**The Fall and Redemption of King Rehoboam**
In the days when the kingdom of Israel was divided, Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, ruled over Judah. He had reigned for three years in Jerusalem, and for a time, he and the people of Judah walked in the ways of the Lord, following the statutes and commandments that had been given to their forefathers. The kingdom was strong, and the people prospered under the blessings of God. But as the years passed, Rehoboam’s heart grew proud, and he began to rely on his own strength rather than on the Lord. He forgot the covenant that had been made with David, and he led the people of Judah into sin.
The Lord, who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, saw the rebellion in Rehoboam’s heart and the idolatry that had taken root in Judah. He sent His prophet Shemaiah to warn the king and the people, saying, “Thus says the Lord: ‘You have forsaken Me, and therefore I have forsaken you to the hand of Shishak, king of Egypt.’” Shishak was a mighty and fearsome ruler, and his armies were vast, numbering thousands of chariots, horsemen, and foot soldiers. The Lord had allowed Shishak to rise as a rod of discipline against Judah, for He desired to humble them and bring them back to Himself.
When Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah heard the prophet’s words, they were filled with fear. They realized that their strength was nothing compared to the might of Shishak’s army, and they understood that their sin had brought this calamity upon them. In their distress, they cried out to the Lord, saying, “The Lord is righteous.” They acknowledged their wrongdoing and repented of their pride and idolatry.
The Lord, who is merciful and gracious, heard their cries and saw their humility. He sent Shemaiah again to speak to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah, saying, “They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance. My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. Nevertheless, they shall be his servants, that they may know the difference between serving Me and serving the kingdoms of the earth.”
And so it came to pass. Shishak, king of Egypt, marched against Jerusalem with his mighty army. He came with chariots and horsemen, and his soldiers were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They captured the fortified cities of Judah and advanced toward Jerusalem. Rehoboam and the people of Judah were powerless to stop them. The city was besieged, and the people trembled in fear.
But because of the Lord’s mercy, Jerusalem was not utterly destroyed. Shishak entered the city and plundered the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king’s house. He took everything, including the golden shields that Solomon had made. These shields, which had once symbolized the glory and splendor of Solomon’s reign, were now carried away as spoils of war. In their place, Rehoboam made shields of bronze and gave them to the captains of the guard who protected the king’s house. This was a sign of the kingdom’s diminished glory, a reminder that their strength and wealth had been stripped away because of their sin.
Despite this humiliation, Rehoboam and the people of Judah were spared from complete destruction. The Lord had disciplined them, but He had also shown them mercy. Rehoboam reigned for seventeen years in Jerusalem, and during that time, he sought to restore the worship of the Lord. Though he was not perfect, and though the high places and idols were not completely removed from the land, Rehoboam’s heart was no longer hardened in pride. He had learned the lesson that the Lord had intended to teach him: that true strength and security come not from earthly power or riches, but from humble obedience to God.
The story of Rehoboam serves as a reminder to all who read it. It shows the danger of pride and the consequences of turning away from the Lord. But it also reveals the boundless mercy of God, who disciplines those He loves and restores those who humble themselves before Him. As the psalmist writes, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:17). And so, even in the midst of judgment, there is hope for those who turn back to the Lord with sincere repentance.
Thus ends the account of Rehoboam, a king who learned the hard way that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and that His mercy endures forever.
