Monday, October 21 – 2 Chronicles 12, 1 Kings 15 – Additional Reading: Prophets and Kings, Chapter 6, “The Rending of the Kingdom”

1. How did Rehoboam and the princes of Judah react to the threat from Shishak and the prophet’s warning? (2 Chronicles 12:6)

2. Why could Maachah, Asa’s mother, no longer be queen? (1 Kings 15:13)

Commentary and Reflection:

We are now reading about two kingdoms within God’s people: the kingdom of Judah and the kingdom of Israel. Both kingdoms are part of God’s chosen people, so biblical history records both fates.

Beyond the historical account of Rehoboam, there are significant statements in the biblical narrative. For instance: “When Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel along with him” (2 Chronicles 12:1). “And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord” (2 Chronicles 12:14).

Once Rehoboam felt secure, he abandoned his obedience to the Lord. This was because he had not set his heart to seek God. This initial attitude or disposition makes all the difference in our chosen path. As *Steps to Christ* emphasizes: 

“Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work. Let your prayer be, “Take me, O Lord, as wholly Thine. I lay all my plans at Thy feet. Use me today in Thy service. Abide with me, and let all my work be wrought in Thee.” This is a daily matter. Each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day. Surrender all your plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of God, and thus your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ.” (Steps to Christ, p. 70).

One noteworthy aspect is God’s response when Rehoboam and the princes of Judah humbled themselves before Him. God looked upon them with mercy and altered His decision to withdraw His protection: “Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will grant them some deliverance; my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak” (2 Chronicles 12:7).

Throughout biblical history, we see God’s tender heart when rebellious people humble themselves. Pride is of the enemy, but humility before the Lord is always the right attitude and never fails to move His heart.

Nevertheless, God allowed them to remain under Shishak’s rule: “Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may distinguish My service from the service of the kingdoms of the nations” (2 Chronicles 12:8). The SDA Bible Commentary explains: “That is that they might know tire difference between having the Lord as a Master and having the hand of some heathen king over them. The Lord wanted them to experience the terrible tyranny into which a man sells himself when he wanders away from God and enters the pathways of sin.” (SDA Bible Commentary, 2 Chronicles 12:8).

In contrast, in 1 Kings 15, we see Asa’s disposition—Rehoboam’s grandson—who sought the Lord. Asa removed the idols that his father had introduced and expelled the male cult prostitutes. He also removed his mother, Maachah, from her position as queen because she had made an obscene image of Asherah.

Meanwhile, in Israel, it was difficult to undo the precedent established by Jeroboam. Of Baasha, who violently succeeded Jeroboam’s son, it is said, “He walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin” (1 Kings 15:34). Jeroboam’s sin was using and feeding the people’s prejudices for political reasons, diverting them from the place and worship that God had established. Where and how we worship is important and following God’s direction rather than men’s ensures that our feet remain on the right path.

May the Most High grant you a day full of blessings.

Pastor Abel Paulin