In battles, nothing helps more than faith and persistence, except seeing the Commander’s face. In spite of his failures, Rehoboam did a wise thing early in his reign. “Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maachah as chief, to be leader among his brothers; for he intended to make him king” (2 Chron 11:22). Recall that Maachah, granddaughter […]
Read More… from November 22, 2024 — The One Who Makes All The Difference
Regrets are hard to die with, but a life spent pursuing God makes little room for such regrets. As the king drew to the end of his reign, the reviews are mixed. “Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king; and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem” (2 Chron 12:13). On the one hand, “he did evil, […]
The honest prayer of Amy Carmichael rings true: “Lord, make me what I seem to be.” Clearly, metals can be symbolic. Who has a golden voice, a lead foot, a tin ear, or an iron will? Examining the tabernacle, we thought about truth illustrated by the gold, silver, and bronze objects. Today we see how […]
Shishak thought this was a military expedition, but he was coming to teach a seminar for God. “The kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations” (Ps 22:28). So wrote David. And why are certain kingdoms allowed to expand and others forced to shrink? Paul explains, “He has made from one blood every nation of […]
When it comes to getting the gospel out, it’s easy to feel like the Lord can’t use us. After all, we aren’t much. But little is much when God is in it! […]
“Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become…too proud to pray to the God that made us.” —A. Lincoln It’s an old line: “Denial is not just a river in Egypt.” But it’s a fitting title to the next chapter in Rehoboam’s life. “Now it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened […]
Read More… from November 18, 2024 — Pulling Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory
One great thing about the ever-present Jesus–whatever station you exit from the sad train to Nowhere, He’ll be waiting for you. […]
With tongue in cheek, the wit declared, “Nepotism is fine, as long as you keep it in the family.” Before we come to Rehoboam’s troubles in 2 Chronicles 12, the narrative gives an overview of the royal family. It was common practice in the ancient world to solidify one’s hold on a nation: 1. by […]