This Thing Is From The Lord (2 Chronicles 11:4)

 

Tuesday, June 25, 2024


Psalm 135

2 Chronicles 11

James 1:19-2:7


This Thing Is From The Lord (2 Chronicles 11:4)


Knowing the right thing to do at any given moment is difficult. Humans are messy creatures, and we like to make things much more complicated than they need to be. Take this drama in the history of Chronicles, for example.


Rehoboam was appointed to succeed Solomon as king, and everyone agreed at the time that this was a good idea. Then Jeroboam returned from hiding in Egypt, hoping to get more favourable living conditions under the new king than he had under the old. But Rehoboam, listening to the advice of the aspirational newcomers to court, decided to give Jeroboam an even more weightier load than what his father had. Rehoboam should have listened to the wisdom of years instead of the excitable youth, but what was done was done, and Jeroboam rebelled.


But two wrongs don’t make a right. Even though he was treated unfairly, Jeroboam should have nonetheless obeyed his king. But in his rebellion he fell even further, and today we read about the spiritual depths the rebel king has fallen into. One bad deed deserves another, and Jeroboam’s political rebellion has led to a more serious and spiritual rebellion. The priests and Levites have been expelled from his kingdom. Israel now worships goat-demons.


Then we hear terrifying words from God: Rehoboam is not to be the one to put down this rebellion, for “this thing is from the Lord”. God will sort out this situation himself.


When we know that we are in the right, God does not command us to go and reclaim our honour. Everything is according to God’s plan, and God will make things right for us. We are instead commanded to “welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save our souls.” (James 2:21) God had a much better plan for the rebellion of the northern kingdom of Israel: he came in human flesh, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, and died for their rebellion, so that through faith in his redeeming blood, they may inherit the kingdom of heaven. God always does a much better job at making things right than we ever could.


When has your pride been wounded? How did it feel to know that you were in the right? How can you discover the truth that “this thing is from the Lord”, and to respond to injustice in the same way Jesus did?


Righteous God, teach me to be quick to listen and slow to speak, so that I may hear what you want me to do, and make way for your redeeming love to blossom in my life.

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