1Kings 12: 1-19 How will you lead?

INTRODUCTION:

·       This week’s text will dive into two important topics around leadership: wisdom and approach.

·       How does a leader obtain wisdom?  What kind of leader do I want to be?

·       We will endeavor to answer both these questions about leadership as a New Testament follower of Jesus. 

·       The nation of Israel is still new to the concept of leadership by a king.  Following King Saul the transfer of power has been disputed.  From Saul to David, David to Solomon, the transfer of power has been challenged by a secondary adversary.

·       In all these transfers of power, Israel has accepted and voluntarily submitted to the king that took power.    

·       We left off last time with Jeroboam fleeing to Egypt after the prophet Ahijah told him he would be the king over the majority of the tribes of Israel, King Solomon’s death, and his son Rehoboam becoming king in his place. 

·       We were left at the promise of God that Israel would be torn in two as a consequence of King Solomon’s sin. 

SCENE 1: The Search for .  (1-10)

·       Like Rehoboam father, he became king as a young man.  When King Solomon became king, he asked for something that became a cornerstone for his kingship.

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask. What should I give you? ”

And Solomon replied, “You have shown great and faithful love to your servant, my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, righteousness, and integrity. You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today.

“Lord my God, you have now made your servant king in my father David’s place. Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership. Your servant is among your people you have chosen, a people too many to be numbered or counted. So give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours? ”

 Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. So God said to him, “Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life or riches for yourself, or the death of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to administer justice, I will therefore do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again. In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor, so that no king will be your equal during your entire life. If you walk in my ways and keep my statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.” — 1 Kings 3:5-14 (CSB)

·       Like his father before him, Rehoboam, the new young king, will also need wisdom to make a decision. 

1)     The .  (Shechem)

o   Where Abraham first received the promise. (Genesis 12:6-7)

o   Jacob built an altar to the LORD there. (Genesis 33:18-20)

o   Joseph’s bones were buried there. (Joshua 24:32)

o   This was the place where the great assembly recognized the faithfulness of God. (Joshua 24: 1-28)

o   That same assembly promised to serve the LORD at Shechem.  (Joshua 24:18)

2)     The . 

o   Like David, Jeroboam was not eager to return to Israel. 

3)     The . 

o   Had Solomon’s drift to Egypt also include the treatment of workers, or had prosperity entitled the people?

o   Either way, there was an offer of servitude to the new king. 

4)     The .

o   Time to respond. 

o   Asked the elders. 

OPTION 1: Be a to the people.

o   Asked his friends.

OPTION 2: Punish the people for asking. 

SCENE 2: will I serve? (12-19)

·       Leaders will inevitably use their power to serve or serve themselves. 

·       That is the choice that was before this young king, who will I serve?

·       The king’s choice was foolish, and the consequences were swift.

·       There was one person who was not inquired of the LORD.

EMERALD CITY:

STEPS TO BIBLICAL WISOM:

1.     Seek . 

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God ​— ​who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly ​— ​and it will be given to him. — James 1:5 (CSB)

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. — Proverbs 2:1-6 (CSB)

2.     Seek .

Without guidance, a people will fall, but with many counselors there is deliverance. — Proverbs 11:14 (CSB)

Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. — Proverbs 15:22 (CSB)

3.     Seek the right . 

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. — Proverbs 9:10 (CSB)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. Don’t be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. — Proverbs 3:5-7 (CSB)

Whom will you ?          (Mark 8-10)