An Old Man's Advice

Rehoboam Rejected the Counsel of the Old Men and Accepted the Counsel of His Young Friends

“Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, and he said, “How do you advise me to answer these people?”

And they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”

But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.  And he said to them, “What advice do you give? How should we answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?”

Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us’—thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist!  And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!’ ” 1 Kings 12:6-11

Old Men are Needed for Counsel, Wisdom, and Finances. You Need Old Wisdom, Not Old Ideas

A. Looking Back

“I have been young and now am old; yet, I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants are blessed.” Psalms 37:24

1. Knowledge from an older man should carry more weight than from a younger one.

2. Neither we nor our children will be forsaken or left broke and begging for food.

3. Verses 1, 7, and 8 “Do not fret…” (Proverbs 24:18, 2 Timothy 3:13).

   a. Young tend to get overwrought about evil in the world.

   1. Fret in Hebrew = “kindle,” “wax hot,” i.e. “don’t be burned up.”

   2. Fret means “worry.”

   b. “Do not fret because of evildoers” Psalms 37:1

   1. An evildoer is more than just an average sinner.

      a. He is one who is under the control of evil and its author, Satan.

      b. He has joined the plan of evil to assist Satan in taking over the world’s order and eventually destroy Israel and all believers in Christ.

      c. He is part of the world’s system and plan of international communism.

   2. We do not fret because we know what will become of evildoers and all unbelievers.

   3. These are liberals, radicals, left-wingers.

   4. We get involved in prayer and action but not worry.

   c. “Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way.” Psalms 37:7

   1. Those who prosper because of evil ways are not to be envied by God’s people.

   2. God’s plan of prosperity is slower and built on obedience to His word and His plan for our life.

   3. God’s plan will also endure from one generation to another and another, “to their children and their children’s children.”

   4. Those who prosper because of evil will eventually lose it.

   5. God will see to it the prosperity of the evil will be set aside for God’s people. When their time comes to die they will lose their finances to God’s people.

   d. “Do not fret - it only causes harm.” (Do not fret to do evil - it tends to evil) Psalms 37:8

   1. The More you worry over evil, the more you are tempted to do evil yourself.

   2. Do not act the way of the world. You will be cursed.

B. Looking Forward

1. Why are we not to fret over evildoers?

   a. vs. 2 - They shall soon wither, be cut down like the grass.

   1. Short life span, quick destruction.

   b. vs. 9 - They shall soon be cut off (in their prime).

   c. vs. 10 - They soon shall not be (exist on the earth.

   d. vs. 13 - His day is coming.

   e. vs 15 - Their sword shall enter their own heart. Their bows shall be broken.

   f. vs. 17 - Their arms shall be broken.

   g. vs 20 - They shall perish and be burned as the fat of lambs into smoke.

   h. vs. 22 - They shall be cut off.

   i. vs. 36 - They shall pass away, be no more - not found.

   j. vs. 38 - They shall all be destroyed together (at once).

2. “Trust in the Lord” (vs. 3)

   a. vs. 4 “Delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart.” This is God’s contract with you.

   b. vs. 5 “Commit your ways (plans ) unto the Lord. He will bring it to pass.” This is the second part of God’s contract with you.

   c. vs. 7 “Rest in the Lord” On His promises and grace.

   d. vs. 7 “Wait patiently” Patience produces character.

   e. vs 8. “Cease from anger” Stop anger immediately. Change your attitude. Anticipate deliverance with a joyful attitude.

   f. “Forsake wrath” Turn loose of wrath and quit making excuses for it.

3. We are forced to live in a world of evil and corruption brought on by the pride of mankind. It is a world of war against good and against God Himself. Evil men, just like Satan, think they can conquer and overthrow God.

   a. We do not like or agree with the world, but we know its future.

   b. It has been pre-recorded and we know who wins - our team.