HE PREPARED NOT HIS HEART
2 CHRONICLES 12
Text: 2 Chronicles 12:14
2 Chronicles 12:14
14 And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.
Introduction:
In your study of the Word of God you have probably noticed that as a general rule, at the end of each king’s reign their character is summed up and described as either doing evil in the sight of the Lord, or doing right in the sight of the Lord. They gave a summary of their whole life in one of these sentences; and there will be a day when there will be a summary of our lives as well.
This man Rehoboam was not half as bad as some of the other kings; still scripture says that “He did evil.” He was not as an outrageous sinner as some were. He was not an Ahab; he was not even a Manasseh, he did not live as that king did in his evil time, yet “he did evil” and the reason why he did evil is given.
One reason may have been that he had a bad mother. Notice how it is written of her just before the summery of his life, “His mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess.” And there is little wonder that when the father was no better than he should have been, and when the mother was exceedingly bad, the summary of the son’s life should be, “He did evil.”
But the scriptures do not give this as the reason why Rehoboam did evil. It does not say that he did evil because he had a bad mother, nor because his father had not walked with God as he ought to have done. The reason was “he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.”
The Hebrew proverb was:
(Ezekiel 18:2) “What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?", but the Lord said to his people through the prophet:
(Ezekiel 18:3-4) "As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. {4} Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die."
God will judge each one according to his own deeds, and if you should unfortunately have been born of the most ungodly parents who ever lived, there is no reason why God’s grace should not begin to work in your family with you.
Notice with me again it was not because of his upbringing that it is said that he did evil, not because of bad company or because of something that he did, but rather of something he failed to do.
Notice:
1. HIS FORSAKING (12:1)
2 Chronicles 12:1
1 And 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.
His father Solomon began his reign seeking the Lord and His wisdom, but not Rehoboam.
A. Forsook God’s wisdom and counsel and turned to men for advice.
2 Chronicles 10:1-14
1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king. 2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. 3 And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying, 4 Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee. 5 And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed. 6 And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people? 7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever. 8 But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him. 9 And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us? 10 And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins. 11 For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day. 13 And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men, 14 And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
1. Usually when men don’t go to God for advice, they generally accept the very worst form of advice.
B. He forsook the law of God (12:1)
2 Chronicles 12:1
1 And 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.
2. HIS FORGERY (12:10)
2 Chronicles 12:10
10 Instead 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.
The king did that which was right at first, but he had no heart in doing it. He obeyed the prophet in disbanding his forces and going to war with the followers of Jeroboam, and one may think that he feared God, but he didn’t.
It is one thing to be right in appearance, and another thing to be right in your heart.
It was soon evident that his heart was not right towards God, for he imitated his father Solomon in his faults.
A. He followed the example of his father in taking multiple wives.
B. He replaced the stolen shields of gold with shields of brass.
Rehoboam did a very strange thing when this happened. Instead of falling on his face before God and saying Oh God the enemy has come and have taken away the precious shields of gold, he instead commanded his servants to go get some brass and make brazen shields. He polished them up.
He shined them up, and acted just like nothing had ever happened. Brass is a cheap imitation of gold. It requires more work to keep its shine and luster. And may I submit to you that today we are replacing the shields of gold with shields of brass.
1. The shield of preaching is being replaced with shields of teaching, and dramas.
2. The shield of holiness with the shield of worldliness.
3. The shield of prayer with the shield of programs.
4. The shield of conviction and consistency with the shield of complacency and convenience.
3. HIS FAILURE (12:14)
2 Chronicles 12:14
14 And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.
He began well and in the first three years of his reign the nation worshipped God, but as soon as he prospered he grew proud and forsook God, and took the nation with him.
A. He had no care of serving God, whatever was popular was the direction he headed.
Someone once said, “If no care or effort is made in doing and making the heart right, it must go wrong.”
Close:
1. Realize my need for God.
2. Cry to God for help.
3. Submit ourselves to His guidance.
Rehoboam did not act in such a way, and because he did not seek the Lord, he did evil.
Have you prepared your heart to seek the Lord?
