The son of Solomon, followed bad advice in 2 Chronicles 10, founded his reign on good principles in chapter 11, and failed to maintain a promising start in chapter 12. However, the disaster at the beginning of his reign was followed by three good years, 11. 17. Three factors contributed to his strength during this period.
1. The obedience he exhibited. ‘Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren … And they obeyed the word of the Lord’, v. 4. We really must avoid campaigns against fellow-Christians. The people of God cannot be reunited by the sword. Rehoboam ‘obeyed the word of the Lord’ through ‘Shemaiah the man of God’, v. 2. We became Christians on the principle of obedience, Rom. 6. 17, and we live on the same principle, 1 Pet. 1. 14. There is no aura of mystery surrounding spiritual progress and strength. It is simple obedience to the word of God.
2. The fortifications he erected. ‘Cities for defence in Judah’, v. 5. ‘He fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine. And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong’, vv. 11-12. It is interesting to notice that all the good kings of Judah were builders. Rehoboam made sure that his people could withstand siege. The cities were provisioned and armed. How well are we prepared for siege? As life proceeds, we may become besieged by sorrow, bereavement, disappointment, ill-health, and much more. We must be ‘nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine’, 1 Tim. 4. 6. Strength to withstand the crises of life depends on our ability to draw on the nourishment and strength of God’s word. ‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly’, Col. 3. 16.
3. The fellowship he enjoyed. ‘And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel restored to him out of all their coasts … and after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came to Jerusalem … so they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years’, vv. 13-17. Rehoboam was strengthened by the fellowship of men and women of kindred mind. We must not forsake ‘the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is’, Heb. 10. 25.
