Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Kings 12:10-14 (New International Version)

¹⁰ The young men who had grown up with him (Rehoboam) replied, “Tell these people who have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter’-tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. ¹¹ My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’ ”

¹² Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” ¹³ The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, ¹⁴ he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.”

King Solomon has died. The rightful heir to the throne is Rehoboam. A semi-rebel Hebrew named Jeroboam leads a group of people who visit King Rehoboam. They want to know what Rehoboam’s policies will be. The old King Solomon had pretty had taxes for his day and a pretty big appetite for luxury.

Would Rehoboam cut them some slack? Cut taxes and spending a bit?

Rehoboam’s friends come back with a couple of catchy answers:

My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist.

and

My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.

The story doesn’t end well. Rehoboam thought he could demand more and more from his people, and they would comply. He was wrong. They seceded from the nation, and Rehoboam didn’t have the military strength to stop them.

Sometimes it is better to ease the pressure on people. Lower taxes can lead to more wealth for all. A lesson in economic policy.

There is also a lesson in humility and compassion. It is best for me to admit that I have enough – more than enough – and don’t need to demand more from others.