from Gary Hamrick
... Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Chapel

... A humble heart before God is never wasted in His sight

Psalms 51:17 NKJV (devotion translation)

Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah led the nation into disobedience, and their rebellion against God opened the door to trouble and hardship. When the king of Egypt came against Jerusalem, the people were forced to face the reality that they had forsaken the Lord. Yet when God sent the prophet Shemaiah to confront them, they humbled themselves and confessed that the Lord was righteous. In His mercy, God responded to their humility and restrained the judgment that could have fully destroyed them.

This passage reminds us that God does not ignore sin, but neither does He turn away from those who truly repent. Pride resists correction and hardens the heart, but humility invites the mercy of God. The Lord values a broken and contrite heart because it reflects a person who no longer defends sin but agrees with God about it. Repentance is not merely regret over consequences. It is a humble return to the Lord with a desire to walk in obedience again.

At the same time, Scripture shows that forgiveness does not always remove every consequence. Judah still experienced loss and humiliation, even though God showed mercy. The Lord’s discipline is meant to draw His people back to Himself and teach them the seriousness of sin. Yet even in discipline, His mercy is evident. He deals with His children according to His wisdom and grace.

In Christ, we see the fullness of God’s mercy toward repentant sinners. Jesus bore the judgment we deserved so that we could be forgiven and restored to fellowship with God. Because of Him, we can come honestly before the Lord, confess our sin, and trust His faithful forgiveness.

Lord, keep my heart soft before You and willing to receive correction from Your Word. Teach me to walk humbly in repentance and obedience through the grace of Christ. Am

• Psalms 32:1-5 - David described the blessing of confessing sin and receiving God’s forgiveness.
• Proverbs 28:13 - Those who confess and forsake sin find mercy.
• Isaiah 57:15 - God dwells with the humble and contrite in heart.
• Micah 6:8 - The Lord calls His people to walk humbly with Him.
• Hebrews 12:5-11 - God disciplines His children for their growth and holiness.
• 1 John 1:9 - God is faithful to forgive and cleanse those who confess their sins.
• James 4:6-10 - God gives grace to the humble and calls believers to repent and draw near to Him.
• Luke 18:13-14 - The humble tax collector cried out for mercy and was justified before God.
• Psalms 51:17 - God delights in a broken and contrite heart that humbly repents before Him.

Rehoboam, Shemaiah, and Humility Before God

• 1 Kings 11:11-13 - Because of Solomon’s disobedience, God declared that the kingdom would be divided after his death.
• 1 Kings 12:1-19 - Rehoboam rejected wise counsel, dealt harshly with the people, and the kingdom divided as ten tribes followed Jeroboam.
• 2 Chronicles 11:1-4 - Through the prophet Shemaiah, God told Rehoboam not to fight against the northern tribes, and Rehoboam obeyed.
• 2 Chronicles 11:13-17 - Priests and faithful worshipers from Israel came to Judah because Jeroboam rejected the worship of the Lord.
• 2 Chronicles 12:1 - After Rehoboam became strong, he and Judah forsook the Law of the Lord.
• 2 Chronicles 12:2-4 - God allowed Shishak king of Egypt to come against Jerusalem because of Judah’s unfaithfulness.
• 2 Chronicles 12:5 - Shemaiah confronted Rehoboam and the leaders, declaring that they had abandoned the Lord.
• 2 Chronicles 12:6 - Rehoboam and the leaders humbled themselves and confessed, “The Lord is righteous.”
• 2 Chronicles 12:7 - Because they humbled themselves, God restrained complete destruction and showed mercy.
• 2 Chronicles 12:8 - Though spared, Judah still experienced hardship so they would learn the difference between serving God and serving earthly kingdoms.
• 2 Chronicles 12:12 - When Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s wrath turned away from destroying him completely.