---

I. IMPLIED OBLIGATION. To seek the Lord is the obligation of all This is suggestive —

1. Of the loss sustained. How is God lost to man? He has lost —

(1)  The true knowledge of His character.

(2)  The conscious enjoyment of His favour.

(3)  The blessedness of communion with Him.

2. Of its retrievableness. For this purpose —

(1)  God has revealed Himself to man in His own nature.

(2)  The redemptive work of Christ is made known.

(3)  The Holy Spirit performs His beneficent functions.

3. Of the importance of its recovery.

II. MENTAL CONVICTION. In Rehoboam we see mental conviction arising from knowledge of duty, promptings of conscience, consciousness of guilt. This is a mental state of frequent occurrence. It may be observed —

1. As the effect of truth. The Word of God is "a discoverer of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Felix. There are many Felixes.

2. As intensified by circumstances.

3. As critical in its results. How much depends on moments of conviction! They are often the turning-points of destiny. It does not seem that Rehoboam ever paused in his downward career from this time forward.

III. MORAL INFIRMITY. There was want of decision in Rehoboam. He did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord. This may be traced —

1. To sensual habits (2 Chronicles 11:18-23; 1 Kings 14:21-24).

2. To evil companionship.

3. To Satanic temptation.

IV. ACCUMULATED GUILT. "He did evil because," etc. This sin was parent of a host. He sinned in this neglect of known duty, and in what resulted from it. So do all who pursue a like course. They sin —

1. In resisting their convictions.

2. In self-depravation. "Beware lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

3. The depravation of others. Through his guilty conduct the people were corrupted. "One sinner destroyeth much good."

(S. A. Browning.)

---

---

KJV: And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.

WEB: He did that which was evil, because he didn't set his heart to seek Yahweh.