If today's reading felt familiar it's because it is.
We've already read much of Solomon's story earlier in the Bible. We've talked about his wisdom, his wealth, the Queen of Sheba, his influence, and what happened when the kingdom passed to Rehoboam. Chronicles is giving us a recap.
I even found myself thinking, God, we've already gone over this. Then almost immediately came the reminder that He repeats it because it's important for us to know.
I don't know about you but i can read something in Scripture, highlight it, write about it, even teach it and still need God to bring me right back around to it again.
Apparently, God knows we're forgetful. 😂
And when Scripture repeats something, instead of rushing through it because “I've already read that,” maybe we should slow down and ask “God, why are You showing me this again?” Because 2 Chronicles 9-10 brings us right back to something we've been talking about throughout this entire journey
What are we handing down to the next generation, and what will they do with it?
Chapter 9 shows Solomon at the height of his reign. The Queen of Sheba comes because she's heard about his wisdom, and after seeing everything for herself, she says she hadn't even heard half of it. Kings from all over the world wanted to hear the wisdom God had given Solomon. Think about that. People traveled enormous distances just to sit and listen to this man.
Then Solomon dies and His son Rehoboam takes his place, and almost immediately Rehoboam is faced with a decision. The people ask him to lighten the heavy burden Solomon had placed on them. Rehoboam goes to the older men who had served his father and asks for advice.
They give him wise counsel. They tell him to Serve the people. Speak kindly to them and Lighten their burden. But Rehoboam doesn't like their answer. So he goes to the people he grew up with. They tell him what his pride wants to hear. And that's who he listens to.
Solomon's wisdom was famous around the world, but his own son still had to choose whether he would walk in wisdom. We've talked about this before. And here God is showing it to us again. We can pass down the Bible, pass down the worship songs, pass down the stories, pass down the lessons we've learned the hard way and We can teach our children what God has shown us. We can surround them with wise people, and introduce them to the things that helped shape our faith.
But eventually.......
they have to choose what they're going to listen to. And so do we.
And before we get all excited and say yeah! This isn't only a lesson for our children. Rehoboam actually asked for advice. The problem wasn't that he didn't have wise voices around him. The problem was that he chose the voices that agreed with him. We do that too. We can say we're looking for wisdom when what we're really looking for is confirmation.
We ask one person. Don't like that answer. So we'll just ask someone else. Still don't like it.
Eventually, we will find somebody who says what we already wanted to hear and suddenly we're like, “Yes! That's exactly what I was thinking!” 😂
But that's not wisdom.
Sometimes the wisest person in your life is the one willing to tell you something you don't want to hear.
Pastor Garland taught me years ago to surround myself with people who can do what I can't and even people who can do what I do better. I think there's another piece to that too.
Surround yourself with people who are allowed to tell you when you're wrong.
People who don't need to impress you.
People who won't feed your ego.
People who love you enough to say, “I don't think that's wise.”
Rehoboam had those people. He just didn't listen. And look at the contrast God repeats for us.
Solomon began his reign saying“God, give me wisdom.”
Rehoboam began his reign saying “Tell me what I want to hear.”
One generation sought wisdom.
The next had access to wisdom but rejected it.
And the kingdom began to fall apart.
That's why I don't mind that God is repeating Himself here. Actually I think we should pay closer attention when He does. He's telling us
“Don't miss this.” Passing faith down matters.
Who we listen to matters. Humility matters.
Seeking God for ourselves matters. And just because the generation before us knew God doesn't automatically mean we will.
Just because our parents had wisdom doesn't mean we'll use it. Just because we grew up in church doesn't mean we'll seek Jesus. Just because we've heard the lesson before doesn't mean we've mastered it.
Sometimes we need to hear it again.
And again.
And again.
I think that's one reason God gave us Chronicles. Because He knew there were things His people couldn't afford to forget.
Love Pastor Mandy
MandiesDandies / Ark of Hope
Daily reading 2 Chronicles 9-10
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