Weapons of Blessings

5 min read

30 There was continual warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. 31 And Rehoboam rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. His mother’s name was Naamah; she was an Ammonite. And Abijah his son succeeded him as king.
— 1 Kings 14:30-31

There was continual warfare in Rehoboam’s reign. Jerusalem was also attacked by Egypt, an ally under Solomon’s reign. Of course, Egypt could attack Judah because they were weaker due to the dividing of the kingdom.

And apparently, Rehoboam did not live that long. His reign started when he was forty-one (verse 21), and so if there are not gaps between his reign and when he died, he would have been 58.

For forty-one years, he lived a life of luxury and ease and peace as the eldest prince of Judah. Then in the final seventeen years of his life, he had to face the division of the kingdom, constant civil war with Jeroboam, and also war with Egypt.

And whenever he had to leave the palace to go to the temple, the guards would pick up the bronze shields that he had made to replace the gold ones that were taken by Egypt. They didn’t do this for ceremony, but to protect Rehoboam from assassins.

No wonder he died early. He lived in constant paranoia and was under constant stress. But he was the direct cause of every tribulation that he had to deal with.

We were discussing last night about how trials and tribulations in our lives may be caused by God to strengthen us or discipline us. Or they may be cause by evil spirits to cause us to forget God and forsake our witness.

Wherever trials and tribulations come from, though, the word of God gives us a proper response that is for our good and glorifies God.

Unfortunately for Judah and for Rehoboam, he was a proud and arrogant dummy. The only response that proud and arrogant dummies in power know is war. And so that’s what he got.

Of course, it was his God-given right to defend himself when Egypt attacked, but we cannot help but think that they attacked Jerusalem because of Rehoboam’s proud stupidity.

The word of God is given to teach, rebuke, correct, and train in righteousness. Of course, even if we do our very best to heed and obey God’s word, trials and tribulations will come. But then, we can be sure that God would act according to His sovereign purpose and grace. And in that case, whatever outcome may come, we can be assured it is the best outcome possible, even if we may not be able to claim a “victory” or receive a “blessing” as a result.

But we (I) must keep a mindset that being right with God is the greatest victory and blessing we can have.

Father, You have said that You are our Shield. You are our great Reward. Knowing You and being known by You is our greatest need and our greatest blessing. And so we seek Your face. Protect us and bless us. In Jesus’s name. Amen.