“Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. And as soon as Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt. And they sent and called him, and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and said to Rehoboam, “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.” He said to them, “Go away for three days, then come again to me.” So the people went away. Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” And they said to him, “If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever.” But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him. And he said to them, “What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke that your father put on us’?” And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Thus shall you speak to this people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us,’ thus shall you say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s thighs. And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.'””
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭12:1-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1ki.12.1-11.esv

All,

This stands out because the writer of 1 Kings says, “ he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him”. Who is your counsel?  A trusted CLC friend? Your wife?  A trusted friend from youth?  Your parents?  Your pastor?  One of my best friends growing up had a sign that read, “Show me who your friends are and I will show you who you are”. Does your counsel seek first the kingdom of God?  Please pray that we and our friends seek wise counsel today. Please pray for Brad and Jeff’s group as it’s forming.