of you that are a little older in life, let me challenge you. Who are you mentoring?

Who are you counseling? Who are you sharing that hardearned wisdom that you've learned through life? You see, you need to give it to the next generation. You need to pass it on to the younger generation. I want you to turn over to the book of Titus, chapter 2. Titus, chapter 2. I hear often people say something like this, and maybe you've been guilty of saying that. What is wrong with the younger generation? What is wrong with younger generation? You know what's wrong with the younger generation? The older generation because we haven't taught them. We complain about them, but we do nothing to help them.

We complain about them, but we don't do anything to teach them. Don't complain about the younger generation. Take them under your wing. Guide them. Direct them in life. This is what God has called you to do. As you get older, God has called you to mentor and counsel the younger generation. Look at Titus chapter 2, beginning verse number one. It says, "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine, that the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, and charity and patience. The aged woman likewise that they be in behavior has becometh holiness, nor false accusers, nor given to much wine, teachers of good things."

You know what the problem with the younger generation? They're looking at the older generations and saying, "Well, you're not living it. It's not changing your life. And why would they want to listen to you if it's not working in your life?" And they go on to verse number four. Then they that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chase keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blaspheme. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded in all things, showing thyself a pattern of good works in doctrine, showing unccorruptness, gravity, sincerity.

You see, God has called the older generation to teach the next generation to guide them with their wisdom, to give them counsel. And if you're not mentoring somebody, if there's not a young couple that you've taken under your wings, if there's not a young man or a young lady that you are spending time with and sharing with them the hardearned wisdom that God has given to you, then you are failing to do what God has called you to do. That's your job. That's God's calling. And I want to challenge the older generation of this church. Who are you mentoring? Who are you guiding through life as well?

You know, but the newer, younger generation also has something to offer. We need the vision of the young men and the young ladies in this church. You know, we get older, we get kind of tired in life and and we start still living in the past victories and and we need the young people to come in and and help us be get excited again and help us to have a vision for what God can do. In Acts chapter 2 and verse 17, it says, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, sayaith God. I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions to see, and your old men shall dream dreams."

God wants you as the youth of this church to bring your vision, to bring your excitement. I was talking to somebody the other day. We were talking about the past 40 years of the church. They say, "Well, what about the future of the church?" You know what the future of the church is? It's in the young folks in this church. It's in those that are coming with a a heart and a vision for what God can do. And and we need that vision. We need that heart. And I'm so thankful that this church is full of young people. And I want you to get excited. And I want you to get excited about what opportunities that God has laid for this church in the years to come.

I want you to get a vision for what God can do through your lives and through your ministry in this church as well. You see, Rayoboam, the failure he had was he did not listen to the right counsel. He he did not listen to the wisdom of the old age and and instead he listened to the wisdom of of his peers and get didn't step outside his box and say, "I want to hear from people that that are experiencing life different than I am. And I want to know what's going on in reality in the world." And he did not seek godly wisdom and good wisdom. And that's important for every one of us. But go to James chapter 1 if you would.

James chapter 1. The other thing about Raoboam is you read through and I hope you'll go back if you haven't already done it and read through about his life and his kingdom. The thing about him is he was kind of back and forth all the time. He never really truly made up his mind that he was going to do the right thing. In James chapter 1 and:es 5-8, the Bible says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that give it to all men libery and appraise not, it should be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that waivers like the way of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed, for let not that man think that he receive anything of the Lord.

A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." And that was one of Raobel's problems. He was kind of double-minded. He was constantly going back and forth and back and forth in whether he was going to do the right thing. So often we rely on others to keep us strong in the Lord. In 1 Samuel 30 and verse number six, the Bible says, "And David was greatly distressed, for the people spake of stoning him because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters, but David encouraged himself in the Lord." I I think it's important to have people in your life that are going to help you to be strong in the Lord.

I think it's important to have people in your life that are going to give you good God and counsel and good wisdom. But ultimately, you're the one who's got to make the choices. Nobody else can do that for you. You're the one that got to decide, I'm going to do what's right. You've got to strengthen yourself and the Lord and make those decisions. And that's where Raoboam struggled. If you'll go to 2 Chronicles chapter 12. 2 Chronicles chapter 12 and look at verse number one. 2 Chronicles 12 and verse number one. As it came to pass when Raob established his kingdom and has strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the Lord and all Israel with him.

