Rehoboam was King David’s grandson and Solomon’s son. He had all the advantages anyone could hope for. He knew David’s heart for God and Solomon’s God-given wisdom. By all accounts he should have been a great king. But he forgot God’s grace and he slid into sin. As a nation’s leaders go, so goes the nation. Judah also sinned greatly against the Lord. They stirred up the Lord’s jealous anger more than any had before them. They engaged in all sorts of idolatry The Lord had set the people of Judah apart from the other nations. They were to be his own. They should have behaved differently from the surrounding nations. They didn’t. They ended up adopting the wicked practices of the nations the Lord had told them to drive out.

Egypt attacked Judah and took the temple’s treasures, including the gold shields. Rehoboam replaced them with bronze shields. Everything looked the same. But it was all whitewash. Inside, the cup was filthy. Sin corrupted Rehoboam: sin also corrupted the whole nation. Because of this, they were objects of God’s wrath.
Application: Father, when we forget your grace, we also forget you! Help us to hold on to your word, and to have you in our hearts at all times.
One Word: Hold onto God’s word