1 Kings 15 Abijahm
Rehoboam’s son, Abijam takes the throne. Jeroboam is still king of the northern kingdom of Israel. And the two of them meet in battle many times.
We don’t get to see much at all in the life of Abijam. His reign was short. Not the shortest, but among the single digit kings. The only story we have of his time on the throne is a battle he waged against Jeroboam. This was an important battle as it demonstrated to all who the Source of Israel really was; God Himself. Let’s peek in on King Abijah and see him stand for the Lord; at least once.
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Jeroboam keeps coming at Judah, trying to add the last two tribes to his own kingdom. “Israel isn’t supposed to be divided! She should be whole” reasons Jeroboam. He has been fighting with Rehoboam since the beginning, but neither has gained the upper hand. Rehoboam is finally gone and his son, Abijah, sits on this throne. “Maybe he will listen to reason. Maybe he is ready to reunite the nation” muses Jeroboam.
Abijam is thinking the same thing when he takes the throne. But his thought is of HIM remaining on the throne, as he is David’s rightful heir.
Abijam is seriously out numbered as he faces off with Jeroboam. They have both won and lost skirmishes. This time is different though. Jeroboam is determined to see Judah fall and Abijah is determined to keep that from happening.
Abijam knows that there is only ONE place to turn to for help. It is the one place that Jeroboam has completely cut himself, and those he reigns over, off from. That source is the Lord God. Abijah comes to this battle prepared to let the Lord have His work and the glory.
Troops have been amassing for days on both sides of the battle lines. Abijam has 400,000 of the best men the kingdom of Judah has to offer. Jeroboam, having more people and tribes, doubles what Abijah has; 800,000 fight for Israel.
Abijam looks out over the battle field from his perch atop Mt. Zemaraim. “It this were simply about numbers, I would pack up and go home. But it is NOT. It is about the TRUE source of the people of the nation. It is about the Lord!
Abijam KNOWS that he can’t do this alone. He also has compassion on the people of Israel. “Are they so deluded by Jeroboam that they can’t see the damage he brought to them? If I offer them a chance to come back to the Lord, will they take it?” He HAS to try!
More than anything else, Abijam is announcing to Israel, Jeroboam, the men of Judah, and the Lord where his source lies. Abijam takes up a position overlooking the battle field, on Mt. Zemaraim. In a voice ringing with authority he calls out to all.
“Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel! Ought 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? Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord, and certain worthless scoundrels gathered about him and defied Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and irresolute and could not withstand them.
“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. Have 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. But 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. They 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. Behold, 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” (2 Chronicles 13:4-12).
Jeroboam was in no mood to listen. He already had a battle plan in play. He set up and ambush behind Judah. “I have them in a pincer movement” he commends himself for his forethought. On cue, Jeroboam’s men start advancing from both directions.
The men of Judah see that they are surrounded. Their ONLY hope is in the Lord, just as Abijam said. With one voice, they start calling out to the Lord. “Strengthen my hand, Lord!” “The battle belongs to the Lord!” “Do with me whatever is Your will, Lord.”
At that same moment, the Levites blow the trumpets for battle and the men of Judah rush into battle. Surrounded on all sides, the men of Judah rush into battle, confident in the Lord.
Swords clash, shields crunch, men grunt and yell, and bodies fall. The Lord truly fights for Judah. Israel is broken and they begin to flee before them. By nightfall 500,000 of Israel’s men lie dead on the ground.
Abijam pursues Jeroboam and takes Bethel, Jeshana, and Ephron with all their surrounding territories from Israel. These cities will know the Lord again.
Jeroboam is broken. His power will never be the same. His reign will outlast Abijah’s but he will be struck down by the Lord, just as the Ahijah foretold his wife.
Abijam did not wholly turn to the Lord. He left the high places, the Asherim, and the altars to other gods in place. God gave him three years on the throne before he died. He was buried in the city of David among the kings and his son Asa took his place on the throne.
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It is so hard to reconcile Abijam’s reliance on God for such a lopsided battle, and him NOT ridding Judah of the false gods. Makes me think of someone trying to straddle a picket fence. Not hard to do if the fence is VERY short, but when it gets taller, it becomes a HUGE problem.
God does NOT share His place in our hearts. You cannot serve two gods, if one of them is the True God. You might get away with it for a short time, but this is NOT a lifestyle that God will allow.
God gives us mercy and grace with time to repent, but repentance is required. Even the ‘best’ man in the world cannot see God’s face without putting HIM on the throne of his heart. And the ‘worst’ man in the world can be made right with God by surrendering his whole heart to Him. That surrender is the ONLY way to Heaven. And it only happens through the blood of Jesus Christ. HE paid for our sins so we can be right with God. Works will NEVER EVER get you there. Not saying the right things. Not wearing the right clothes. Not hanging out with the right people. Not going to the right church. TRUE Relationship with Jesus as your Lord and Savior is the ‘entry price’ to Heaven.
Father God, THANK YOU for sending Jesus! Thank You for making a way for me to have a right relationship with You. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that brings me back in line with You whenever I wander. I want NO other gods in my life. And I KNOW that whatever happens in my life, I’m SAFE in Your arms. And so is my husband.
