September 18th, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Don't Fight–Worship

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Opening Prayer

Holy God, cause me to listen deeply, ponder thoughtfully, and commit wholeheartedly to You. I want to please You.

Read 2 Chronicles 11:1-23

[1] When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mustered Judah and Benjamin-a hundred and eighty thousand able young men-to go to war against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam. [2] But this word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God: [3] “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, [4] ‘This is what the LORD says: Do not go up to fight against your fellow Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.'” So they obeyed the words of the LORD and turned back from marching against Jeroboam. [5] Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built up towns for defense in Judah: [6] Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, [7] Beth Zur, Soko, Adullam, [8] Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, [9] Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, [10] Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron. These were fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. [11] He strengthened their defenses and put commanders in them, with supplies of food, olive oil and wine. [12] He put shields and spears in all the cities, and made them very strong. So Judah and Benjamin were his. [13] The priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel sided with him. [14] The Levites even abandoned their pasturelands and property and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD [15] when he appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat and calf idols he had made. [16] Those from every tribe of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the LORD, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the LORD, the God of their ancestors. [17] They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon three years, following the ways of David and Solomon during this time. [18] Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab. [19] She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah and Zaham. [20] Then he married Maakah daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith. [21] Rehoboam loved Maakah daughter of Absalom more than any of his other wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. [22] Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maakah as crown prince among his brothers, in order to make him king. [23] He acted wisely, dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and took many wives for them.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“Do not take revenge, my friends,…Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:19, 21). These are wise words for times of conflict.

Think Further

Rehoboam’s very natural response to the rebellion is war. God’s response is quite different: he forbids Rehoboam to fight his brothers (4), but blesses Rehoboam’s kingdom. Both the strengthening of fortifications and the Jewish wives and their children are signs of God’s blessing. It is interesting that the cities fortified are not those on the border with the northern kingdom, but will defend the outer edges of greater Israel. It seems that, at this stage, there is a hope that the division of the kingdom will be only a temporary one.

The greatest sign of God’s blessing, and the greatest source of “strengthening the kingdom” (17), is the people coming from the north into Judah. The priests and the Levites left behind their property to be able to carry out their roles in right worship in Jerusalem. Many others “set their hearts on seeking the Lord” (16) and came with them. The Temple is not mentioned, but it was, of course, the place in Jerusalem where they came to offer the appointed sacrifice (16).

We see, then, three possible ways of establishing a kingdom in the face of rebellion and division: fighting the rebels, strengthening what remains, and focusing on worship. It was not until 300 years after the death of Christ that there was a Christian kingdom to defend. Since that time, Christians have frequently fought to establish their authority. The key question for the Chronicler is, “What is the source of the kingly power?”. When people are against us, and when we think they are against our Lord, the answer to this question will determine our actions.

Apply

In the conflicts in which you are involved today, whose is the kingdom, the power and the glory?

Closing prayer

Heavenly Father, I confess when I find myself in conflict, my default setting is retaliation, to lash out. Forgive me, and help me to always seek Your glory.

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