Tag: 2nd Chronicles 10-12
A wake-up call!
Scripture reading for April 25th: 2nd Chronicles 10-12
Have you ever slept through an important event or meeting that you were supposed to attend? Have you shut the alarm off or hit the “snooze” button and then failed to make it to work or an important gathering? King Rehoboam got an unusual “wake-up” call from a prophet of God and a pagan king, Shishak of Egypt, and his 1200 chariots! (2nd Chronicles 12:3)
Rehoboam followed his father Solomon to the throne of Israel. But Rehoboam failed to keep regular appointments with God and to obey God’s law after he was established and became strong. (2nd Chronicles 12:1-2) Instead he sought the advice of his own peers and sought his own way and welfare over the welfare of the people God had entrusted to him. It worked for a while, but soon his sins found him out!
Rehoboam soon found himself under attack by Shishak, King of Egypt. Shishak had 1200 chariots and many hired warriors. God sent a prophet named Shemaiah to warn Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah. Upon hearing the Word of the Lord, the king and the leaders humbled themselves and God relented of destroying them. But Rehoboam did allow Shishak to carry off the treasures of the Temple and the royal palace. (2nd Chronicles 12:6-9) The king and the people became subjects of Egypt. Rehoboam heard the wake-up call and responded temporarily. He was spared destruction but did not truly repent. He continued to do evil in God’s eyes and failed to set his heart on seeking the Lord in everything. (2nd Chronicles 12:14)
This sad story is repeated often in our time as well. Many Christians have divided loyalties and God sends them “wake-up” calls. Sometimes they humble ourselves and repent but often go back to doing the same things that caused the trouble in the first place. If you have trouble in this area today, ask the Lord to fill you with the Holy Spirit. Take this message as your “wake-up” call and respond with all your heart! You wouldn’t want to miss the most important appointment in all eternity!
A wake-up call from God!
Scripture reading for April 25: 2nd Chronicles 10-12
Have you ever slept through an important event or meeting that you were supposed to attend? Have you shut the alarm off or hit the “snooze” button and then failed to make it to work or an important gathering? King Rehoboam got an unusual “wake-up” call from a prophet of God and a pagan king, Shishak of Egypt, and his 1200 chariots! (2nd Chronicles 12:3) Sometimes the wake-up call is death staring us in the face!
The problem with Rehoboam was his failure to keep regular appointments with God and obedience to God’s law after he was established and became strong. (2nd Chronicles 12:1-2) Rehoboam followed his father Solomon to the throne. But he failed to listen to wise advice and evidently failed to seek the Lord and obey His law. Instead he sought the advice of his own peers and sought his own way and welfare over the welfare of the people God had entrusted to him. We may get by doing this for a while, but soon our sins find us out.
When we disobey the Lord, we open the door to Satan’s attack. Rehoboam found himself under attack by Shishak, King of Egypt. Shishak had 1200 chariots and many hired warriors. God sent a prophet named Shemaiah to warn Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah. Upon hearing the Word of the Lord, the king and the leaders humbled themselves and God relented of destroying them. He did allow Shishak to carry off the treasures of the Temple and the royal palace. (2nd Chronicles 12:6-9) The king and the people became subjects of Egypt.
Rehoboam heard the wake-up call and responded temporarily. He was spared destruction but did not truly repent. He continued to do evil in God’s eyes and failed to set his heart on seeking the Lord in everything. (2nd Chronicles 12:14)
This is a sad story that is repeated often in our time as well. Many have divided loyalties and God sends his “wake-up” calls. Sometimes we humble ourselves and repent but often we go right back to doing the same old things that cause us to not seek the Lord fully. If you have trouble in this area today, ask the Lord to fill you with the Holy Spirit. Take this message as your “wake-up” call and respond with all your heart! You wouldn’t want to miss the most important appointment in all eternity!
Abandoned to Shishak!
