2 Chronicles 12

During the first three years of the reign of King Rehoboam the king and the people were somewhat faithful. After that they gave up on the Law of God. Two years later the Lord sent the Egyptians and their allies from northern Africa against the people of Judah.

God sent His prophet to the king so that His people would know that He was disciplining them for turning away from Him. The Lord expected the people that were called by His Name to humble themselves, return to Him, and then He would help them. The king did turn to God and Jerusalem was saved for a time, but the nation had to live under the control of the Egyptian empire.

When the king and the people humbled themselves and turned to the Lord, He heard from heaven and helped them, just as He had promised. There remained a measure of discipline from God. Judah would still serve the king of Egypt and much of the wealth would go to that foreign power. Meanwhile the Lord continued to hear the pleas of Rehoboam and some of the conditions in Judah improved.

All in all, the word “evil” was associated with the seventeen years of Rehoboam's reign. The son of Solomon died and was buried. His son, Abijah, took his place.

In a very short time Judah had fallen into the condition of a subjugated nation. Though some times of improvement would come, the high point for God's nation on earth was part of their past.

The reign of Rehoboam was instructive for future generations. Other kings in the line of David would do well to listen to the voice of the God of Israel. The king and the people made a great mistake when they turned against God's Law. Yet even in Judah's weakest years, God had not entirely forsaken them.

We can accept the discipline of the Lord if we know that He is our Father and that He disciplines those He loves. If the Lord knows how to sustain His people even through the years of a king who He counts as evil, He must have some ultimate plan that more than justifies His patience with us. God intends to save us completely. Surely a better day is coming for all who call upon the Name of the Lord because of what Jesus has done for us.