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Biblereading: 2
Chronicles 12
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;
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he did not
serve the Lord, because he did not seek the Lord.
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He did not
pray, as Solomon, for wisdom and grace;
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he did not
consult the word of God,
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he 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.
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