Old People Know What they Are Talking About, Most of the Time

2nd Chronicles 10

I remember going back and forth with my parents about certain things. Mostly it was when they would not allow me to go somewhere or participate in something with my friends. They would say, “No” and I would say, “How come?” I sometimes would get the “just because” or we said, “No.” My first and second and probably more would be the why. I would always think my parents were ruining my social life or my chance to be a kid but the truth was that they wanted to protect me from certain situations because they would have been bad for me. I would always think that they did not know what they were talking about or that they were old but the truth is they were very right. 

In this chapter we see what happens after Solomon dies and the result is the kingdom being torn into two. A rebellion takes place in Israel because of Reheboam. We could say it was because of his answer and how he intended on treaty the people but truthfully it is all fulfillment of God’s word which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jereboam the son of Nebat (verse 15).

Listen to the Old Men

Rehoboam was king over Israel after the death of Solomon. Jeroboam came out from hiding in Egypt and went to the new king and asked, “If you lighten the load off the people we will serve you.” Rehoboam then asked for 3 days to think about his answer and he would get back to him. During those three days we see Rehoboam going to the elders and wise men of Israel. They told him to be good to the people and listen to their needs, when he will do that they will serve him forever. I guess Rehoboam did not like their answer and he went to the young men who he grew up with. Instead he told Jeroboam that his pinky finger is weighter than his father’s thigh. Solomon disciplined you with whips but I will discipline you with scorpions. He did not love the people, he just wanted to reign over them.  The result of his decision was the kingdom ended in a revolt and then split into two kingdoms.

These young guys were his friends and he took the advice of his friends. He did not take the advice of the old and wise men. Do you do this? Do you take your friends advice over your parents? Do you think your parents are old and do not know what they are talking about. The truth is your parents are wiser than your friends. They have been given the authority to be your parents by God. In their age they have wisdom, they have made their own failures and want you to learn from them and not make the same mistakes.