“When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen. And the people were without number who came with him from Egypt—Libyans, Sukkiim, and Ethiopians. And he took the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.” 2 Chron. 12:1-4
Devotional Thought For The Day
This a common occurrence in the history of Israel, that as soon as strength and prosperity was accomplished, the leaders and the people “abandoned the law of the LORD.” This reveals the dynamic of superficiality and hypocrisy in sinful human hearts – that when we need something from the LORD we are all humble and pious, but as soon as we think we are “safe and secure” we shrug off our hypocrisy and with it all semblance of devotion to the LORD. In our own time of great prosperity – the past 60 plus years since the end of World War 2 – we have seen precisely the same dynamics. During that war, which could easily have been lost, both in Europe and in the Pacific, Americans and Europeans were humbled and prayed fervently for God’s deliverance and blessing. There was an afterglow of this “piety” that lasted for a decade or so, so that churches were bursting at the seams with the baby-boomers. Just as quickly, as prosperity and the educational and military snobbery of our time took over, the churches were emptied as many of these people “abandoned the law of the LORD.” We have not yet bottomed out – Europe is far worse in this regard.
Rehoboam was the son of Solomon – the one who stupidly alienated the ten northern tribes of Israel so that the kingdom was divided. This was in part consequence of the wickedness of Solomon in allowing grotesque idolatry to be established in Israel. Such arrogance is always chilling, as it inevitably leads to demise, under the consequences of foolishness and the hand of God’s discipline. It is remarkable that he regained some sense – through God’s Word – and was able to stabilize Jerusalem and the southern kingdom so that it actually prospered under God’s blessing. This success he apparently attributed to himself, his own cleverness, ambition, and strength – so that he felt he no longer needed God, His blessing, or His Word. The consequence – which he might have been able to see coming had it not been for blinding arrogance – was the invasion of his nation by foreigners, and the threat of the utter destruction of his kingdom. The linkage is made clear – because they had been unfaithful to the LORD this horrific threat materialized.
Does God still work this way in the history of mankind – so that those who desert the law of the LORD, who capitulate to great arrogance and wicked immorality stand in threat of invasion and destruction? Our own nation has played the role of Shishak numerous times over the past century – most recently in Afghanistan and Iraq. Prior to this we did the same in Viet Nam and Korea. We were Shishak in World War 2 – invading and destroying wicked rulers and nations both in Europe and throughout the Pacific rim. Now we have capitulated to the same wickedness and arrogance – having deserted the law of the LORD and being unfaithful to Him. The one follows the other – where God’s Word is deserted in arrogance there follows all manner of evil, immorality, and foolishness. We are at the very beginning of God’s discipline upon our nation – and there is still time for repentance and a return to humility and reliance on the LORD. However, there should be no doubt in our minds – no myopia of arrogance – that God can easily raise up other Shishaks to come our way and destroy our ease and security.
Children of God also remained faithful in the time of Rehoboam and suffered his arrogance and unfaithfulness with abhorrence. They also suffered the privations imposed upon the nation as it became a vassal state in servitude to Shishak. As the leaders and the people repented and turned back to the LORD, they were granted some respite and a moderate restoration of fortunes. However, much had been lost and would never be recovered, and even greater idolatry, immorality, and unfaithfulness ensued – until finally the nation was lost forever. We too must persist in faithfulness to God regardless of the circumstances around us – continuing in humble repentance and confession of our sins, and in the joy of God’s gracious forgiveness and salvation, and in adherence to His Word, the Bible, looking forward to that kingdom where there is nothing but righteousness and good. As we do, perhaps there will be some who return to the LORD when His hand of discipline falls upon us – and who knows, the whole nation might be brought back to repentance. But they must have direction, and a place to return to God, so let us make sure that knowledge of the LORD survives in our midst!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and strengthen us in faith and loyalty to You as so many around us abandon Your Word and arrogantly reject You. Grant repentance lest discipline and destruction descend upon our nation. Protect Your people and preserve Your knowledge and wisdom in this place. Bring us safely to our true home, Your heavenly kingdom. Amen.