2 Chronicles 11:5-12
“Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities for defense in Judah. He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. He also strengthened the fortresses and put officers in them and supplies of food, oil, and wine. He put shields and spears in every city and strengthened them greatly. So he held Judah and Benjamin.”
This makes sense. The king is new. He just had ten of the 12 tribes revolt. In comparison to a week or so ago, they are tiny. So he feels vulnerable. Most would want to work on the defenses. We are to respond to the situation at hand. This is being responsible. We are to do what’s needed.
Galatians 6:5 says, “For each one will bear his own load.” This is part of maturing. God has given us all our lots. We are to take care of ourselves and our world. Our room is to be clean, our car is to be serviced, we are to wake up on time, to be at work on time, our relationships are to be good and so on.
This is a constant for the rest of our lives. Things will always be needed to be done. This being the case we have to learn to rest amidst all this. God initiated the sabbath for this purpose. I don’t think it has to be Saturday or Sunday anymore, but the concept of rest still stands.
When I became a christian I had a flawed concept of God. It didn’t include rest. It would take nearly five years for that to sink in. My religious upbringing taught duty and sacrifice, not rest. He built it into our weeks and He did so with our faith as well. Hebrews 4:9,10 says, “Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.” This isn’t referring to work and our responsibilities, but our stance before God. Jesus’ sacrifice did it all. There is no work to be done. He said on the cross, “It is finished”.
Going back to life and responsibilities. There is one more. That is our relationship to each other. Going back to Galatians 6, verse 2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” Jesus’ law was to love one another. We all need help from time to time. It may be assisting with a task or attending to an emotional need. We are grateful when others bless us. We are to do the same to others.
Sometimes this is difficult. It might be a place in line that we give up. This can be stressful as we are on a deadline. Sometimes it’s being with someone we don’t like. Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:24 are, ‘Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.”‘ We have to make those sacrifices. He more than makes it up to us.
Jesus frees us from the bondage of indulgence. We learn that if He wants us to do something He will assist in our responsibilities. With Joshua He made the sun stand still so he could finish his duties. While He probably won’t break the rules of science it’s still a miracle. He is intervening in life to help us. He wants us to trust Him to do so. It has been freeing and a blessing to see Him make up for our sacrifices. It builds our faith.
We see the king behaving responsibly. God wants us to be responsible as well. We learn to bear our own burdens, but also assist with others. We get God’s blessing for doing so. Thank You, Lord.