Few days ago, I read a story of King Rehoboam in the book of 2 Chronicles. Usually, King Rehoboam is not interesting for me, but this time I found something important that Christians usually forget.
King Rehoboam was the son of King Solomon. He succeeded his father as king after King Solomon died. In 2 Chronicles 10, we could read that King Rehoboam was so arrogant. He rejected the advice of the elders and did not listen to his people. Instead, he made their yoke even heavier. The whole Israel became in rebellion against the house of David because of what he did. Then, as the Lord had said, the kingdom broke. King Rehoboam was no longer the king of the whole Israel, but only for Judah. For three years, he established his kingdom by following the ways of David and Solomon. But, in the beginning of chapter 12, we could read that King Rehoboam abandoned the Lord when his position as king was established and he had become strong.
5 Then the prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and to the leaders of Judah who had assembled in Jerusalem for fear of Shishak, and he said to them, “This is what the Lord says, ‘You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandon you to Shishak.’”
6 The leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is just.”
12 Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah.
13 King Rehoboam established himself firmly in Jerusalem and continued as king. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel in which to put his Name. His mother’s name was Naamah; she was an Ammonite. 14 He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord.
Do you see my purple highlights? From those sentences we could see how just and merciful is our Lord. No one could be proud and arrogant before Him. He is the Lord of Lords, King of Kings. No one is as strong as Him. No one is as true as Him.
And do you see my red highlight? The reason behind Rehoboam's evil deeds was simply because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord. Can you see the root of Rehoboam's sins? his heart.
It is more than just important to set our heart on seeking the Lord. It is a must. Whenever we do not set our hearts on seeking the Lord, we become arrogance and proud against him. Therefore, we did evil.
This world's proverb said to follow your heart. It was what King Rehoboam did. He followed his heart perfectly. And what is the result of following his heart? He did evil.
Instead of following your heart, you have to set it. Set your heart on seeking the Lord.
I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. (Psalm 119:30)
My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end. (Psalm 119:112)
Now, as Christians, we are made alive in Christ. Therefore, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1).
By doing this, we humble ourselves before the Lord. Our life is not about us, but the Lord. This is how we live as Christians.
How do we set our heart on seeking the Lord? We need to direct and drive it to Christ by training ourselves. Just as Paul said to Timothy, train yourself to be godly. Godliness is not an instant product of our faith in Christ. It is a training product. What kind of training? Paul said, "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." Have a strict training when you train yourself to be godly.
King Rehoboam was the son of King Solomon. He succeeded his father as king after King Solomon died. In 2 Chronicles 10, we could read that King Rehoboam was so arrogant. He rejected the advice of the elders and did not listen to his people. Instead, he made their yoke even heavier. The whole Israel became in rebellion against the house of David because of what he did. Then, as the Lord had said, the kingdom broke. King Rehoboam was no longer the king of the whole Israel, but only for Judah. For three years, he established his kingdom by following the ways of David and Solomon. But, in the beginning of chapter 12, we could read that King Rehoboam abandoned the Lord when his position as king was established and he had become strong.
5 Then the prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and to the leaders of Judah who had assembled in Jerusalem for fear of Shishak, and he said to them, “This is what the Lord says, ‘You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandon you to Shishak.’”
6 The leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is just.”
12 Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah.
13 King Rehoboam established himself firmly in Jerusalem and continued as king. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel in which to put his Name. His mother’s name was Naamah; she was an Ammonite. 14 He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord.
Do you see my purple highlights? From those sentences we could see how just and merciful is our Lord. No one could be proud and arrogant before Him. He is the Lord of Lords, King of Kings. No one is as strong as Him. No one is as true as Him.
And do you see my red highlight? The reason behind Rehoboam's evil deeds was simply because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord. Can you see the root of Rehoboam's sins? his heart.
It is more than just important to set our heart on seeking the Lord. It is a must. Whenever we do not set our hearts on seeking the Lord, we become arrogance and proud against him. Therefore, we did evil.
This world's proverb said to follow your heart. It was what King Rehoboam did. He followed his heart perfectly. And what is the result of following his heart? He did evil.
Instead of following your heart, you have to set it. Set your heart on seeking the Lord.
I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. (Psalm 119:30)
My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end. (Psalm 119:112)
Now, as Christians, we are made alive in Christ. Therefore, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1).
By doing this, we humble ourselves before the Lord. Our life is not about us, but the Lord. This is how we live as Christians.
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