Today’s Devotion
Topic: The Successor of Wisdom (Part 2)
(Self Assessment 183)
Background:
The kingdom of Israel which the Lord established through David became two separate nations from the day Rehoboam decided to listen to his friends for advice regarding how to rule God’s people and not the elderly who had learnt from His father’s divinely endowed wisdom.
Let us now look at some of the other events that happened during Rehoboam’s seventeen-year reign over Judah and see if his latter actions proved to continue his father’s legacy or otherwise.
Text: 2 Chron. 12: 1- 12
1 After Rehoboam’s position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the Lord. 2 Because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam. 3 With twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen and the innumerable troops of Libyans, Sukkites and Cushites that came with him from Egypt, 4 he captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.
5 Then the prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and to the leaders of Judah who had assembled in Jerusalem for fear of Shishak, and he said to them, “This is what the Lord says, ‘You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandon you to Shishak.’”
6 The leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is just.” 7 When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: “Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak. 8 They will, however, become subject to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving me and serving the kings of other lands.”
9 When Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem, he carried off the treasures of the temple of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including the gold shields Solomon had made. 10 So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned these to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. 11 Whenever the king went to the Lord’s temple, the guards went with him, bearing the shields, and afterward they returned them to the guardroom.
12 Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah. Amen
Questions:
1. After Rehoboam had been established as king, and had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the Lord. Why do we easily abandon the Word of God after we feel settled within some achievement? Why do we refuse to continue to rely on the same Word of God that has raised us; soon after we feel established and strong?
2. According to verse 2, why was Shishak king of Egypt going to attack Jerusalem? How does this apply in our daily walk with God when we refuse to walk faithfully before Him?
3. Shishak came with a large joint military troupe to capture the fortified cities and came as far as Jerusalem. What does this reveal about the invading strategies of the enemy when our fortification in the Word of God is weak?
4. What is the import of the message God gave Rehoboam through Prophet Shemaiah regarding Shishak’s advancements to our generation?
5. According to verse 6, the leaders of Israel did something incredible when the Word of the Lord came to them through Prophet Shemaiah. How did they react to the Word of God, and what can we learn from that?
6. What do verses 7 and 8 reveal about our God? Do you think God was fair in allowing events to unfold the way He said they would according to these two verses?
7. When Shishak attacked Jerusalem, he took with him the best treasures of Israel including those that represented Solomon’s legacy:
a) How does this expose what the enemy is really after when he attacks?
b) Do you think Rehoboam, by his actions and disobedience to God, failed the great legacy he had inherited? Kindly explain your answer.
8. What kind of leader would you say Rehoboam was when he chose to replace the gold shields Shishak seized with bronze ones? Why wouldn’t he go every extent to remake shields of pure Gold just as he may have observed his father do? Practically what does it mean in our lives to replace the gold that the enemy tries to steal with bronze?
9. Does verse 12 suggest there could have been more good in Isreal than was experienced during Rehoboam’s reign? If so, what does this teach about the goodness a nation and its leaders can enjoy or forfeit based on how they receive the Lord and keep His Word as their guide?
10. What have you learnt from today’s Bible study?
Kindly reply us through this same social media platform (whatsapp/ facebook). We learn so much from the answers you share.
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