- His rebellion was being opposed by those who adhered to the true worship of KINGS of Yahweh. (v. 10) [Abijah gives himself too much credit here. He, Abijah, is clinging to the idols of and Solomon. They believed that tolerance ISRAEL was possible! You cannot serve TWO (or more) masters. (Matthew 6:24) - ’s rebellion was directed against Yahweh Himself. (v. 12) Yahweh was ISRAEL still in Jerusalem only out of His gracious covenant with . [ As Christ is the Head of the Church even in the midst of her doctrinal errors, false Nadab Abijah worship, superficial and shallow devotion, cold-love, and zeal without 1 Kings 15:1-31; 2 Chronicles 13:1-22 knowledge. He stays because of His faithfulness, NOT OURS! (Matthew 28:20; 2 Timothy 2:13) Dynasties and Kings - His failure was certain because the priest’s trumpet alarm was directed against • (JUDAH) Only 8 of 19 kings commended as “good in the eyes of the LORD.” him. (Numbers 10:9) • (ISRAEL) All 20 kings classified as “evil in the eyes of the LORD.” • IT IS ALL ABOUT HOW GOD SEES YOU – NOT MAN! (J) Abijah’s Victory (2 Chronicles 13:13-20) • (ISRAEL) The northern kingdom lasted 250 years and had 9 dynasties. • SOURCE of VICTORY: GOD (v. 15) (see Proverbs 21:31; Psalm 144:9-10) • (JUDAH) The southern kingdom lasted 350 years and had only ONE dynasty. • TIME: “as the men of Judah shouted” [v. 15] (see Psalm 145:18; Jeremiah 33:3; Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13; Isaiah 65:24; Psalm 139:2) (J) Abijah (Yahweh is My Father) [2 Chronicles 13:1-22; 1 Kings 15:1-8] • REASON: “because they relied on the LORD” (v. 18) (Psalm 17:7; 115:9) • Became king in the 18 th year of Jeroboam, king of Israel. • EXTENT: 500,000 chosen men died, Jeroboam’s army severely hurt, cities captured (to • EVIL. (see 1 Kings 15:3) include Bethel), Jeroboam never able to recover. • Reigned less than three years. • Favorite son (not necessarily eldest) of Rehoboam. (2 Chronicles 11:21-22) (I) Nadab (1 Kings 15:25-31) • There was war between the house of Rehoboam and Jeroboam during Abijah’s whole • Reigned two years. (v. 25) reign. (2 Chronicles 13:2; 1 Kings 15:6) • EVIL in the sight of the LORD. (v. 26) • He had a DIVIDED heart. (Psalm 119:80; Revelation 3:16) • Born of, raised by, taught by his father Jeroboam. (v. 25) • Great speaker. (2 Chronicles 13:4-12) • Did not learn from his father’s mistakes but adopted his father’s sins. • ALLOWED to reign because God had a covenant with David. (1 Kings 15:4; 2 • Those who walk in the sins of their fathers my suffer greater guilt. 7:12-17) DON’T MISS “GRACE” HERE! • “A nation that does not turn from its sins seals itself for destruction.” • God promised a LAMP. Christ is the TRUE LIGHT (Psalm 132:17; John 8:12) • Nadab was killed in the midst of his own army. His army could not save him. There is no hiding place from God. (J) Abijah’s War with Jeroboam (2 Chronicles 13:3-19) • He was killed, not by the enemy, but by one of his own servants. • Abijah goes to war against Jeroboam with 1::2 odds. (400,000 to 800,000) • (v. 29) Ahijah’s prophecy (14:10-16) fulfilled by Baasha (from Issachar) – “God’s words • Abijah uses Mount Zemaraim to address Jeroboam. against sin are not lightly spoken.” (John 3:5-7; Luke 13:1-15) • In Abijah’s thinking, Jeroboam would fail: - God had given dominion to David as a “covenant of salt.” - Jeroboam was rebelling against their rightful lord. (v. 6; though the Lord gave the kingdom to Jeroboam, Jeroboam would be held responsible for his insubordination. Consider Acts 10:36, unbelievers are guilty of high treason.) - Jeroboam was rebelling against the LORD. - Jeroboam gathered to himself vain (empty) men – men with no purpose. - Jeroboam’s rebellion was with a great multitude and golden calves. (Psalm 33:16; 108:11-13; 115:8-11; 118:8-9; 147:10-11; Proverbs 21:31; Hosea 10:13; Jeremiah 17:5 ) - Jeroboam continued the rebellion in the interest of idolatry. Even though he had been informed that Solomon’s idolatry led to the division of the kingdom and that the permanence of his throne depended on his steadfast faith in Yahweh (1 Kings 11:38) he did wickedly against Yahweh’s priest and set up his own gods. (v.9)