You see, he strengthened himself. But the difference is David strengthened himself in the Lord. Did he? Raoboam, he strengthened himself. He thought he had life all figured out. He thought he didn't need anybody tell him what to do. And he forsook the Lord, the law of the Lord. You see, what was missing in Raobel's life was first of all the word of God. He forsook the law of the Lord. You need to be in the Bible every day. You need to be reading it, studying it, memorizing it. You need to have the word of God be an active and involved part of your life. That's why church is so important. But it's not church is not enough.

You've got to be into the word of God. Faith come by hearing and hearing by the word of God. And this is where he he forsook the law of the Lord. He he he left the Bible behind. He didn't need that anymore because he could do it his own strength, his own power. And that's where he failed. Secondly, he failed by not humbling himself. Look at chapter 12. Look at verse number 6. 2 Chronicles 12 verse number six. Whereupon the princes of Israel. And the king humbled themselves and they said, "The Lord is righteous." Then go down to verse number 12. And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him that he would not destroy him altogether.

And also in Judah, things went well. You see, when he humbled himself, that's when God blessed him. Folks, the Bible says in James chapter 4 that we need to humble ourselves. Now, did you catch what that says there? It doesn't say that people are to humble you. I I don't know about you, but I've had a lot of people humble me. In fact, they've humiliated me. But that's not what it's talking about. It says to humble yourself. So, you say, "Well, how do you humble yourself?" I'll tell you one way is real quick. God, forgive me. I was wrong. I sinned. That's humbling to get down on your knees and confess your sin to God.

You know what's humbling? To go to your spouse and say, "Honey, I'm sorry. I was wrong." That's humbling. You know what's humbling? To go to somebody, ask for counsel. Because we want to think, I've got life all figured out. I don't need anybody's help. But it's humbling to go and ask for counsel, to ask for advice. It's humbling to to humble ourselves before God. I I think bowing down our knees is one of the ways we humble ourselves is it's it's acknowledging him that I can't do it in my own strength. And see, Rayoboam, he went back and forth between these two things. He he for a time he thought, "I can do it.

I don't need God." I was dead. But then later on, he humbled himself, got right with God. I praise God for that. But you know what? as you go through his life, it was a cycle back and forth and back and forth. And I see that same cycle in Christian's lives. I see people all the time that they get right with God and then they backslide and then they get right with God and they backslide. And it's just a constant cycle. And I praise God that he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins when we confess them. And I'm so thankful for a God that is a forgiving God, but yet we still face the consequences of our decision.

You see, Railob did not seek God in 2 Chronicles 12 and verse number 14. And he did evil because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord. Now, in verse number 12, he humbled himself. But by verse 14, two verses later, he's already going back to his old habits, his old ways. He did evil because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord. In Jeremiah chapter 29:13, the Bible says, "And you shall seek me and find me when you shall search me with all your heart." If Roboam when he became king had just taken time to seek the Lord to seek good godly counsel to listen to the wisdom of others, how different would it have been?

God would have kept the kingdom united, but instead it became divided. And so often the same thing is true in our lives. We don't seek God. Bible says in in 1 Corinthians 12:14 again it says indeed evil because he prepared not his heart to seek the law of the Lord. Ezra 7:10 says this. For Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it and to teaching Israel's dash of judgment. Let me ask you a question. I spent quite a bit of time preparing this message today. How much time did you spend preparing your heart to receive it? How much time this morning, last night, this week did you spend preparing your heart to receive the law of the Lord?

Ezra said, "God, show me what you want and I will do it." He gave God a blank check. He didn't say, "God, show me what you want and I'll decide if I'm going to do it." He prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it once he found it. And that's what you and I need to do. There's a lot we can learn from life raongs. We can learn from his life that we're not entitled. Salvation is a gift of God and you need to receive it today. You don't deserve to go to heaven. You and I, we deserve to go to hell. But thank God for his grace and his mercy. And Rayob's problem was he didn't listen to the counsel, at least not the right kind of counsel.

He did not listen to the wisdom of the old men. He did not listen to those who were outside of his box and say, "I need to see it from a different perspective." He did not listen to good godly wisdom and counsel. the Rail Boom. He needed to humble himself, but he didn't do very good at that. He was of two minds, back and forth and back and forth. And frankly, more often bad than good. There was a couple glimmers of hope. There was a couple times thought, "Oh, he's got it now." But it's like he lost it two verses later. Is that what happens in your life as well? If you want the blessings of God, you got to obey God and seek his kingdom