II Chronicles 11-12

“So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. He took away the treasures of the house of the LORD … the shields of gold that Solomon had made, and King Rehoboam made in their place shields of bronze” (12:9-10). Solomon’s son Rehoboam presided over Judah, while the other tribes rejected his leadership.  After his rule stabilized, he “abandoned the law of the Lord” (12:1).  Immediately, Egypt attacked (v2) and demanded tribute.  Solomon’s great gold shields were given up and replaced by bronze.

“He did not set his heart to seek the Lord” (12:14). Like Rehoboam’s bronze shields, ungodly sources of security, comfort, and power are shallow replacements for real treasure: fellowship with the Creator who loves us.