S) "16 When all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them the people answered the king, saying,
'What portion do we have in David?
We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.
Every man to your tents, O Israel;
Now look after your own house, David!'
So all the Israelites went home."
2 Chronicles 10:16 (NASB)
O) There are countless parallels between kingship and parenting, and this one scares me a lot. This error that Rehoboam made set up a civil war and divided the kingdom against itself for several hundred years and the kingdom never recovered. It wasn't until after World War II that Israel became a unified nation again. Now, this passage says that it was to fulfill the word of God (v.15), but that isn't to say it's fulfilling the will of God, which is subtly different. Just because God is telling us what is going to happen, doesn't mean that is His will. It only means that He knew ahead of time that His will would not come to pass (because of the freewill and rebellion of His people). The error of Rehoboam is that he forsook the advise of older counselors, in favor of more contemporary influence because they appealed to his pride.
A) As it relates to my family, I could never bear to hear my children forsake our family in this manner, let alone my wife. I couldn't take the heartache and pain of knowing that they (either wife or kids) feel like they have no portion with me. The warning that comes through this passage is that I need to seek righteous counsel, first of all, and avoid insidious, poisonous counsel. Also, my family (as individuals) will not feel invested and engaged with me (and our family as a whole) by default; it must be fostered in them. So, I need to be sure, every day, that I am engaged in their lives. I need to be sure that I am investing in them. If I'm not making deliberate efforts in these areas, then when they reach their teenage years, I may find myself in a civil war with my kids, and when that happens, nobody wins and few survive.
P) Father, You have given me such great blessings and great responsibilities in my wife and children. Like Solomon, LORD, I need wisdom from You to know how to lead them correctly. Holy Spirit, guide me in the daily call to leadership with my family, and especially in pivotal moments like this one that Rehoboam failed. Give me a supernatural ability to relate to my wife and kids individually. Let the time and focus and energy I invest in them each, bring about a positive return throughout my lifetime with them. Continue to draw me toward You so that, as they follow me, they follow You also. Victory belongs to You, Lord, so guide my hand as I fight for my family. Show me where the real battles are, so that I am choosing battles wisely and fighting my real enemy in the spiritual realm, and not skirmishing with my own wife or kids. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
A) As it relates to my family, I could never bear to hear my children forsake our family in this manner, let alone my wife. I couldn't take the heartache and pain of knowing that they (either wife or kids) feel like they have no portion with me. The warning that comes through this passage is that I need to seek righteous counsel, first of all, and avoid insidious, poisonous counsel. Also, my family (as individuals) will not feel invested and engaged with me (and our family as a whole) by default; it must be fostered in them. So, I need to be sure, every day, that I am engaged in their lives. I need to be sure that I am investing in them. If I'm not making deliberate efforts in these areas, then when they reach their teenage years, I may find myself in a civil war with my kids, and when that happens, nobody wins and few survive.
P) Father, You have given me such great blessings and great responsibilities in my wife and children. Like Solomon, LORD, I need wisdom from You to know how to lead them correctly. Holy Spirit, guide me in the daily call to leadership with my family, and especially in pivotal moments like this one that Rehoboam failed. Give me a supernatural ability to relate to my wife and kids individually. Let the time and focus and energy I invest in them each, bring about a positive return throughout my lifetime with them. Continue to draw me toward You so that, as they follow me, they follow You also. Victory belongs to You, Lord, so guide my hand as I fight for my family. Show me where the real battles are, so that I am choosing battles wisely and fighting my real enemy in the spiritual realm, and not skirmishing with my own wife or kids. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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