First Kings 14:25 tells us that in the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign Shishak of Egypt invaded Jerusalem. He plundered both the temple as well as the King’s house and took away everything including all the golden shields that Solomon had made. And in place of these golden shields, Rehoboam made replica of those shields with bronze. When highly polished, bronze could glitter and shine like gold. Those bronze shields were then entrusted to the commanders of the guard who were on sentry duty at the king’s house. Whenever Rehoboam entered the house of the Lord, the guards would carry those shields and would return them to the guard’s room after the display.
Verse
30 indicates that Rehoboam and Jeroboam were fighting continually. In other
words, Rehoboam had no moment of rest. He only had rest when he died and slept
with his fathers. Verse 31 said that he was buried with his fathers in the city
of David. Verse 31 reiterates that his mother was Naamah. He was
succeeded by Abijam his son.
Why did Rehoboam have bronze shields
made to replace those gold shields that Shishak had seized? Why did he even
bother to do so? It appeared that he was trying to give the impression that
everything was well. It was probably a face-saving exercise by Rehoboam. At its
peak, Judah was not only strong but also wealthy. Sadly, under Rehoboam’s
reign, Judah had lost their golden gloss. We are all called to glow for the
Lord. Be sure to stay vibrant in the Lord. Let us not replace the genuine glow
of a transformed life with some artificial gloss of a make-believe faith. Be a
true witness of Christ.
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