“And 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; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.” — 2 Chronicles 12:7

God’s mercy is amazing toward those who humble themselves. Today’s text relates that Rehoboam and the people of Judah chose not to follow God and His laws. They knew what God wanted them to do, but they did not do it. Yet when God said their enemies would overcome them, they humbled themselves, and God reduced the judgment. 

Many years ago, Lois Allen also knew about God and chose to go her own way. She said, “My mother taught me the right way, but at an early age I turned it all down. I said, ‘Oh, that life is too tame for me.’ I gave my all—my health, my strength, my all—to sin. Some people of God held special services where my parents lived, and my mother told the minister about her daughter who was over in the city wasting her life in riotous living. She said, ‘I wish you would pray for that girl, that God would save her at any cost.’ 

“When they started praying, God began to deal with me. He permitted a terrible affliction to come upon my body. I went from a well, strong, robust woman to a very shadow of my old self. I was sick from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet. My mind was gone for hours at a time; I couldn’t even tell you my own name. I was married and had two little children. One day the census taker came to my house and asked me the names of my children. I just looked at her; I couldn’t remember their names. 

“One April night in an old farmhouse, I got out of bed and knelt on my knees. God in His infinite mercy and love let real Holy Ghost conviction come down into that room, and I saw myself slipping into Hell. I cried out from the depth of my heart. For the first time in my life I became honest. Oh, how I thank God that He came down and transformed my heart and life! Jesus came into this poor life of mine that sin had ruined. Thank God for His wonderful salvation! 

“I began to read the Word of God, and He showed me that He was able to take care of my body as well as my soul. My affliction affected my mind, heart, stomach, and nervous system. I was a total wreck and only twenty-six years of age. Yet God healed me of every trace of that affliction.” 

Sister Allen humbled herself, and God intervened in her life. Unlike Rehoboam, who did not follow through but instead chose to do evil, Sister Allen served God wholeheartedly all the rest of her life. She became a minister of the Gospel and loved to encourage others to also make a full commitment to God. 

Humbling ourselves before God is the route toward His help, and then if we purpose to stay fully yielded to Him, His blessings will follow.

BACKGROUND

This chapter is a record of the reign of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, who began reigning in Judah at the age of forty-one and ruled for seventeen years. Although Rehoboam seemingly leaned on God to a certain degree as he began to reign, when his kingdom prospered, he “forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him” (verse 1). Further details of Judah’s apostasy are given in 1 Kings 14:21-24. 

As punishment “because they [Judah] had transgressed against the Lord” (verse 2), God allowed Shishak, the king of Egypt, to invade the nation. The word “transgressed” in this phrase is a key term used frequently in 1 and 2 Chronicles. It refers to denying God the worship due to Him, usually on a national level, and is the main reason given in Chronicles for the exile. 

According to verses 2-3, Shishak the king of Egypt, with the help of the Lubims (allies from Libya), the Sukkiims (thought to have been cave dwellers who lived near the Red Sea), and Ethiopians, captured many of Judah’s fortified cities, and then came against Judah’s capital city of Jerusalem. A record of this invasion has been verified by archaeological finds in Karnak, located in southern Egypt. 

Shemaiah, referred to in verse 5, was the prophet who had counseled Rehoboam not to attack the ten tribes of Israel when they rejected his leadership and formed the Northern Kingdom of Israel (see 2 Chronicles 11:1-4). When Egypt invaded, Shemaiah spoke to all the leaders of Judah, telling them that Shishak had overcome them because they had forsaken God. In response, the leaders humbled themselves before the Lord. Their statement in verse 6 that “the Lord is righteous” indicated they understood that their treatment at the hands of Shishak was deserved. In response to their repentance, God granted Judah “some deliverance,” (verse 7), meaning He did not allow the nation to be completely destroyed by the Egyptians. However, the people of Judah did have to serve Shishak, likely by paying tribute. 

Verse 9 indicates that Shishak took away the treasures from the Temple and the king’s house, along with the shields of gold that Solomon had made. King Rehoboam later had bronze shields made to replace them. This substitution of bronze for gold illustrates the decline that took place under the rule of Rehoboam. Though Solomon had left great riches to his son and successor, that wealth was greatly diminished after only five years because Rehoboam and Judah turned away from God. 

Verse 14 provides a sad summary of Rehoboam’s rule: he did evil, “because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.” Verse 15 indicates that repeated wars took place between Rehoboam and Jeroboam, king of the ten tribes that separated from Judah. Some sources indicate that these were probably border disputes over the territory occupied by the tribe of Benjamin, which was located between the two kingdoms. Verse 16 records that Rehoboam died, apparently of natural causes, and was buried in Jerusalem.

AMPLIFIED OUTLINE

III. The history of the kings of Judah
     A. The reign of Rehoboam
          5. The apostasy of Rehoboam (12:1-12)
               a. The apostasy (12:1)
               b. The invasion of Shishak (12:2-4)
               c. The humbling of Rehoboam (12:5-8)
               d. The punishment on Rehoboam (12:9-12)
          6. The death of Rehoboam (12:13-16)

A CLOSER LOOK

1. What did the Egyptians take away from Jerusalem (verse 9)?
2. What does the fact that God eased His judgment in response to the king and princes of Israel humbling themselves indicate about Him? (verse 7)
3. What are some ways we can be sure that our hearts are humble before the Lord?

CONCLUSION

Today’s text is an illustration of God’s mercy to those who humble themselves before Him. May that be the attitude of our hearts!