King Abijah’s Truth

Synopsis     2Chron 13:7-18     3/19/2020 

King Abijah was the son of Rehoboam and the grandson of Solomon. And he was aggressive.  

So, not long after his coronation, he invaded the northern kingdom. Specifically, he brought his army into Ephraim. Once there, he positioned his forces on Mount Zemaraim.  

On the mount, Abijah found an elevated location above Jeroboam’s forces below. Then, he took advantage of the situation to make a long address to the northern Israelites. Accordingly, he extolled them quite the fight. And he encouraged them to reunite the nation and worship the one true God at the temple in Jerusalem. 

 However, as he spoke, King Jeroboam sent troops behind his forces for ambush.  

Once the battle commenced, Abijah quickly realized his situation. The Israelites were attacking his forces from two directions. So, he cried out to God in prayer. And God had mercy the forces from Judah. As a result, there was a great route. And, Jeroboam’s forces suffered great losses.  

King Abijah’s Truth 

King Abijah spoke the truth to an unwillingly audience. They used the opportunity to plot an ambush. Even so, God preserved the young king and gave him victory. 

Truth and Danger 

There is always danger in speaking the truth. Every authentic preacher knows this. Still, though the dangers are real, they are often hard to discern.  

You see, I am a sinner. So, I know how it works.  

If you speak against my self-justifications, then I can become almost unnaturally clever. And, without much thought, I will go behind you. Like Jeroboam, I will ambush you – only not with soldiers, but with gossip and innuendo. And I will work to destroy you.  

I don’t do these things because of personal hatred. I do them because, when I sin, I hate the light of truth. And so, I willingly kill the lamp bearer not because of who he is, but because he holds the light.  

This is a terrible truth that is eclipsed only by this holy irony: Those whom I have fought most determinedly against are the very same people who have saved my life.  

Therefore, if you are called to speak, be fearless in proclaiming the truth. 

“proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.” 2Tim 4:2