And those who had set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers. They strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and for three years they made Rehoboam the son of Solomon secure, for they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon. 2 Chronicles 11:16-17
And he (Rehoboam) did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the LORD. 2 Chronicles 12:14
God gives us some specific insight about the type of character one can have. Men who are wise set themselves to seek the Lord, but the evil go about their way without reverence and fear of God. It's not that Rehoboam did not at times make good choices, but his lifestyle was based on a lack of concern for the law of God. The first three years the king made lots of good choices because it was popular with the people to follow God. Prosperity made them forget, and God brought circumstances to remind them of who brings abundance. Since Rehoboam did not prepare himself to seek after God, the legacy he left was not one of David and Solomon, but one of evil that God was not pleased with.
This cycle is brought about by a lack of the fear of God. In small group we have been focusing on the fear of God in Bridges' book, The Practice of Godliness. This key ingredient is one of the things that helps prepare our hearts to seek the Lord. When one lacks this important principle then it brings about a cycle of prosperity (blessing), abandonment of God's law, and finally chastisement (humbling through outside forces).
It sounds almost academic, but the cycle has been played out in history. It's a warning, a call to see and heed God's word because the price in our lives and in our loved ones' lives is too high. It's a simple examining of our lives to see what kind of cycle exists. The goal is consistency in godliness. It's to guard against complacency, and to have our lives bring Him the glory that is due to His name.
Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.
I Corinthians 10:5-6
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