Abijah's Brief Reign

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The Brief Reign of Abijah

 

Abijah succeeded Rehoboam as king of Judah.

II Chronicles 13: 1 - 2

This same king is also known as Abijam. 

I Kings 15: 1 - 8

 

Not much is mentioned of him in I Kings other than the fact that there was constant warfare between Abijah and Jeroboam, who was king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. 

 

We learn from what we just read that Abijah was not a steadfast follower of God. 

 

We can’t be absolutely certain who started this war, but we do know that Abijah had 400,000 men facing the army of Jeroboam that had 800,000 men. 

 

We get more details from the account in II Chronicles, because it records what Abijah said. 

 

Abijah stated several charges against Jeroboam. He claimed that Jeroboam did not have a legitimate claim to rule because that was given to the heirs of David. 

II Chronicles 13: 5 - 7

 

While making this charge, Abijah fails to mention that God gave the Ten Northern tribes to Jeroboam because of Solomon’s sins. 

I Kings 11: 9 - 13

 

Solomon was given two warnings before this judgment was brought down. 

 

Jeroboam had rebelled against Rehoboam because God had told him to. 

I Kings 11: 29 - 38

 

Jeroboam was offered an enduring kingdom, just like David’s, if he continued to follow and obey God. 

 

He didn’t continue to follow God, though. He established idols to separate the people from Jerusalem. 

I Kings 12: 26 - 31

 

Abijah claimed the only reason Jeroboam got away with the rebellion was because Rehoboam was too young and timid. 

The complete truth is that Rehoboam caused the rebellion by insisting on a huge tax increase. 

I Kings 12: 13 - 16

 

Nothing ever changes, does it? 

 

Abijah charges Jeroboam with resisting the kingdom of God by making idols. 

II Chronicles 13: 8

 

Jeroboam drove out the priests and Levites, and he replaced them with whoever made offerings to his idols. 

II Chronicles 13: 9

 

Jeroboam was fighting against God. 

II Chronicles 13: 12

 

Notice the shift that has occurred. God gave the rule to David’s heirs. 

II Chronicles 13: 5

 

Jeroboam rebelled against his master. 

II Chronicles 13: 6

 

Jeroboam resisted the kingdom of God. 

II Chronicles 13: 8

 

Jeroboam had forsaken God. 

II Chronicles 13: 11

 

Jeroboam was fighting against God. He was fighting against what God had established, and scripture shows us that this is fighting against God, Himself. 

 

There have always been people in every age who claim to be following God while they are really rebelling against Him. The children of Israel were like this. From the start, they complained against Moses. 

Exodus 16: 2

 

Moses pointed out, though, that their complaints were not against him, but they were against God. 

Exodus 16: 7

 

That’s because Moses was in his position by God’s authority. 

 

They complained against Moses again later in their journey. 

Numbers 14: 2

 

God stated that this was a complaint against Him.
Numbers 14: 27

Numbers 14: 35

 

We have a New Testament example of this in Paul. Paul sought to destroy the Church. 

Galatians 1: 13

 

Jesus told him that he was, in fact, persecuting Him personally. 

Acts 9: 4 - 5

 

One of the major arguments against premillennialism is that it tries to make the church insignificant. It claims that the church is a last minute substitute. However, scripture shows us that the church was the result of God’s wisdom. 

Ephesians 3: 10 - 11

 

We hear people all the time who object to us quoting scripture. They claim that all we need to do is tell people about Jesus. This is known as “teach the man and not the plan.” 

 

Notice in our study how Abijah made sure to list out how Jeroboam had corrupted the only true religion of that time, while Judah didn’t. 

II Chronicles 13: 8 - 11

 

The corruption of God’s plan for worship is rebellion against God Himself. 

 

This wasn’t a single issue litmus test. This is solid evidence that rebellion in one thing indicates rebellion in other areas as well. 

 

Look at when Paul preached against circumcision. 

Galatians 5: 2 - 4

 

Paul told them that forcing circumcision was a rebellion against Christ Himself. It wasn’t a one issue litmus test, but evidence of widespread rebellion against God. 

 

When we point out that the use of instrumental music is a change to worship, it isn’t a single issue. It establishes that people who do it are willing to rebel against God who established what He wanted in worship. 

Colossians 3: 16

Ephesians 5: 19

 

Jesus can’t be separated from His teachings. 

Luke 6: 46

Matthew 7: 21 - 23

 

Those who teach doctrine contrary to what God revealed in the Bible are slaves of their own appetite instead of servants of God. 

Romans 16: 17 - 18

 

What’s interesting about the Abijah record is that God did help him, just not immediately. Jeroboam sent a group to ambush Abijah between the main army and their group. It was only when Abijah realized they were in trouble and needed God desperately, that he cried to God for help, and God stepped in. 

II Chronicles 13: 13 - 17

 

God proved that He alone is real by supporting those who followed Him against the overwhelming odds they faced, and providing them with an overwhelming victory. No matter how successful a false doctrine may appear at the moment, it never succeeds in the end when it goes against God.