2 Chronicles 10

And they spoke to him, saying, “If you are kind to these people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever.” v.7

Read chapter 10
The same account of this chapter is reordered in 1 Kings 12.  This is when the split of the kingdom of Israel happens as you will read from here on out as Israel and Judah (Israel being the northern ten tribes and Judah being the southern two tribes around Jerusalem).  In my devotional on 1 Kings 12 I focused on Solomon's reply after choosing the advice of his friends so now in this chapter in Second Chronicles I'm going to focus on the advice of the elders.  Now if you remember what's happening here, Solomon just died and his son Rehoboam has become king.  The people go to Rehoboam asking to lighten the heavy load King Solomon put on them in service.  Solomon tells them to come back in three days and he'll give them an answer.  I think he's wise in taking a few days to think about his answer, but we never see him go to God with the question.  He first goes to the elders, doesnt like their response so then goes to his friends and chooses their advice- which then leads to the split of the kingdom for the people didn't feel supported by their king (something that's probably about to happen in the USA once either Trump or Hilary take office).  Sometimes seeking godly advice is going to godly people who have gained wisdom from God in their walks with the Lord so going to the elders was a wise thing to do, it just wasn't the answer he wanted so didn't even listen to them.  The comparison of 1 Kings 12:7 and 2 Chronicles 10:7 gives two slightly different response of the elders.  One seems very blunt and the other buttered of grace.  Could it be that we read in 1 Kings 12 (man's view) is what Rehoboam chose to hear than what he actually heard as we have recorded in 2 Chronicles 10 (God's view)?  How often do we hear what we want to hear and miss the actual message?  When have you noticed you've done this and when have you seen this done of someone else?