Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
2 Chronicles Ch.12 / 36 Ch.s
2CH:12
* Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished.
- When Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to
fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his outward profession of
godliness. It is very common, but very lamentable, that men, who
in distress or danger, or near death, seem much engaged in
seeking and serving God, throw aside all their religion when
they have received a merciful deliverance. God quickly brought
troubles upon Judah, to awaken the people to repentance, before
their hearts were hardened. Thus it becomes us, when we are
under the rebukes of Providence, to justify God, and to judge
ourselves. If we have humbled hearts under humbling providences,
the affliction has done its work; it shall be removed, or the
property of it be altered. The more God's service is compared
with other services, the more reasonable and easy it will
appear. Are the laws of temperance thought hard? The effects of
intemperance will be found much harder. The service of God is
perfect liberty; the service of our lusts is complete slavery.
Rehoboam was never rightly fixed in his religion. He never quite
cast off God; yet he engaged not his heart to seek the Lord. See
what his fault was; he did not serve the Lord, because he did
not seek the Lord. He did not pray, as Solomon, for wisdom and
grace; he did not consult the word of God, did not seek to that
as his oracle, nor follow its directions. He made nothing of his
religion, because he did not set his heart to it, nor ever came
up to a steady resolution in it. He did evil, because he never
was determined for good.