”The Influence of Wicked and Righteous Leaders”
Lesson 27 – 1 Kings
12-14; 2 Chronicles 17, 20
Toward the end of Solomon’s life, the prophet
Ahijah prophesied that Jeroboam, one of Solomon’s 12 superintendents over taxes
and labor, would take over much of the Israelite nation. To illustrate this,
Ahijah seized the garment from the back of Jeroboam, tore it into 12 pieces,
and gave 10 of the pieces to Jeroboam.
The Savior taught that “every kingdom divided against itself is
brought to desolation” (Matthew 12:25).
This is what happened to the kingdom of Israel after Solomon’s death. This
lesson is about the influence of wicked and righteous leaders on the divided
kingdom of Israel. The hope of our
leaders is that we will develop good leadership qualities so we can influence
others to live righteously.
The kingdom of Israel was divided, primarily because of
Rehoboam’s harsh leadership.
A good leader gives service.
After Solomon died, his son Rehoboam became king
of Israel.
1 Kings 12:3-4 - The Israelites
wanted Rehoboam to make their yoke lighter.
1 Kings 12:6-7; 2 Chronicles 10:7 –
The older men’s counsel to Rehoboam about ruling successfully was that he
should be a servant to the people…and then they would serve him. After refusing the counsel of the older men,
Rehoboam turned to young men he had known in his youth.
1 Kings 12:8-11
- Their advice was that Rehoboam should make the yoke heavier, not lighter.
1 Kings 12:12-17
- The result of Rehoboam’s decision to bbe harsh was that “Israel departed to
their tents”, meaning that the ten tribes separated themselves from Rehoboam’s
kingdom.
1 Kings 12:7 - The results
would have been different if Rehoboam had followed the counsel of the older men
to serve the people and treat them with respect, but he failed to follow good
advice.
Jeroboam had been one of Solomon’s 12
superintendents over taxes and labor.
1 Kings 11:29-31
- Toward the end of Solomon’s reign, thee prophet Ahijah had prophesied that
Jeroboam would become king over many of the tribes of Israel.
1 Kings 12:20 - This prophecy
was fulfilled when the tribes of Judah and Benjamin stayed with Rehoboam in the
Southern Kingdom, or kingdom of Judah. The other ten tribes followed Jeroboam
in the Northern Kingdom, or kingdom of Israel.
Jeroboam and Rehoboam led their kingdoms into idolatry.
A good leader:
gives service and trusts and obeys the Lord.
1 Kings 11:38 - Through
the prophet Ahijah, the Lord promised Jeroboam that he would be given a “sure house”
(a secure kingdom) if he would walk in the Lord’s ways.
1 Kings 12:25-34 - Jeroboam
forfeited the blessings of that promise by forsaking God and creating idols. Jeroboam built the golden calves and high
places and ordained false priests because he was afraid that if his people went
to Jerusalem to worship, they might go back to Rehoboam. In an effort to
control his people and retain their loyalty, he made golden calves in Bethel
and Dan, two cities in the Northern Kingdom, and invited his people to worship
in those cities. In doing this, he allowed his fear of defeat to override his
trust in the Lord’s promises. Note: A wise leader trusts the Lord and does not
base decisions on fear or personal judgment.
1 Kings 12:9-16
- The kingdom of Israel was dividedd largely because Rehoboam chose to follow
the unwise counsel of his peers.
In teaching us how we can resist the temptation
to follow unwise advice from our friends, Elder Malcolm S. Jeppsen said: “Many of you …
will be, at some time or another, approached by one or more of your ‘friends’
who will entice you to do something you know you should not do. … “ ‘No one
will ever know,’ the so-called friends will tell you. ‘Besides, what difference
will it make?’ “… You don’t have to
reject your friends who are on the wrong path; you don’t even have to give them
up necessarily. You can be their caring friend, ready to help them when they
are ready to be helped. You can talk to them and lift them and bear your
testimony to them. Lead them by example. “But don’t ever be led into
displeasing your Father in Heaven by your friends who might ask that as a
condition of being your friend, you must choose between their way and the
Lord’s way. “If that happens, choose
the Lord’s way and look for new friends” (Ensign,
May 1990, 45).
