June 24, 2017

Insights on Today's Reading

2 Chronicles 10 - This is the account of the beginning of Rehoboam's reign in Judah.  The people of the northern tribes of Israel had called Jeroboam to come and represent them to Rehoboam.  They asked for a softer hand in his rule over them compared to Solomon's heavy hand.  Rehoboam listened to both the elders who knew his father and to the young men he had grown up with.  Rehoboam rejected what the elders said and accepted the younger men's advice that he should be even hard on the people of Israel.  This caused the 10 tribes to the north to secede from Rehoboam's kingdom and they set up their own kingdom, known as Israel.  The southern tribes would be called Judah.  This was in fulfillment of God's promise He made to Jeroboam and also the judgment God had called for when Solomon turned against God.

2 Chronicles 11 - Rehoboam was prevented by God from attacking the northern tribes.  He set about establishing his own kingdom and sought to follow the Lord for at least the first three years of his kingdom, verse 17.  He, too, added a lot of women to his family, having eighteen wives and sixty concubines! 

2 Chronicles 12 - As is often the case with the kings of Judah and Israel, once they become strong and established they tend to turn away from following the Lord.  Such is true of Rehoboam.  God allowed Egypt to attack Judah and take a lot of wealth from the cities.  Though Rehoboam humbled himself and God forgave him, still the Lord allowed Rehoboam to suffer under the heavy hand of Egypt to teach him a lesson, verse 8.  Note to comment in verse 14 that Rehoboam did evil because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.