Dave Burnette's Commentary

2 Chronicles Chapter 12

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Ezra
Date Penned: (430 BC)
Overview: A History of God's Chosen People (c 1-36)
Theme: The Kingdom of Judah (c 10-36)
Message: Egypt Conquers Jerusalem (v 1-16)

2 Chronicles 12 Commentary 

(12:1) Judah Prospers When They Follow the Lord  -  Here, "all Israel" refers to the people of Judah, the southern kingdom. During his first three years on the throne, Rehoboam made an attempt to obey God, and as a result, Judah prospered. But then, at his peak of popularity and power, he abandoned God. The result was destruction because God allowed Judah to be conquered by Egypt. How could this happen? Often it is more difficult to follow God faithfully in good times than in bad. Tough times drive us to God for his help, but easy times can make us feel self-sufficient and self-satisfied. When everything is going well, guard your faith closely.


(12:2) Egypt conquers Jerusalem -  A record of this invasion has been found on an Egyptian stone that says that Shishak's army penetrated as far north as the Sea of Galilee, in the northern kingdom. Egypt was not the world power it had once been, and Shishak wanted to restore his nation to its former greatness. He was not strong enough to conquer both Israel and Judah, but he managed to destroy key cities in Judah in an effort to regain control of the trade routes and strike terror into the hearts of the people.


(12:6-8) Confession of Sins - God eased his judgment when Judah's leaders confessed their sins, humbled themselves, and recognized God's justice in punishing them. It's never too late to repent, even in the midst of punishment. Regardless of what we have done, God is willing to receive us back into fellowship with him. Are you struggling and alone because sin has broken your fellowship with God? Confession and humility will open the door to receiving his mercy.


(12:8) Judah Fails to Trust the Lord - Subjection to foreign kings was the price the people of Judah had to pay for disobeying God. The nation's leaders thought they could succeed in their own strength, but they were wrong. When we rebel against God, we always pay for it. When we exclude God from our plans and activities, we lose more than we ever gain.


(12:10-11) Rehoboam Fails to Keep God Central in Their Life - How ironic that the treasures in Solomon's temple were removed and the missing royal shields were replaced with cheaper brass. Rehoboam tried to maintain the trappings and appearance of former glory, but he couldn't measure up. When we no longer keep God central in our lives, maintaining the appearance of a Christian life becomes superficial. Outer beauty must come from inner strength.


(12:4) A Failure to Respond to the Lord - Rehoboam's story is tragic because he "prepared not his heart to seek the LORD." How sad is this description of the grandson of David, who had been called a man after God's own heart ( Samuel 13:14). It is dangerous to put off responding to God. God asks us for a firm commitment, and unless we respond by trusting him completely, we will find ourselves alienated from him.


Dave Burnette's Life Application

A Path of Destruction

 Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we Continue in the book of 2 Chronicles with Chapter 12 and we see Egypt conquering Jerusalem as Rehoboam turned his back on God's instruction and Egypt took control of capitol of the nation of God. In making application we see a picture in our text today.  Egypt is a picture of the World, Jerusalem is picture of the Heart, and if we do as Rehoboam did and turn our back on the Word of God - then we see the picture of our text today: The World will capture your heart that will lead you to a path of destruction. Our Chapter ends in the Death of Rehoboam and we see the pattern of destruction which ends in death. How about you? Do you see the picture of our text today as a pattern of destruction? Let us learn from out text today to hold fast to the Instruction of God's Word, lest we too have our hearts go the way of the World, which will direct us into sin, and ultimately our destruction and death.

 

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2 Chronicles 12

2 Chronicles 12

 1And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.

 2And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD,

 3With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen: and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.

 4And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.

 5Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.

 6Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous.

 7And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.

 8Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.

 9So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

 10Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that kept the entrance of the king's house.

 11And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guard chamber.

 12And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well.

 13So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.

 14And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.

 15Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.

 16And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.