What Rehoboam Teaches Us About Servant Leadership

Rebellion is a common theme throughout human history. Nearly every nation has some event, either real or mythic, that depicts a righteous and rebellious force fighting for their dignity. Our own nation was born from a rebellion against British control and tax. 1 Kings 12 tells the story of Israel’s rebellion against King Rehoboam.

When Rehoboam is named king of Israel, the Israelites ask him to “lighten the harsh labor” and “heavy yoke” that his father, King Solomon, placed on them. Uncertain what to do, Rehoboam sends the Israelites away for three days and consults two sources: his father’s elders and the young men who he’d grown up with. He asked each group for their advice in answering the people of Israel. Solomon’s elders advised Rehoboam to “serve them and give them a favorable answer [so that] they will always be your servants.” Rehoboam, however, took the advice of his childhood friends, who recommended he make their yoke even heavier. When the Israelites returned after three days, King Rehoboam increased their yoke and the Israelites rebelled. They named Jeroboam, whose own story of rebellion was told in the previous chapter, the king of all Israel and rose up against Rehoboam. They stoned Adoniram, Rehoboam’s chief of forced labor, while Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem. The tribes of Judah and Benjamin, who chose Rehoboam, made their way to fight the forces of Jeroboam and it was only the word of God coming through the prophet Shemaiah that averted outright war, although Israel was left divided.

I mentioned in the first paragraph how rebellion is a prominent historical theme. 1 Kings 12 is, for the most part, wisdom for avoiding such events. As such, readers might assume that the story of a divided Israel is only helpful as a guide for godly ruling, or an “Avoiding Rebellion For Dummies” lesson. To my knowledge, there aren’t any church members who are currently leading a small, ancient Semitic kingdom, so how does 1 Kings 12 apply to us? I think Ephesians 5 and 6 can help us answer that question.
 
Beginning in verse 21 of Ephesians 5, Paul outlines his instructions for leading a Christian household. He advises submission for every member of the household out of reverence for Christ. While not strictly a synonym, the word “submission” is related to another term familiar to the New Testament: “servitude”. Paul advises all Christians to lead with service and love, no matter their station. This is quite similar to how Solomon’s elders advised Rehoboam to respond to his subjects, although he refused to listen. Rehoboam’s ignorance resulted in the division of Israel. Likewise, choosing to lead without love or forcing others to serve you without serving them in return divides the household, the workplace, and even the soul.

King Rehoboam chose to lead without God’s wisdom. He was cruel and Israel rightly rebelled from his oppression, but the chain of actions stretching back to Solomon’s idolatry resulted in an Israel divided. We may not rule kingdoms, but in our lives we should “rule” like Christ: with love and service at the forefront.

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