How High is Your Horse? (Lesson 2)

A look at pride and how to avoid its consequences.

1 Kings 12:20-24 NASB  It came about when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, that they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. None but the tribe of Judah followed the house of David.  (21)  Now when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, 180,000 chosen men who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.  (22)  But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,  (23)  "Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin and to the rest of the people, saying,  (24)  'Thus says the LORD, "You must not go up and fight against your relatives the sons of Israel; return every man to his house, for this thing has come from Me."'" So they listened to the word of the LORD, and returned and went their way according to the word of the LORD.

Don’t be too proud to listen to the Lord.  When Rehoboam refused to listen, the northern ten tribes rebelled.  He sent Adoram and the people killed him.

Rehoboam assembled 180,000 men from Judah and Benjamin to force the northern ten tribes back.  The Lord sent Shemaiah to tell Rehoboam not to fight.  Rehoboam swallowed his pride and obeyed God.

Even if we have made unwise decisions in the past, we can start listening to God in the present.  Rehoboam had to put pride aside to heed God’s counsel.

Is there an area of pride in your life that makes it hard to listen to God’s counsel?