2 Chronicles 11:18-23: a reflection

18Rehoboam took a wife for himself, Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse. 19She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham. 20After her, he took Maacah the granddaughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. 21Rehoboam loved Maacah the granddaughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines; for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. 22Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, the prince among his brothers, for he intended to make him king. 23He dealt wisely, and dispersed some of his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city. He gave them food in abundance; and he sought many wives for them.

In describing Rehoboam's large household, the account notes that he provided wisely for his many sons, dispersing them thoughtfully throughout the land and giving them provision in abundance. He dealt wisely, the account says, and dispersed some of his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city; he gave them food in abundance. Amid the account of Rehoboam's household, this note stands out: he took thought for those in his charge, providing for them wisely and abundantly, placing them thoughtfully rather than carelessly. Whatever else may be said of Rehoboam, in this he acted with wise provision for those he was responsible for. This shows the value of providing wisely and thoughtfully for those in our charge. Provide wisely and thoughtfully for those in your charge. Wise provision for those we are responsible for is commended. Rehoboam took thought for those in his care. Caring wisely for our responsibilities is a good thing.

Notice the wisdom in Rehoboam's provision for those in his charge. He did not neglect his responsibilities or provide carelessly; he dealt wisely, thoughtfully dispersing his sons throughout the land, placing them strategically, and providing for them abundantly. He took real thought and care for those he was responsible for, providing for their needs and placing them wisely. This is worth noting as a good pattern, whatever else may be said of Rehoboam's reign. We all have those in our charge, those we are responsible for, whether family, or others who depend on us in some way; and we are called to provide for them wisely and thoughtfully, not carelessly or neglectfully. This means taking real thought for their needs, providing for them as we are able, placing and guiding them thoughtfully, not treating our responsibilities toward them carelessly. To provide wisely and thoughtfully for those in our charge is a real good, an expression of faithful responsibility. We do well to take such thoughtful care for those we are responsible for, providing for them wisely rather than neglecting them. Take thoughtful care for those in your charge, providing for them wisely. Do not neglect or provide carelessly for those you are responsible for. Wise, thoughtful provision for our responsibilities is a good thing. Provide for those who depend on you with real thought and care.

That is worth taking to heart, for we do well to provide wisely and thoughtfully for those in our charge, as Rehoboam dealt wisely in providing for his sons. We can neglect our responsibilities toward those in our charge, or provide for them carelessly; but Rehoboam took real thought for his sons, providing for them abundantly and placing them wisely. Wise provision is commended. Take thoughtful care for those you are responsible for; provide for them wisely, not carelessly or neglectfully. Provide wisely and thoughtfully for those in your charge, taking real thought for their needs rather than neglecting your responsibilities or providing carelessly, as the account of Rehoboam's household notes that he dealt wisely, dispersing his sons thoughtfully throughout the land to every fortified city and giving them provision in abundance; for amid the account of his household this note stands out, that he took thought for those in his charge, providing for them wisely and abundantly and placing them thoughtfully rather than carelessly, which is worth noting as a good pattern whatever else may be said of Rehoboam's reign, since we all have those in our charge, those we are responsible for, whether family or others who depend on us, and we are called to provide for them wisely and thoughtfully, not carelessly or neglectfully, taking real thought for their needs, providing for them as we are able, and guiding them thoughtfully, so that to provide wisely for those in our charge is a real good and an expression of faithful responsibility, and we do well to take such thoughtful care for those we are responsible for rather than neglecting them.

Lord, in describing Rehoboam's large household, the account notes that he provided wisely for his many sons, dispersing them thoughtfully throughout the land and giving them provision in abundance. He dealt wisely, the account says, and dispersed some of his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city; he gave them food in abundance. Amid the account of Rehoboam's household, this note stands out: he took thought for those in his charge, providing for them wisely and abundantly, placing them thoughtfully rather than carelessly. Whatever else may be said of Rehoboam, in this he acted with wise provision for those he was responsible for. This shows the value of providing wisely and thoughtfully for those in my charge. Show me the wisdom in Rehoboam's provision for those in his charge. He did not neglect his responsibilities or provide carelessly; he dealt wisely, thoughtfully placing his sons and providing for them abundantly. He took real thought and care for those he was responsible for. This is worth noting as a good pattern. I have those in my charge, those I am responsible for, whether family or others who depend on me in some way; and I am called to provide for them wisely and thoughtfully, not carelessly or neglectfully. This means taking real thought for their needs, providing for them as I am able, guiding them thoughtfully. To provide wisely for those in my charge is a real good, an expression of faithful responsibility. Take that to my heart, for I do well to provide wisely and thoughtfully for those in my charge. Keep me from neglecting my responsibilities toward those in my care, or providing for them carelessly; help me take thoughtful care for those I am responsible for, Lord, providing for them wisely and with real thought for their needs, as an expression of faithful responsibility.