March 2
The Continual Burnt Offering" T hen the king answered the people roughly, and rejected the advice which the elders had given him; and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy but I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips but I will chastise you with scourges!”"
One of Solomon’s own proverbs, if taken to heart by his son, might have saved the entire situation: “A soft answer turns away wrath. But a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). Another proverb might have given added guidance: “By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom” (Proverbs 13:10). Rehoboam lost the greater part of his kingdom because of refusing the good advice of the elders and following the foolish counsel of the young men. Puffed up with pride, he met the reasonable demands of the people roughly instead of with conciliatory speech, which might have bound their hearts to him and saved from much strife and bitterness. It is a lesson that we are all very slow to learn. We so readily forget that “the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). Many family, business, church, and national troubles might be avoided were this lesson taken to heart.
So many hearts are breaking,
And many more are aching,
To hear the tender word.
God, make me kind!
For I myself am learning
That my sad heart is yearning
For some sweet word to heal my hurt
O Lord, do make me kind.
God, make me kind!
So many hearts are needing
The balm to stop the bleeding
That my kind words can bring.
God, make me kind!
For I myself am learning
The cure in some one’s keeping
He should impart to my sick heart.
O Lord, do make me kind.
—Duncan McNeil