1 Kings 14:14-16
- When his son became sick, Jeroboam souught the help of the prophet Ahijah. But
Ahijah prophesied that Jeroboam’s house (family) and kingdom would be cut off
and scattered.
1 Kings 14:21-24
- Like Jeroboam, Rehoboam also disoobeyed God by leading people into
idolatry. The wicked leadership of these two kings had long-lasting results.
Both kingdoms were scattered or carried away captive many years later (Israel
by the Assyrians and Judah by the Babylonians) because they continued in their
wicked traditions.
Although one wicked leader can have a profound
effect on so many people, we need not mirror the acts of wicked leaders as the
people of Israel and Judah did. God has given us agency, and we can use that
power to choose good, even if leaders choose evil (Helaman 14:30-31).
Jehoshaphat led the kingdom of Judah to follow the Lord and
His prophets.
A good leader gives service, trusts and obeys the Lord, has faith in God, teaches from the scriptures, and follows the prophets.
Three generations after Rehoboam, his great-grandson
Jehoshaphat reigned over the kingdom of Judah.
2 Chronicles 17:3-4, 6
- Jehoshaphat demonstrated his personal righteousness by obeying the Lord
because the Lord was first in Jehoshaphat’s heart.
2 Chronicles 17:6 (cited above) -
Jehoshaphat “took away the high places and groves out of Judah”.
The following
definitions explain the false worship instigated by Jeroboam and Rehoboam.
1 Kings 12:31
- High places: altars that were bbuilt on hilltops. When the people fell
into idolatry, they desecrated these altars and used them for idol worship.
1 Kings 14:15
- Groves: places of pagan worshipp where people sometimes engaged in
immoral behavior.
2 Chronicles 20:12-13
- The people learned that God would acceept them if they would repent and floow
him in righteousness. Note that “all Judah stood before the Lord, with
their little ones, their wives, and their children.”. There’s a lesson here—that we might worship
God with greater devotion if we remove some things from our homes and
our personal lives to get our lives in order.
2 Chronicles 17:9
- Jehoshaphat sent Levites throughout thhe kingdom to teach the people from “the book of
the law of the Lord”.
Being taught from the scriptures affected the
people of Judah just as personal and family scripture study helps us. Scripture study in the home influences our
families and the Church as a whole as taught by President Ezra Taft Benson: “Often we spend
great effort in trying to increase the activity levels in our stakes. We work
diligently to raise the percentages of those attending sacrament meetings. We
labor to get a higher percentage of our young men on missions. We strive to
improve the numbers of those marrying in the temple. All of these are
commendable efforts and important to the growth of the kingdom. But when
individual members and families immerse themselves in the scriptures regularly
and consistently, these other areas of activity will automatically come.
Testimonies will increase. Commitment will be strengthened. Families will be
fortified. Personal revelation will flow” (The
Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 44).
2 Chronicles 20 records a period of terrible
anxiety for the people of Judah, as three nations had declared war on them. The
outcome seemed bleak for King Jehoshaphat and his people, who were greatly
outnumbered.
2 Chronicles 20:3-13
– Jehoshaphat and the people fasted and prayed to ask the Lord for help.
2 Chronicles 20:14-17 -
The Lord’s answer to this supplication came through the prophet Jahaziel. They
were told that the Lord would fight their battle.
2 Chronicles 20:20
- Jehoshaphat gave his people counsel too have faith in God and believe his
prophets.
As Latter-day Saints, we are outnumbered today
just as the people of Judah were anciently, but Jehoshaphat’s counsel applies
to us today.
Remembering the prophet Jahaziel’s assurance
that the battle was God’s, Jehoshaphat appointed singers to praise the Lord
rather than fight. When they began to sing, the Lord protected them by causing
their attackers to war among themselves and destroy one another (2 Chronicles
20:21-24).
We will be protected when we remember and obey
the words of the living prophet.
2 Chronicles 20:3-4
- In contrast to Jeroboam and Rehobboam, who led their people into
idolatry, Jehoshaphat influenced the people of Judah to humble themselves
before the Lord.
Leaders have power to guide people to wickedness
or righteousness. Our responsibility is
to lead in our Church callings, in our communities, at work, and at home. We
need to be good leaders by giving service, trusting and obeying the Lord,
having faith in him, teaching from the scriptures, and following the prophets.
These
lessons are found on the Internet at http://www.neumanninstitute.org/