Chapter 165. 2 Chron. 13. King Abijah.
REHOBOAM died five years before Jeroboam, and the wars that went on constantly between the two Kings continued when Abijah became King of Judah after his father’s death. Abijah did not please God any more than Rehoboam, and he died three years after his ascension to the throne. Yet during one of the conflicts with Israel’s army, he showed faith in God to a certain degree. He went out to meet Jeroboam with an army of chosen men. Standing on Mount Ephraim, he called to Jeroboam and all Israel to listen to him.
Do you not know, he said, that God gave the kingdom to David and to his sons forever? Yet Jeroboam, the servant of Solomon, the son of David, has rebelled against his Lord, Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, when he was young and tender and could not withstand him. And now you think that with this great multitude and with the golden calves Jeroboam has made you for gods, that you can withstand the kingdom of the Lord? Have you not cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron and the Levites and have you not consecrated to yourselves priests after the manner of the nations? But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken Him. The priests which we have are the sons of Aaron, and they offer the sacrifices according to God’s command. His priests are sounding the alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight not against the Lord God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper!
Jeroboam was not shaken by this warning; he had no fear of God. He placed his men in ambush before and behind the men of Judah and felt sure of victory. Indeed, the odds were much against Abijah and his army! They saw the trap laid for them, and they cried unto the Lord, the priests sounded their trumpets and with shouting they went forward. God had heard their cry and was pleased with their trust in Him. He sent terror through Israel’s men and they fled before Abijah and his army. It was a simple thing for God, who is not short of means, to do. He had but to say the word and no power on earth could touch his people. How secure they were in His keeping! “Trust ye in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.” (Isa. 26:44Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: (Isaiah 26:4).)
Israel’s God is our God. More than that, He becomes our Father the moment we accept Christ as our Saviour. “Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” If such a God is our Father shall we, can we possibly lack any good thing? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things.” (Rom. 8:3232He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32).) If Abijah, in spite of his unfaithfulness and wicked ways, when he did trust in God, found that God’s ears were opened unto his cry, how much more we, who are so dear to God for Christ’s sake!
ML 11/12/1916