13 May

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2 Chronicles 9-12

2 Chronicles 9

The story of the Queen of Sheba's coming is full of beauty, as it illustrates the true influence of kingship exercised under the government of the eternal King. The fame of Solomon's wisdom attracted her to his court, and she came principally to discuss with him the problems on her mind. "She came to prove Solomon with hard questions." He welcomed her with fine courtesy, and answered her questions to her satisfaction. The matter of principal interest is the effect produced on her by her visit. She wondered at all the magnificence as well as at the king's wisdom; but she saw clearly the reason of it all, and her highest praise was offered to that God through whom Solomon was enthroned, and in whose might and wisdom he was strong and wise.

This is as it should be with all who represent God to men by submission. When our greatness or our wisdom is the final impression we have failed. When our success is so manifested as to reveal the secret of our relationship to God; and, therefore, so as to transfer the praise of men from ourselves to Him, we are ful6lling the true function of life.

The chronicler ends the story of Solomon with an account of the wealth that he gathered, and the magnificence which characterized his reign. The account of the failure and fall is not given. The writer's purpose is served when he has made clear the relationship between loyalty to the Temple of God, with its worship, and success and greatness of king and people. The story immediately following, of disruption and degeneracy, is the result of the failure, and sets forth the same truth from the other side.

2 Chronicles 10

Despotism is seldom transmissible. That Solomon had been an autocrat and had ruled with a hand of iron under the velvet is evidenced by the words of the men of Israel, "Thy father hath made our yoke grievous." If this is a startling suggestion, history testifies to the likelihood of its correctness. Some of the worst tyrants the world ever had robbed the people of their rights, and kept them passive by the deadly drug of gorgeous displays. So did Lorenzo de Medici in Florence; so did Charles I in England.

With the death of Solomon men breathed anew, and discovered their chains. This was the occasion for a bid for freedom. Jeroboam returned from Egypt to be spokesman of peace. Rehoboam showed his folly in taking the advice of the hot-headed youths of his court. He attempted to continue the despotism of his father, though he lacked his father's refinement and ability to fascinate. The result was immediate. The ten tribes revolted. The nation was riven in twain, and, judging by purely human calculation, Judah was on the verge of a war which would have ended in her defeat.

2 Chronicles 11

Then God interfered. No human folly has even been permitted to continue long enough to thwart His purpose. Shemaiah, a prophet of God, declared to Rehoboam that the revolt was in the divine plan. Rehoboam immediately obeyed, and the period of the two kingdoms commenced.

This section of the book contains the story of the reign of Rehoboam in Judah. Jeroboam as king of Israel turned the people from Jehovah by his idolatrous practices. The result was that the Levites and those who set their hearts to seek the Lord passed over to Judah, and thus, in the best way, the kingdom was strengthened by the accession of faithful souls. Meanwhile, Rehoboam strengthened his position by building fenced cities throughout his dominions. He was, however, the son of his father; and, even in the years of peace and prosperity, the animal nature came out in the multiplicity of his wives and concubines, until he had practically established, as did his father, a harem on the pattern of the corrupt kings around him.

2 Chronicles 12

The issue was that Rehoboam "forsook the law of the Lord." The scourge came in the person of Israel's ancient foe, the king of Egypt. The patience of God is ever manifest in His dealing with His people. The repentance of Rehoboam produced, as it always does, a stay of judgment. Yet the kingdom of Judah passed under the yoke of Egypt. Judah was saved, however, from complete destruction, not principally for the sake of the king, nor in answer to his repentance, but because "in Judah there were good things found."

God's judgments are always characterized by fine discrimination. He never destroys the righteous with the wicked. The picture of Rehoboam's substitution of brass for gold is unutterably pathetic. Yet how often do the people of Jehovah masquerade amid imitations because they have lost the things of pure gold through unfaithfulness and sin.