2 Chronicles 11:13

2 Chronicles 11:13 says, And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.  The priests and Levites came to support Rehoboam, though he wasn't following God's leadership.  They were still loyal to God, so this improved Rehoboam's standing.  We cannot support those who are in power if they are not following God, especially if they are going against what His word teaches, but we can stand for God before them.  Verse fourteen adds, For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the Lord:  One reason they left where they were to come to Jerusalem was because Jeroboam and his sons had stopped them from executing the office of the priesthood.  No one can ever take away our status as a part of the priesthood of believers away from us.  Verse fifteen continues, And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.  Of course, Jeroboam then appointed his own priests of the high places and for the devils and for the golden calves that he made.  We shouldn't be surprised if people who stand against God attempt to make their own gods.  Verse sixteen states, And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the Lord God of their fathers.  All the people in Israel who were still loyal to God came to Jerusalem seeking to worship Him.  We need to leave the world behind and come to where we can worship and serve God. Verse seventeen adds, So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.  For three years, in spite of following some bad advice, Rehoboam, and the kingdom of Judah, was made strong because the people followed the way of David and Solomon, or obeyed God's commandments.  As Christians, if we want to be spiritually strong, we need to obey God through the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse eighteen continues, And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;  Rehoboam married more than one wife, and these two would have been his relatives, even if distant.  He may have felt this would strengthen his position, since they were from David's family.  I do know that we cannot strengthen our position with God by marrying into a family that is known to be great Christians, and we certainly cannot do so by disobey His laws.  Verse nineteen says, Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.  He had children with these wives.  Verse twenty adds, And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.  Then, he married another relative and had even more children with her.  He was possibly just following the example that had been set by David and Solomon his father in marrying more than one wife.  We cannot follow the example of our parents if they are doing something that goes against God's word and expect Him to still bless us.  Veres twenty-one continues, And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)  By now, Rehoboam had eighteen wives and sixty concubines.  He had twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters, but we are told he loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom more than the others.  This was bound to have caused problems for him.  Of course, when we stray away from God's commandments as followers of Christ, we shouldn't be surprised if we have problems in life.  Verse twenty-two states, And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.  Rehoboam put the son of Maachah over the others with the plan to one day make him king.  We should never play favorites with our children.  Verse twenty-three adds, And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives.  Rehoboam also placed his children throughout the cities of Judah and Benjamin and gave them an abundance of food, and it is said he desired many wives.  We are not told of his seeking God's guidance in any of this, but it does say that he dealt wisely with the people.  We need Christians throughout the world to be witnessing for God today, and He will provide for our needs when we are obeying His commandments.