Scripture reading for April 26th: 2nd Chronicles 10-12
God doesn’t take rejection lightly. He is a jealous God and loves His children enough to discipline them when they need it. He allows consequences to come that He has foretold so that His people understand His Father’s heart and grace. In today’s reading, consequences of sin bring humbling and repentance.
King Rehoboam was a young son of Solomon who was given rule of Judah. He began his reign by consulting the elders who had served Solomon for some advice on how to govern the people. The people had been under a heavy load of taxation because of the requirements of King Solomon in building the Lord’s house and then his own house. The elders recommended that Rehoboam lighten their load and treat the people kindly. (2nd Chronicles 10:7)
King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders and next consulted some of his younger friends. They recommended harsh treatment and a heavier yoke! This response caused division among the people instead of unity. The people grumbled against Rehoboam. Rehoboam sent Adoniram, one of his overseers of the forced labor out and the people stoned him! Rehoboam was going to muster an army and fight against his own brother, but was warned by God not to do it. He did listen.
Rehoboam grew strong and then lead the people in departing from the Lord. The Lord allowed Shishak, king of Egypt to attack Jerusalem. Shishak had a large army and many horse and chariots. The prophet Shemaiah gave the word to Rehoboam, “This is what the Lord says, ‘You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandon you to Shishak.'” (2nd Chronicles 12:5b) Rehoboam acknowledged that the Lord was just and that he needed to humble himself. God relented from totally destroying Rehoboam but still allowed Shishak to attack and plunder the temple. The reason given was so that Israel and Rehoboam would learn the difference between serving God and foreign kings.
There are some lessons for us in this passage. First, it is good to listen to wise advice from the elders. The wisdom from above brings peace and unity, not strife and division. When we depart from the Lord, He wisely allows consequences. He warns of what is ahead and hears when we humbly ask for mercy. Living under His rule is always better than captivity! Let’s learn by reading and not by experience!
Shishak–A ‘wake-up’ call from God!
Scripture reading for April 25: 2nd Chronicles 10-12
Have you ever slept through an important event or meeting that you were supposed to attend? Have you shut the alarm off or hit the “snooze” button and then failed to make it to work or an important gathering? King Rehoboam got an unusual “wake-up” call from a prophet of God and a pagan king, Shishak of Egypt, and his 1200 chariots! (2nd Chronicles 12:3) Sometimes the wake-up call is death staring us in the face!
The problem with Rehoboam was his failure to keep regular appointments with God and obedience to God’s law after he was established and became strong. (2nd Chronicles 12:1-2) Rehoboam followed his father Solomon to the throne. But he failed to listen to wise advise and evidently failed to seek the Lord and obey His law. Instead he sought the advice of his own peers and sought his own way and welfare over the welfare of the people God had entrusted to him. We may get by doing this for a while, but soon our sins find us out.
When we disobey and dishonor the Lord, we open the door to Satan’s attack. Rehoboam found himself under attack by Shishak, King of Egypt. Shishak had 1200 chariots and many hired warriors. God sent a prophet named Shemaiah to warn Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah and to help them see their errors. Upon hearing the Word of the Lord, the king and the leaders humbled themselves and God relented of destroying them. He did allow Shishak to carry off the treasures of the Temple and the royal palace. (2nd Chronicles 12:6-9) The king and the people became subjects of Egypt.
Rehoboam heard the wake-up call and responded temporarily. He was spared destruction but did not truly repent. He continued to do evil in God’s eyes and failed to set his heart on seeking the Lord in everything. (2nd Chronicles 12:14)
This is a sad story that is repeated often in our time as well. Many have divided loyalties and God sends his “wake-up” calls. Sometimes we humble ourselves and repent but often we go right back to doing the same old things that cause us to not seek the Lord fully. If you have trouble in this area today, ask the Lord to fill you with the Holy Spirit. Take this message as your “wake-up” call and respond with all your heart! You wouldn’t want to miss the most important appointment in all eternity!