When Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem, he carried off the treasures of the temple of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including the gold shields Solomon had made. So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned these to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace.
2 Chronicles 12:9-10 NIV
An important lesson shines through in the story of Rehoboam’s failure when Shishak, king of Egypt, attacked Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 12:9 records that Shishak carried away the treasures of the temple of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including the gold shields Solomon had made. This was not a small matter; it was a devastating loss.
In Solomon’s time, gold overflowed to the point that it became as common as stones. Silver lost its value because there was so much gold in the land. Everything in the palace reflected this abundance—the throne, the plates, the cups, all fashioned in gold.
But Rehoboam, through reckless choices and his refusal to follow the law of the Lord, lost it all. He turned his back on God, who had established him on the throne. He ignored the God who had blessed his father Solomon with wisdom, wealth, honour, and glory. In the end, he surrendered both the treasures of the palace and those of the temple. His spiritual life became only a shadow of what God intended.
Sadly, this mirrors many of our own experiences. When we fall into spiritual decline, instead of returning wholeheartedly to God for restoration, we sometimes accept less. We compromise, choosing what seems available rather than pursuing what God originally gave.
When Rehoboam lost the golden shields, he did not seek God for restoration. Instead, he replaced them with bronze ones. He settled for far less than what God had provided. He did not even aim for silver, but accepted a substitute of lower value.
This teaches a powerful lesson: settling for anything less than God’s plan is never acceptable. If I lose something because of my carelessness, my first and only response must be to seek restoration from God. Compromise is not an option. Alternatives cannot replace God’s best.
Therefore, I must refuse to settle for anything that falls short of His purpose. I must cherish the divine resources He has entrusted to me and guard them with all diligence. And if I ever suffer loss, my cry should be for full restoration—not a “Plan B.”
If bronze is lost, I must seek gold. If silver is lost, I must still seek gold. God calls me to pursue His best without compromise, to value His treasures, and to trust that He restores what the enemy tries to steal.
Living It Out
God’s plan for you is always good, perfect, and far above anything you can manufacture as an alternative. Don’t settle for bronze when He has promised gold. If you have lost something precious through sin, carelessness, or attack, run back to Him. Cry out for restoration and trust His ability to redeem. He restores fully, and He never disappoints.