II Chronicles 12: The Power Of A Prophet

Ever heard of the prophet Shemaiah?  He was a man of God who was very influential in the southern kingdom of Judah during the generation after the reign of Solomon.

We first read about him in II Chronicles 11 as the one who persuaded Rehoboam to give up his quest to re-unite the kingdom by force.  Shemaiah revealed that the development was, in fact, of God, and - almost unbelievably - Rehoboam actually listened and heeded the prophet.  "But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God: Say to King Rehoboam of Judah, son of Solomon, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, “Thus says the Lord: You shall not go up or fight against your kindred. Let everyone return home, for this thing is from me.” So they heeded the word of the Lord and turned back from the expedition against Jeroboam" (II Chronicles 11:2-4).

In the next chapter, Shemaiah elicits repentance from King Rehoboam to save the nation from an Egyptian invasion.   Verse 2 explains that, "because they had been unfaithful to the Lord," a countless army of Egyptians, led by King Shishak, comes up against Judah all the way to Jerusalem.  The future looks very bleak for the nation.  But then the prophet is given a word which changes everything: "Then the prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and to the officers of Judah, who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the Lord: You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak.” Then the officers of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is in the right” (vs. 5-6).  Shemaiah is able to turn the tide of the battle through his teaching.  After the king humbles himself and acknowledges his sin of abandoning the Lord, the nation is spared.

"When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying: “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.  Nevertheless they shall be his servants, so that they may know the difference between serving me and serving the kingdoms of other lands” (vs. 7-8).  The total punishment of destruction is withdrawn, and a partial punishment with "some deliverance" is instituted in its place.  The nation will be in servitude to Egypt, but not outright destroyed.  

Thanks to Shemaiah (the Lord working through him, of course!), the nation of Judah lived to fight another day.  He counseled the king with the words of God.  Such is the power of a prophet!