大卫王死后，他的儿子所罗门接续他作王。他有一个很好的开始，但后来远离了神。他的行为激怒了耶和华（参王上2-11）。所罗门死后，他的儿子罗波安加冕作王。耶罗波安打断了他的加冕礼，要求罗波安减轻所罗门所定的重税。
罗波安与长老商议。他们建议他减轻税收，服务百姓。但罗波安拒绝了这个建议。相反，他决定增加繁重的税收。结果就是王国的反叛，分裂和犯罪。
腓立比书2章描写了耶稣来做我们的救主和王时的态度和作为。它告诉我们，耶稣本与神同等，祂却谦卑自己，成为人的样式。而且祂心甘情愿地服事我们，为拯救我们脱离罪和死，在十架上舍命。所以，神叫祂不但从死里复活，且叫祂在天上掌权，应许说，万膝都要跪拜这位作仆人的君王，并承认祂是主。
你今天有什么重担吗？耶稣说：“凡劳苦担重担的人可以到我这里来，我就使你们得安息...我心里柔和谦卑....你们心里就必得享安息”（太11:28-29）。
主耶稣，我们作仆人的君王，愿我们今天不仅来到你面前得着心灵的安息，也和你一起喜乐地服事他人。阿们。
列王纪上 12:1-15
1罗波安往示剑去，因为以色列人都到了示剑，要立他做王。
2尼八的儿子耶罗波安先前躲避所罗门王，逃往埃及，住在那里，他听见这事。
3以色列人打发人去请他来，他就和以色列会众都来见罗波安，对他说：
4“你父亲使我们负重轭做苦工，现在求你使我们做的苦工、负的重轭轻松些，我们就侍奉你。”
5罗波安对他们说：“你们暂且去，第三日再来见我。”民就去了。
6罗波安之父所罗门在世的日子，有侍立在他面前的老年人，罗波安王和他们商议，说：“你们给我出个什么主意，我好回覆这民。”
7老年人对他说：“现在王若服侍这民如仆人，用好话回答他们，他们就永远做王的仆人。”
8王却不用老年人给他出的主意，就和那些与他一同长大，在他面前侍立的少年人商议，
9说：“这民对我说：‘你父亲使我们负重轭，求你使我们轻松些。’你们给我出个什么主意，我好回覆他们。”
10那同他长大的少年人说：“这民对王说：‘你父亲使我们负重轭，求你使我们轻松些。’王要对他们如此说：‘我的小拇指头比我父亲的腰还粗！
11我父亲使你们负重轭，我必使你们负更重的轭；我父亲用鞭子责打你们，我要用蝎子鞭责打你们。’”
12耶罗波安和众百姓遵着罗波安王所说“你们第三日再来见我”的那话，第三日他们果然来了。
13王用严厉的话回答百姓，不用老年人给他所出的主意，
14照着少年人所出的主意对民说：“我父亲使你们负重轭，我必使你们负更重的轭；我父亲用鞭子责打你们，我要用蝎子鞭责打你们。”
15王不肯依从百姓，这事乃出于耶和华，为要应验他藉示罗人亚希雅对尼八的儿子耶罗波安所说的话。
"Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God . . . made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant. . . ." - Philippians 2:5-7
When King David died, his son Solomon became the next king. He had an excellent start, but Solomon later turned away from God. His actions angered the Lord (see 1 Kings 2-11). When Solomon died, his son Rehoboam was crowned as king. The coronation was interrupted by Jeroboam, who pleaded with Rehoboam to lighten the crushing taxes that Solomon had put in place.
Rehoboam consulted with the elders. They advised him to serve the people by lowering the taxes. But Rehoboam refused. Instead, he decided to increase the burdensome taxes. The result was rebellion, division, and sin in the kingdom.
Philippians 2 describes Jesus’ attitude and actions when he came to be our Savior and King. It tells us that although Jesus was one with God, he humbled himself by becoming a human being like us. And he willingly served by giving his life on a cross to save us from sin and death. Therefore, God raised him not only from death but also to rule in heaven, promising that every knee will bow before our servant King and confess him as Lord.
Is anything burdening you today? Jesus calls, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. . . . For I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).
Lord Jesus, our Servant-King, may we not only come to you to find rest for our souls but join with you as we joyfully serve others today. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
