Year One, November 10

God Is With Us at Our Head1

While the new kingdom of the ten tribes was under the rule of Jeroboam, Rehoboam died and was replaced by his son, Abijah.

  

2 Chronicles 13:1-16; 18; 20

1In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah. 2He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.

Now there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 3Abijah went out to battle, having an army of valiant men of war, 400,000 chosen men. And Jeroboam drew up his line of battle against him, with 800,000 chosen mighty warriors. (The horrors of civil war are almost unimaginable. Surely every male in the two nations must have been drafted into one or the other army. We should be thankful when we are blessed with peace in our own country. A day is coming when the Lord will stop all wars on this earth.)

4Then Abijah stood up on Mount Zemaraim that is in the hill country of Ephraim and said, “Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel! 5Ought you not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt? 6Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord, 7and certain worthless scoundrels gathered about him and defied Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and irresolute and could not withstand them.

8“And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David, because you are a great multitude and have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made you for gods. (Abijah was wise to explain the reason for the battle. When it comes to whether Jehovah or golden calves should be worshiped, the answer is clear.) 9Have you not driven out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves like the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes for ordination with a young bull or seven rams becomes a priest of what are not gods. 10But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him. We have priests ministering to the LORD who are sons of Aaron, and Levites for their service. 11They offer to the LORD every morning and every evening burnt offerings and incense of sweet spices, set out the showbread on the table of pure gold, and care for the golden lampstand that its lamps may burn every evening. For we keep the charge of the LORD our God, but you have forsaken him. 12Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with their battle trumpets to sound the call to battle against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, for you cannot succeed.”

This speech was intended to prevent bloodshed. Abijah’s motive was deserving of praise. We cannot be sure that Abijah was a spiritual man, but he and the nation of Judah still worshiped Jehovah and still had the Lord on their side.

13Jeroboam had sent an ambush around to come upon them from behind. Thus his troops were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them. (Jeroboam was not a man of words, but of deeds. While Abijah was delivering his speech, Jeroboam was surrounding his opponent.) 14And when Judah looked, behold, the battle was in front of and behind them. And they cried to the LORD, and the priests blew the trumpets. 15Then the men of Judah raised the battle shout. And when the men of Judah shouted, God defeated Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 16The men of Israel fled before Judah, and God gave them into their hand. (Prayer and praise are superior weapons. We should not be surprised that the Lord got involved when his people brought him into the fight by using prayer and praise.)

18Thus the men of Israel were subdued at that time, and the men of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the LORD, the God of their fathers.

20Jeroboam did not recover his power in the days of Abijah. And the LORD struck him down, and he died. (He was made to feel how impossible it is to fight against God. But he would not quit and died without repenting2 for his actions. He is remembered because the way he lived brought God’s curse on him. May the good Lord save us from such an end.)

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¹ 2 Chronicles 13:12

² repent, repentance - The act or feeling of remorse, regret, sorrow or shame that results in a change of heart or purpose.