In Second Chronicles, chapter twelve, verse seven, after the capture of the fenced cities of Judah, he marched against Jerusalem. Then the prophet Shemaiah announced to the king and the princes, who had retired to Jerusalem before Shishak, that the Lord had given them into the power of Shishak because they had forsaken Him. The meaning here is forsaken and given over into the hand of Shishak. When the king and the priests immediately humbled themselves before God, acknowledging the righteousness of the Lord, the prophet announced to them further that the Lord would not destroy them since they had humbled themselves but would give them some deliverance.
Though they did by constraint and with reluctance, God was pleased to regard it to mitigate their calamity. Such a vast and now victorious army as Shishak had, having made themselves masters of all the fenced cities, what else could expection be but that the whole country, and even Jerusalem itself, would in a short time be theirs? But when God says a word through His servant, not even the most threatening force strangely dwindles and becomes impotent. The Almighty one will give some stop to the course of His wrath, which was ready to be poured forth upon them to their utter destruction. Those who acknowledge God is righteous in afflicting them shall find Him gracious.
They that humble themselves before him shall find favour with him. So ready is the God of mercy to take the first occasion to show mercy. If a person’s heart be humbled and made contrite under humbling and distressing providences, the affliction has done its work, and it shall either blot out or the property of it altered.
If we have sinned and receive punishment, we should humble ourselves before God and confess that His judgments are righteous. The Lord will forgive our trespasses and restore us to His grace and favor, and He may even reduce the chastisement we must bear.