Following Solomon’s death, Rehoboam had the opportunity to establish his reign under obedience to the LORD maintaining the LORD’s blessing including unity of the twelve tribes. Rehoboam could have easily used this time to correct some of his father’s errors. However, we see something opposite happening. Rehoboam rejects the wise counsel of older experienced statesmen and takes the advice of his friends. As a result, the people reject his leadership and the kingdom falls apart as 10 tribes follow Jeroboam, according to the secret will of God, resulting in the northern alliance (1 Kings 12:14-19).

Though Solomon lost his way, Rehoboam could have followed his father’s foot steps in first seeking the wisdom and counsel of God before any decision was made regarding the kingdom. Hence, more important than taking wise human counsel, or rejecting immature, inexperienced counsel, was the most crucial step Rehoboam should have taken: seek the LORD. Specifically, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7).

God’s providence will not lead many of us to lead a nation. Our decisions may not impact millions like this socio-political policy. However, all of us do have decisions to make and every decision we make must have a starting point. 

What was Rehoboam’s starting point? I guess we really don’t know. We can guess but we cannot know for certain. What we do know is that it wasn’t Lord how do you want me to respond to this question. 

That should be the starting point for all of our decisions: Lord how do you want me to respond to this question. More specifically, Lord, how do I respond here in a way that honors you by being faithful to the entire Bible. 

That seems like a tall order for any of us to carry out. Fair enough. However, it's the required starting point for all of our decision making as Christians:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31–33); “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105).

That’s pretty clear: the starting point is always Lord what do I do. Solomon did this at the beginning. His son did not. Both failed to rule perfectly. However, a perfect king in David’s line would come. He would seek the Father’s will in all things and obey perfectly. Our mediator, our Messiah King, Jesus Christ.

As the perfect trail blazer, he knows what it is like as a believer to sit in our shoes and ask that starting point question: Lord what do I do here, now. Not only does He know –but He will guide us to the right answer: “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Heb. 2:18).

The starting point for our decisions: God. The helper: Christ. The road map: the Bible. The formation: thinking seriously over the word, over decisions, trusting Christ to guide us to the answer. 

Like Rehoboam we have a starting point to some hard questions. Unlike Rehoboam, we have a perfect Savior, Jesus Christ, to guide us to the answer.