What Happens When We Repent? 2 Chronicles 10-16

2 Chronicles 12:9-12 (ESV)

So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. He took away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s house. He took away everything. He also took away the shields of gold that Solomon had made, and King Rehoboam made in their place shields of bronze and committed them to the hands of the officers of the guard, who kept the door of the king’s house. And as often as the king went into the house of the LORD, the guard came and carried them and brought them back to the guardroom. And when he humbled himself the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so as not to make a complete destruction. Moreover, conditions were good in Judah.

That last (bolded) verse in this section is the key to understanding this entire set of chapters in 2 Chronicles.  After Solomon’s death, his inept son, Rehoboam, was in charge, as the new king.  He was subject to peer pressure and made unethical, immoral and worldly alliances. But in the above passage we see what happens just before his death.  It took him awhile, but like the thief on the cross, he turned to God at the right time.  His repenting was the avenue for him seeing God’s favor and God’s glory.  He could not see it before, but he sees it now.  His eyes were blinded by his sin.  But in turning to God the veil was removed:

2 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV)

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.

When the veil is removed we see all of God’s glory:

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Satan does not want that.  He wants to blind the world from seeing God’s glory:

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (ESV)

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

When we turn to the Lord the veil is removed and we have peace with God and blessings in our lives ... blessings despite the circumstances.