2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 12: The LORD sees Rehoboam humble himself

Begin in prayer

Before we read how Rehoboam and the princes humbled themselves, let us ask God to show us the weight of sin and the mercy He shows. Ask Him to lead us to Christ.

Turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give your strength to your servant. Save the son of your servant.

Psalm 86:16

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You judge those who forsake You, and that Your wrath can turn away. Lead us to Jesus. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

When Rehoboam is strong, he abandons the law of the LORD, and all Israel goes with him. In the fifth year, Shishak king of Egypt comes up against Jerusalem with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen. The prophet Shemaiah says that because they have forsaken the LORD, He has left them in the hand of Shishak. The princes and the king humble themselves and say, “Yahweh is righteous.” The LORD sees that they have humbled themselves, and He says He will not destroy them but will give some deliverance. Shishak takes the treasures of the LORD's house, and Rehoboam makes shields of bronze in place of the gold. Rehoboam reigns seventeen years, and he does evil, because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.

As you read 2 Chronicles 12, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

When Rehoboam and the princes humbled themselves, the LORD did not destroy them completely.

Rehoboam became strong, and then he abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel went with him (verse 1). The text says plainly that Shishak of Egypt came up against Jerusalem because they had trespassed against the LORD (verse 2). Shemaiah said, “You have forsaken me, therefore I have also left you in the hand of Shishak” (verse 5). The princes and the king humbled themselves and said, “Yahweh is righteous” (verse 6). That was a true confession, for the LORD had done right and they had trespassed. When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, He said He would not destroy them (verse 7). Shishak still took the treasures of the LORD's house, so mercy came together with loss (verses 7 to 9). The LORD turned His wrath from Rehoboam when he humbled himself, so as not to destroy him altogether (verse 12). This shows a God who judges those who forsake Him, and who shows mercy to those who humble themselves.

How does 2 Chronicles 12 show us that when Rehoboam and the princes humbled themselves, the LORD did not destroy them completely?

Rehoboam abandoned the LORD's law, and Egypt came up.

Rehoboam became strong, and he abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him (verse 1). Shishak of Egypt came up in the fifth year, because they had trespassed against the LORD (verse 2). He came with chariots and horsemen, and a people without number (verse 3). He took the fortified cities of Judah and came to Jerusalem (verse 4).

The princes and the king humbled themselves.

Shemaiah told them that they had forsaken the LORD, so the LORD had left them in the hand of Shishak (verse 5). The princes and the king humbled themselves and said, “Yahweh is righteous” (verse 6). The LORD saw it and said, “They have humbled themselves” (verse 7). He said He would not destroy them, and His wrath would not be poured out on Jerusalem (verse 7).

The LORD turned His wrath away, but the sin still cost them.

Shishak took the treasures of the LORD's house and the king's house, and the gold shields too (verse 9). Rehoboam made shields of bronze in their place (verse 10). When he humbled himself, the LORD's wrath turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether (verse 12). Yet he did evil, because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD (verse 14).

Jesus took God's wrath, and the humble are forgiven through Him.

Jesus told of a tax collector who humbled himself and went home justified (Luke 18 verses 13 and 14). Paul says that those justified by the blood of Christ are saved from God's wrath through Him (Romans 5 verse 9). Rehoboam's wrath turned away for a time, but Jesus bore the wrath that His people deserved.

Memorise

When he humbled himself, Yahweh’s wrath turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether. Moreover, there were good things found in Judah.

2 Chronicles 12:12

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, where have I forsaken God, and will I turn to Jesus for mercy?

The princes and the king humbled themselves and said, “Yahweh is righteous.” The LORD saw it, and His wrath turned from Rehoboam. Jesus told of a tax collector who humbled himself and went home justified (Luke 18 verses 13 and 14).

Our sin deserves the wrath of God, and sorrow alone cannot pay for it. Jesus went to the cross for His people and took that wrath on Himself, and the debt was fully paid. The Father raised Him on the third day. Paul says those justified by His blood are saved from wrath through Him (Romans 5 verse 9).

So come to Him. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him will be forgiven and saved from the wrath to come.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD turned His wrath from Rehoboam when he humbled himself, and that Jesus took God's wrath. Parents, verses 2 to 9 tell of an invasion and lost treasures, which the text says came because they forsook the LORD. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He shows mercy to the humble, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

The humble shall eat and be satisfied. They shall praise Yahweh who seek after him. Let your hearts live forever.

Psalm 22:26

Father, thank You that You see the humble and turn Your wrath away. Thank You for Jesus, who took Your wrath for sinners and rose again. Please teach us to leave our sin and rest in Him. Amen.