DO NOT FORSAKE THE LORD
Monday, 22nd August 2016
2 Chronicles 12:1-12 (NKJV)
Now it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, that he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel along with him.
2A nd it happened in the fifth year of King Rehoboam that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the Lord,
3 with twelve hundred chariots, sixty thousand horsemen, and people without number who came with him out of Egypt—the Lubim and the Sukkiim and the Ethiopians.
4 And he took the fortified cities of Judah and came to Jerusalem.
5 Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah, who were gathered together in Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the Lord: ‘You have forsaken Me, and therefore I also have left you in the hand of Shishak.’”
6 So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, “The Lord is righteous.”
7 Now when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance. My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
8 Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may distinguish My service from the service of the kingdoms of the nations.”
9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king’s house; he took everything. He also carried away the gold shields which Solomon had made.
10 Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who guarded the doorway of the king’s house.
11 And whenever the king entered the house of the Lord, the guard would go and bring them out; then they would take them back into the guardroom.
12 When he humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him, so as not to destroy him completely; and things also went well in Judah.
God made Rehoboam king over His people Israel after the death of his father Solomon. Unfortunately king Rehoboam and all Israel forsook the law of the Lord. Later, God allowed the king of Egypt and his army to rise against Jerusalem to destroy her inhabitants and the land. Nevertheless, the merciful God sent His prophet Shemaiah to rebuke king Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah. They received the rebuke and humbled themselves before the Lord, and the Lord promised to deliver them from impending destruction by the Egyptian army.
As Christians, we must resist the temptation of forsaking the Lord when things are working out successfully in our lives or families. The Scripture instructs: “if riches increase do not set your heart on them” (Psalm 62:10). Forsaking the Lord and His word is idolatry, and no such person or group will inherit the promises of God, both now and more importantly after death. Our world of ungodly pursuit of fame and money may deceive Christians into forsaking the Lord. Therefore, every Christian must be careful to give the worship of God due priority. Today if you have forsaken the Lord and your life is filled with crises, you can humble yourself and repent just like king Rehoboam and people of Judah. God will surely deliver you, for He said; “a broken and a contrite heart, these O God You will not despise” (Psalm 51:17b).
Prayer: O God help me to remain faithful to You all the days of my life, and grant me humility of heart when Your Word rebukes my actions, in Jesus name.