Rehoboam

2 Chronicles 10-12

            Rehoboam also gets a kinder treatment in Chronicles than he does in Kings. He’s still the arrogant young king who listens to his contemporaries instead of his wiser, older advisors. But he also fortifies Judah and attracts all the priests and Levites from the northern kingdoms. Just before battle with Israel, he makes a moving speech about faithfulness to the Lord. Again, the Chronicler knows Rehoboam’s weaknesses, but he starts by expanding on his strength.

            When the Chronicler does turn his attention to Rehoboam’s weaknesses, he does want to make a point that the Lord’s retribution follows swiftly. In chapter 12, he draws a bright, clear line from Rehoboam’s turning away from the Lord to the invasion from Shishak of Egypt. Similarly, as soon as Rehoboam humbles himself before the Lord, the Lord removes the threat.

            I feel like I need to say that we are talking about faithfulness to the Mosaic covenant here. It was that covenant, addressed to the nation of Israel at Sinai and binding until Israel had produced the Messiah, that had all the conditions in it. We are not bound by that covenant. There’s a place in our lives for a healthy fear of the Lord, to be sure, but the Lord doesn’t play the “if/then” game with us, not like that, at least.