"What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse"(1 Kings 12:16). Fickleness is defined by Webster as one who is "marked by lack of steadfastness, constancy, or stability: given to erratic and even perverse changeableness". The fickleness of humanity has been around a long time and there appears to be no ending of it in sight. In 1 Kings 12 the events of the division of the kingdom of Israel are explained. Israel had demanded a king and ended up with Saul who did not work out so well. Thus, God chose the man He desired to sit upon the throne of Israel and God made a covenant with him that one of his descendants would always sit upon the throne (2 Sam. 7:1-17; Acts 2:30). The nation of Israel came to David at Hebron when he was anointed king and said, "We are your bone and flesh"(2 Sam. 5:1-5). David was a great king and the people loved, supported, and followed him.
David's life comes to an end and Israel as a nation has come to a state of peace. David had subdued all their enemies and Israel had great strength at this time. This enabled his son Solomon to focus his attention upon building the temple. Israel was blessed through Solomon with a great building project and they were inundated with gold and silver. The surplus was so great that silver was as common as stones (1 Kings 10:27). The next king that came to the throne as a descendent of David was Rehoboam.
Rehoboam was certainly not the wisest of kings, but nevertheless he was the new king. He rejected the counsel of the older and wiser men (I Kings 12:8) and took to the like-minded counsel of the younger men (1 Kings 12:13-14). Certainly this was not what the people wanted to hear, but it did not justify their rebellion. In 1 Kings 12:16 the text says, "When all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them". There it is! Read it again: "When all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them". A fickle people who's forefathers had sworn allegiance to the house of David are now going to throw David to the side and run home like a bunch of spoilt babies. They do not get their way so they throw in the towel and quit. There is not even a justifiable reason for them to do so. They did not even try to work things out with Rehoboam. As a matter of a fact, Rehoboam sent Adoram to talk with them and they stoned him to death. Cold blooded murder! Since they could not get their way they rebelled and murdered.
What happened to a man's word is his bond? What happened to commitment? What happened to integrity? Where are the men and women who will stand with what they signed on to do? In the sporting world of America the crowds shouts to the top of their lungs in support one day and the next day they desire for their previous hero to be traded to another team. The nation of Israel supported Moses and said that whatever God spoke through him they would do. A few short days later they made a golden calf. The nation of Israel said that David was their "bone and flesh". A couple of kings later, "What portion do we have with David"? The nation of Israel gathers and shouts Hosanna when Jesus rides into Jerusalem. A few days later they shout, "Crucify"! "Crucify"!
I suppose things will not change in the near future, but what about you. Does your word mean anything? Does what you said in front of the church when you got married even matter anymore? What about what you told your boss when he hired you for your job? What about the commitment you made to your local church? What about your profession to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ until you die? Are you simply just another man who is fickle, weak, and simply a pansy at heart? It is time to stand up and be counted. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Look unto Jesus Christ who did what He said He would do even when the whole world turned their back on Him (Psa. 69:20). Oh, glory be unto Jesus the offspring of David who was not fickle in anything He did.
David's life comes to an end and Israel as a nation has come to a state of peace. David had subdued all their enemies and Israel had great strength at this time. This enabled his son Solomon to focus his attention upon building the temple. Israel was blessed through Solomon with a great building project and they were inundated with gold and silver. The surplus was so great that silver was as common as stones (1 Kings 10:27). The next king that came to the throne as a descendent of David was Rehoboam.
Rehoboam was certainly not the wisest of kings, but nevertheless he was the new king. He rejected the counsel of the older and wiser men (I Kings 12:8) and took to the like-minded counsel of the younger men (1 Kings 12:13-14). Certainly this was not what the people wanted to hear, but it did not justify their rebellion. In 1 Kings 12:16 the text says, "When all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them". There it is! Read it again: "When all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them". A fickle people who's forefathers had sworn allegiance to the house of David are now going to throw David to the side and run home like a bunch of spoilt babies. They do not get their way so they throw in the towel and quit. There is not even a justifiable reason for them to do so. They did not even try to work things out with Rehoboam. As a matter of a fact, Rehoboam sent Adoram to talk with them and they stoned him to death. Cold blooded murder! Since they could not get their way they rebelled and murdered.
What happened to a man's word is his bond? What happened to commitment? What happened to integrity? Where are the men and women who will stand with what they signed on to do? In the sporting world of America the crowds shouts to the top of their lungs in support one day and the next day they desire for their previous hero to be traded to another team. The nation of Israel supported Moses and said that whatever God spoke through him they would do. A few short days later they made a golden calf. The nation of Israel said that David was their "bone and flesh". A couple of kings later, "What portion do we have with David"? The nation of Israel gathers and shouts Hosanna when Jesus rides into Jerusalem. A few days later they shout, "Crucify"! "Crucify"!
I suppose things will not change in the near future, but what about you. Does your word mean anything? Does what you said in front of the church when you got married even matter anymore? What about what you told your boss when he hired you for your job? What about the commitment you made to your local church? What about your profession to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ until you die? Are you simply just another man who is fickle, weak, and simply a pansy at heart? It is time to stand up and be counted. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Look unto Jesus Christ who did what He said He would do even when the whole world turned their back on Him (Psa. 69:20). Oh, glory be unto Jesus the offspring of David who was not fickle in anything He did.
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