Old Testament God of Love

This week, in my worship, I read the story of king Abijah. I’ve read it before, of course, but it really struck a cord this time, so I thought I’d share it today.

King Abijah was king Solomon’s grandson. You might recall that Solomon turned away from God, married hundreds of women, set up altars to idols, even allowed his wives to offer his children as sacrifices to idols. All in all, what had started so wonderfully for the wisest man in history, became a tale of what happens when we turn away from God. Solomon did turn back to God in his old age, but his children had already been badly influenced and his son, Rehoboam, who became the 4^th king of Israel went even farther into sin than his father. Therefore, God “tore away” ten tribes of Israel and gave them to Jeroboam and left Rehoboam and the house of David with just two tribes which became known as “Judah”. Rehoboam and Jeroboam were at war from then until Rehoboam died, at which time, his son, Abijah, became king over Judah.

Now, even tho God had given Jeroboam his kingdom, Jeroboam was afraid that if the Israelites went to Jerusalem for worship services three times a year as they were required to do, that they would want to join back in with Judah. So, Jeroboam committed a great sin against God and established a counterfeit temple in Samaria and set up golden calves for the people to worship. It wasn’t long before Israel had almost completely turned away from God.

As we read in 2 Chronicles 12, Abijah and Jeroboam went to war. Abijah with 400,000 men and Jeroboam with 800,000 men. It looked like it was curtains for Judah. After all, they were outnumbered 2 to 1 and Jeroboam had another advantage of experience. But, like his great-grandfather, David, Abijah chose to trust in God to save Judah. He knew that there was no earthly way that his much smaller army could defeat the Israelite army, so he did something that may appear strange, he preached a sermon.

“And Abijah stood up upon Mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, Jeroboam, and all Israel.” Then he proceeded to trace the history of the conflict between Israel and Judah. He reminded his hearers that God had promised David that his descendant’s would always sit on the throne of Judah because of His covenant with David. He traced the rebellion of Jeroboam that caused the split in the kingdom, and reminded his hearers that Jeroboam had set up a false worship and that God couldn’t defend and help anyone who turned away from Him.

Abijah continued by pointing out that Judah continued to worship God in the temple at Jerusalem and that sacrifices were continually offered to God morning and evening as God had commanded. He ended his speech by saying: “And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarms against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the Lord God of your fathers; for you shall not prosper.” (2 Chronicles 13:12)

It is interesting to note Abijah’s claim to God’s protection because if you read in 1 Kings 15:1-8, his heart was not “perfect” toward God as David’s had been and he continued in the sins of Rehoboam and Solomon. But God is so merciful and gracious that He hears and answers sinners who call upon Him and trust Him. Which is a good thing because we are all sinners and have come WAY short of the glory of God, and yet He still hears and forgives. I love stories like this that remind me of the long-suffering God who loves His children. Children that He created in the first place, and then paid an enormous price, the gift of His Son, to redeem us after we intentionally sinned and wandered away from Him. What an awesome God!

Anyway, as Abijah went out to war, Jeroboam split his forces and surrounded the forces of Judah. For all intents and purposes the war was over. Judah was annihilated and Jeroboam would be king over a united Israel and Judah. But the men of Judah didn’t let this seeming reversal bother them. “And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried to the Lord, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.” (2 Chronicles 13:14).

Isn’t that a wonderful way to live life? When it looks like there is no hope, we can still call out to God and blow the trumpets, figuratively, as we go out to fight the enemy in the power of God. Even when our own choices have put us in the precarious position that we are in, we still have a helper, if we choose to allow Him to lead.

Note the rest of the story: ”Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand. And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men. Thus the children of Israel were brought under at the time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the Lord God of their fathers. And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephraim with the towns thereof. Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the Lord struck him, ad he died.” (2 Chronicles 13:15-20).

I like that story. Notice that “The Children of Judah prevailed, because the relied upon the Lord God of their fathers.” I am so glad that I can rely on the Lord God to come thru for me. I know that I’ll still have to face the enemy which are the trials and temptations that come every day. But God will give the victory to all who trust in Him. He has promised that we can overcome all the sin in our lives if we rely on Him. He has promised to save us and see us thru. He promises to give peace in the midst of storms; He promises to give courage to face the foe; He promises to give wisdom to know how to fight. What great an marvelous promises we have to rely on and what a pity it is that we so seldom draw on the power that is totally available to us.

# posted by Judy Mackie @ 3:35 PM