February 8: 2 Chronicles 11 & 12

Even Corrupt Leaders Can Initiate Revival

It seems totally out of character. Rehoboam has just witnessed the consequences of his disastrous decision to lay a heavy burden on the people of Israel. He has sent Hadoram (Adoram of 1 Kings 12:18), the overseer of forced labor, to deal with the rebellion of Israel. Hadoram, the worst possible representative, is stoned to death. Rehoboam flees to Jerusalem and begins to assemble an army to fight Israel.

Then it happens.

“But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, “Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “You shall not go up or fight against your relatives; return every man to his house, for this thing is from Me.”‘” So they listened to the words of the LORD and returned from going against Jeroboam.” (2 Chronicles 11:2-4, NAS95)

Rehoboam, the king who would not listen to wise counsel, listens to the words of the LORD. I confess, I didn’t see that one coming. It just goes to show that even bad kings (see his epitaph from the post a couple of days ago) can sometimes follow good and Godly advice.

However, this one-off did not change the trajectory of Judah’s downward spiral.

“When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and strong, he and all Israel with him forsook the law of the LORD.” (2 Chronicles 12:1, NAS95)

Because of this unfaithfulness, God allowed Shishak, king of Egypt, to come up against Jerusalem and prevail. Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and his princes and told them that, since they had forsaken the LORD, He had also forsaken them (2 Chronicles 12:5). A remarkable response followed.

“So the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The LORD is righteous.” When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves so I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some measure of deliverance, and My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by means of Shishak.” (2 Chronicles 12:6-7, NAS95)

PERSONAL NOTE: I confess that before I started studying 2 Chronicles, the only thing I really knew about Rehoboam was that he was the cause of the division of Israel into north and south. I certainly had not entertained the notion that he was also the instigator of revival as a result of humbling himself before God. Bible study offers many benefits and one of them is the surprising twists we encounter.

APPLICATION

Wow! This shows us that repentance is possible anytime people are willing to humble themselves. If Rehoboam and his princes can do it, we can believe that it is even possible for our proud leaders in Washington, when confronted with the truth, to humble themselves before God as well. When we pray for our leaders, as St. Paul commands us to do, we should pray that they will be confronted with the consequences of their harmful and ungodly policies and humble themselves before the God of the universe. Revival is still possible today, if the conditions are met.