Day 812: 2 Chronicles 12- Humility In Hard Times

When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him.2 In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem 3 with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen. And the people were without number who came with him from Egypt—Libyans, Sukkiim, and Ethiopians. 4 And he took the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem. 5 Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the princes of Judah, who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the Lord, ‘You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak.’” 6 Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is righteous.”7 When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: “They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. 8 Nevertheless, they shall be servants to him, that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”
9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. He took away the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king's house. He took away everything. He also took away the shields of gold that Solomon had made, 10 and King Rehoboam made in their place shields of bronze and committed them to the hands of the officers of the guard, who kept the door of the king's house. 11 And as often as the king went into the house of the Lord, the guard came and carried them and brought them back to the guardroom. 12 And when he humbled himself the wrath of the Lord turned from him, so as not to make a complete destruction. Moreover, conditions were good in Judah.
13 So King Rehoboam grew strong in Jerusalem and reigned. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite. 14 And he did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the Lord.
15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, from first to last, are they not written in the chronicles of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer? There were continual wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam.16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David, and Abijah his son reigned in his place.

Meditation
God’s word invites us to humble ourselves before Him, trusting His care (1 Peter 5:6-7). Grace invites us to let go and stay low so that we may know God’s goodness.
 
During the height of Rahoboam’s strength the king fell into sin (1), not setting his heart to seek the Lord (14). The king was unfaithful (3) so the Lord allowed the king of Egypt to plunder His people. “You abandoned me, so I abandon you into the hands of Shishak,” said the Lord (5). To find rescue, king Rahoboam had to humble himself before the Lord.
 
Humility before God is demonstrated in total trust in and reliance on God, especially in hard times. On the one hand, we cast our cares on the Lord. On the other, we seek the Lord with all our heart. Rehoboam and his princes embodied humility (7) and the Lord, in His mercy, chose to deliver His people from Shishak king of Egypt (8).
 
Humility is hard as pride continues to rear its ugly head in our hearts. The solution is to look to Jesus, the true King who humbled himself and embraced hard times, even death on a cross. Jesus gives true strength to those struggling with pride, unconditional grace that is fuel to fall on our face. Trust in the humility of Jesus brings redemption and restoration!
 
Grace compels us to trust God with our burdens and seek Him with all our hearts.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Are you more humble or prideful? Would your family, co-workers, and classmates agree?
 
- Do you trust God’s care for you? What keeps you from humbling yourself before Him?
 
-How does the grace of Jesus empower you to fall on your face in humble submission to His plans for you? Where can you respond to this grace more?
 
Key Verse
6 Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is righteous.”7 When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: “They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance…