The covenant promises that God made to his people in Deuteronomy 28 – blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience – are answered repeatedly in 2 Chronicles 11-12.  The outcomes usually seem to take a while, but in this passage events unfold quickly.

After King Solomon, the kingdom was split in two.  Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, reigns in Judah.  In verses 13-17 of chapter 11, he is aided (seemingly without his planning or knowing) by immigrants from the Northern kingdom: Levites and “those who had set their heart to seek the LORD God of Israel.”  The result of this influx of God-followers is that the kingdom of Judah is strengthened, Rehoboam is secure, and “they walked three years in the way of David and Solomon.”  Blessing Number 1 follows obedience.

Unfortunately, “when the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.”  Two years later, the Egyptian king Shishak came with a great army and plundered all Judah, including Jerusalem.  The prophet Shemaiah relayed the angry message of God:  “You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak .” Curse Number 1 follows abandonment.

At the words of the prophet, King Rehoboam and the princes of Israel humbled themselves and proclaimed, “The LORD is righteous.”  God was pleased with the turning back, and prevented annihilation.  “So King Rehoboam grew strong in Jerusalem and reigned.”  Blessing Number 2 follows  humbled hearts.