Solomon pled it. The LORD established it. Rehoboam tested it. I’m chewing on it.

Repetition. It again rules the day (or at least it’s what catches my eye). If you want someone to get something, then tell ’em what you’re gonna tell ’em, then tell ’em, then tell ’em again what you just told ’em. That’s how repetition works.

So, what’s the echo reverberating throughout 2 Chronicles 12? They humbled themselves.

Back in 2 Chronicles 6, at the dedication of the temple, King Solomon repeatedly asked the Lord to “hear from heaven” the prayers of His people when, after sinning, they acknowledged their sin and turned again to God. And the LORD, in 2 Chronicles 7, says, in effect, “Okay.”

“If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

(2Chronicles 7:14 ESV)

Solomon’s successor, his son Rehoboam, is then the first recorded test case for Solomon’s plea and the LORD’s promise.

King Rehoboam — the doofus king. Ignored sound advice, embraced foolish bravado, and lost most of his kingdom (2Chron. 10). But while it was of his own making, the dividing of the kingdom was also “a turn of affairs brought about by God that the LORD might fulfill His word” (2Chron. 10:15). So, Rehoboam works with what he has left, and with “those who had set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel” (2Chron. 11:16), and things come together pretty well (2Chron. 11:13-17).

But — and here’s the real doofus part — “when the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the LORD” (2Chron. 12:1). And thus, the LORD abandons Rehoboam to a guy named Shishak and his band of marauding, oppressive Egyptians (2Chron. 12:2-5). Heavy sigh!

Now, cue the echo . . .

Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The LORD is righteous.” When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah: “They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.”

And when he humbled himself the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so as not to make a complete destruction. Moreover, conditions were good in Judah. So King Rehoboam grew strong in Jerusalem and reigned.

(2Chronicles 12:6-7, 12-13a ESV)

So, I pick up what the Spirit keeps laying down . . . they humbled themselves. They brought themselves low. They put themselves into subjection. They bowed the knee.

Bending the knee. Not the most natural, reflexive action for many of us . . . at least not for me. And not just because I have aging knees. But because I too still have a powerful propensity towards a doofus heart (aka the old man . . . aka the flesh). A heart, like Rehoboam’s, which finds itself wandering — especially when enjoying relative ease brought about by the LORD’s blessing.

So, I’d do well to work on my knee bends. Ready to humble myself when (not if) my haughtiness impacts my holiness. In lowliness drawing near to God (James 4:8a). With contrition cleansing my hands at the foot of the cross (James 4:8b). Quick to get down on my knees as the only way of getting back on my feet again (James 4:10 MSG). Knowing that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9 ESV).

Knee bends. Something I need to keep working on.

Only by His grace. Only for His glory.