December 24, 2024 1 Kings 12:16-24
December 24, 2024 1 Kings 12:16-24
16 And when
all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the
king, “What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of
Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David.” So
Israel went to their tents. 17 But Rehoboam reigned
over the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah. 18 Then
King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was taskmaster over the forced labor, and
all Israel stoned him to death with stones. And King Rehoboam hurried to mount
his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has
been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. 20 And
when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to
the assembly and made him king over all Israel. There was none that followed
the house of David but the tribe of Judah only.
21 When
Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe
of Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to
restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. 22 But
the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God: 23 “Say
to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah
and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, 24 ‘Thus
says the Lord, You shall not
go up or fight against your relatives the people of Israel. Every man return to
his home, for this thing is from me.’” So they listened to the word of
the Lord and went home
again, according to the word of the Lord.
Why the king would think
the people would respond to his harsh ways with anything other than hatred is
beyond me. My daughter told me recently
that several people at her job asked her why she was being so nice to
them. It sounded like they thought she
wanted something and that was the only reason someone is nice. How sad in our world today that we assume
someone has an agenda when they are nice.
Sometimes people have been mistreated that they become jaded and think
the worst of everyone.
Do you ever meet someone
with your mind already made up about them?
If you find yourself having those thoughts and feelings, ask God to give
you wisdom and peace and not pre-judge people or situations based on your
history. Share a smile with someone
today. You might be the only positive
person they encounter today.
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