Sat.’s Devo - Abijah’s Reign

Read: 2 Chronicles 11:1-13:22; Romans 8:26-39; Psalm 18:37-50; Proverbs 19:27-29 Rehoboam mobilized his troops to fight Jeroboam but the Lord told his prophet, Shemaiah not to fight his brothers because this was all God’s doing. Rehoboam obeyed and didn’t go to fight them. Instead, Rehoboam fortified his own cities of the land he had authority over. He strengthened his army and supplied provision and weapons to the towns in his realm. Levites living in the northern kingdom abandoned their land and houses to come and live in Judah and Jerusalem so they could worship the Lord and serve as his priests. Jeroboam would not let them worship the Lord in his kingdom. For three years, Rehoboam’s kingdom followed the Lord and were faithful. It seems to me that when Rehoboam married Maacah, the granddaughter of Absalom that things went downhill for him. He appointed Maacah’s first born, Abijah to be the next king and loved her more than any of his other wives and concubines. He fathered 88 sons. He wisely gave his sons provisions and places of authority all over the kingdom. But, when Rehoboam had established his power over his kingdom, he turned away from the Lord and followed Israel into worshipping other gods. God sent King Shishak of Egypt to attack Jerusalem in his fifth year of being king. He conquered Judha’s fortified towns and then came for Jerusalem. The leaders of Israel humbled themselves before God and realized their sin had gotten them into this predicament. God saw their hearts and repented of destroying them completely but instead chose to make them subjects of Egypt. He wanted them to know the difference between serving Him and serving earthly rulers. King Shishak came to Jerusalem and took everything of value even the gold shields Solomon had made. They were later replaced with bronze ones. Rehoboam reestablished his kingdom and reigned 17 years but was considered an evil king because he did not seek the Lord with all his heart. When he died, he was buried in the City of David and his son Abijah became the next king. He only reigned three years. There was war between him and Jeroboam in Israel. They came head to head and when Jeroboam surrounded Abijah and the army of Judah, they cried out to the Lord and he saved them. Israel ended up fleeing from Abijah’s army when the priest blew the trumpets and the men of Judah shouted. God gave Judah the victory and they killed 500,000 Israelites. Jeroboam never regained power during Abijah’s lifetime and the Lord struck him down and he died. Abijah grew more and more powerful and had 38 children. In Romans, Paul instructs us in how we participate with the Lord in our prayers. We pray through the Holy Spirit what God wants to do on the earth and then he is free to do it. He wants only good for us and does everything through his love. No matter what we face, nothing can come between or separate us from his love. We can stand with the same assurance that Jesus did when he prayed to his father because that spirit of Christ is in us. Lord, thank you for your wonderful plan of redemption and love for your children. Help us to walk always in your presence.