历代志下12：成败在于与神的‘连接度’
 
GK611晨祷生命读经
17.10.2025
主讲：郑伟健传道


引言：生命不能失去的核心

一、离开神，就失去根基 (代下12: 1-5) 

罗波安继承父亲所罗门的国位，起初倚靠神、自强建城、国势稳固，但当他“强盛”的时候，就离弃了耶和华的律法。原文的“强盛”意指力量与地位，也就是说，他不是在软弱中跌倒，而是在成功后远离神。他不仅自己离弃律法，也带领百姓随从外邦的偶像与淫乱风俗，致使全国陷入属灵败坏。

于是，神使埃及王示撒趁机进攻耶路撒冷，夺去犹大的坚固城与荣耀。这场灾难并非偶然，而是神许可的管教。神藉此让他们明白：离开神，再坚固的国防也无用，再高的地位也会倾倒。

二、转向神，神就开路 (代下12: 6-12) 

1.⁠ ⁠谦卑降服，换得赦免 (v6-8)
罗波安和以色列的众首领在危难中终于醒悟，他们谦卑自己，说：“耶和华是公义的。”这“自卑”不是外表的姿态，而是心真正降服，承认神的主权与公义。神见他们谦卑，就立刻怜悯：「他们既自卑，我必不灭绝他们；必使他们略得拯救。」（v.7）这句“略得拯救”显示神仍施恩，但也让他们经历后果，好叫他们分辨服事神与服事外邦人有什么不同。

于是，示撒夺去了殿与王宫的宝物，连所罗门制造的金盾牌都被带走。犹大的国运从此衰退，昔日的富足与荣耀不再。神藉此提醒他们：炫耀与倚靠财富终将失去，唯有倚靠祂的谦卑之心，才能重新得着怜悯。

2.⁠ ⁠悔改归回，看见出路 (v10-12)
当神看见罗波安与众首领谦卑下来，祂的怒气就转消了（v.12）。虽然犹大仍要承受被掠夺的后果，但神的怜悯没有止息，祂让他们在管教中看见出路。罗波安失去了金盾，只能以铜盾取代；外表是衰落，实则是炼净。

神借此教导他们：荣耀不是炫耀的金，而是存敬畏的心。悔改不一定让人重回从前的荣华，却能恢复与神的关系，这是最真实的救赎。

三、成与败，取决于选择 (代下12: 13-16) 

罗波安的一生是敬畏与悖逆交织的写照。他起初遵行神的道三年，国势稳固；但在强盛后离弃律法，得罪耶和华。在人看来，他仍算有悔改、自卑寻求神，或许只是看似有敬畏，却更多随从自己的王，但在神眼中却是“行恶”，因为他“不立定心意寻求耶和华”。

神看重的是方向，而非比例；一个心若不坚定追求神，再多善行也属偏离。罗波安又违背神命，与耶罗波安长期争战，使国家不得安息；他身边的母亲拿玛与妻子玛迦皆拜偶像，更显出外邦影响深深侵蚀信仰根基。南北两国同样离弃神，显明大卫之约不能靠人的敬虔与努力成就，唯有神亲自守约施恩。罗波安的结局提醒我们：成败不在表面的强盛，而在心是否立定寻求神；人或许会失信，但神永不。祂仍在等待那些愿再次回转、定心寻求祂的人。


    
  

2 Chronicles 12：Success or Failure Depends on the ‘Degree of Connection’ with God
GK611 Morning Devotion
17 October 2025
Speaker: Ps Asher Chang

 Introduction: The Core That Life Cannot Lose

I. Departing from God Means Losing the Foundation (2 Chr 12:1–5) 

Rehoboam inherited the throne of his father Solomon. At first, he relied on God, strengthened himself, built cities, and established his kingdom securely. But when he became strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord. The original Hebrew word for “strong” refers to both power and status—meaning he didn’t fall in weakness, but drifted away from God after achieving success. Not only did he abandon God’s law himself, he also led the people to follow foreign idols and immoral customs, plunging the nation into spiritual decay.

Consequently, God permitted Shishak, king of Egypt, to seize the opportunity and attack Jerusalem, stripping Judah of its fortified cities and glory. This calamity was not accidental but divine discipline. Through it, God made them understand: apart from Him, even the strongest defences prove futile, and the loftiest positions will inevitably fall.

II. Turning Back to God Opens the Way (2 Chr 12:6–12) 

1. Humility and Submission Bring Forgiveness (v6–8)
In their distress, Rehoboam and the leaders of Israel finally awakened. They humbled themselves, declaring, “The Lord is righteous.” This ‘humbling’ was not mere outward posture but genuine submission of heart, acknowledging God's sovereignty and justice. Seeing their humility, God immediately showed mercy: ‘They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance.’ (v7).

This phrase ‘some deliverance’ indicates God's continued grace, yet also allowed them to experience the consequences, so they might discern the difference between serving God and serving foreign powers.

Thus, Shishak plundered the treasures of the temple and the royal palace, even taking away Solomon’s gold shields. From that point, Judah’s national strength declined; its former wealth and glory vanished. God used this to remind them: pride and reliance on riches lead to loss, only a humble heart that trusts in Him brings mercy anew.

2. Repentance and Return Restores the Path (v10–12)
When God saw Rehoboam and the leaders humbling themselves, His wrath turned away (v12). Though Judah still bore the consequences of plunder, God’s mercy did not cease. He allowed them to see a way forward even in discipline. Rehoboam replaced the lost gold shields with bronze ones. Outwardly, this seemed like decline, but inwardly it was purification.

Through this, God taught them: true glory is not gold to display, but a heart that fears Him. Repentance may not restore earthly splendor, but it restores the relationship with God—and that is true redemption.

III. Success or Failure Depends on One’s Choice (2 Chr 12:13–16) 

Rehoboam’s life was a mixture of reverence and rebellion. He initially followed God's ways for three years, stabilising the kingdom; yet after growing strong, he abandoned the law and offended the Lord. From a human view, he did show some humility and repentance, perhaps outward devotion—but more often followed his own will. In God’s eyes, however, “he did evil, because he did not set his heart to seek the Lord.”

God values direction more than proportion—if one’s heart is not steadfast toward Him, even many good deeds are misdirected. Rehoboam disobeyed God and continued warring against Jeroboam, bringing unrest to the nation. His mother Naamah and wife Maacah were idol worshipers, revealing how foreign influence deeply corroded the nation’s faith.

Rehoboam further defied God's command, engaging in prolonged warfare with Jeroboam that deprived the nation of rest. Both his mother Naamah and his wife Maacah worshipped idols, revealing how pagan influences profoundly eroded the foundations of faith. 

Both the northern and southern kingdoms abandoned God, demonstrating that David's covenant could not be fulfilled by human piety or effort alone—only God Himself upholds His covenant and extends grace. Rehoboam's fate reminds us: success or failure lies not in outward strength, but in whether the heart is set upon seeking God. People may fail, but God never does. He still waits for those willing to turn back and set their hearts on Him again.

Conclusion: 

True success or failure lies not in outward appearance, but in the direction of the heart.