Chapter 11
There is some evidence that Rehoboam has at least some fear of the Lord.
v3-4 He heeds the warning of this prophet.
v23 He acted wisely.
Am I just grasping at straws here?
Chapter 12
v5 Can you imagine having heard the news that God has given you over to your enemy?
v7 God shows them mercy.
v8 God will teach them about Himself by allowing them to become slaves.
v14 "He did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the Lord."
There are two ways to read this statement, and I'm not sure which is the right way. Maybe both are.
#1. The fact that he did not set his heart to seek the Lord was evil.
#2. Because his heart was not set on the Lord, his natural inclination was to do evil.
I think the first is true, but I think the intent of the verse is probably the second.
We are not good on our own. We are selfish and greedy. We will avoid pain at the expense others. We are lazy, deceitful, and corrupt by nature. When we are faced with a decision, we cannot trust our gut. Our gut is just a gut. If we do not set our hearts to seek God, and I mean, continually force our hearts in the direction of the Lord, we will fall into sin. Set your heart to seek the Lord. Turn your heart on its axis, face it toward God's will, jam something in there so it can't turn back, lock it in place and throw away the key. Don't be like Rehoboam. He did evil, because he did not set his heart to seek the Lord.
Chapter 13
Michaiah--pretty name.
v15-16 It seems like God was waiting for them to cry out to Him before He turned the tide of the battle: Then it was that God routed [them]...God gave them into their hands.
I wonder if God does that with me. Does He wait for me to cry out before He delivers me? I can be so stubborn and prideful sometimes, or maybe just forgetful. Why don't I save myself the heartache of prolonged adversity and start with laying my burdens on the alter, crying out for His deliverance!
Next time: II Chronicles 14-16
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