2 Chronicles 13

What’s Happening?

God’s people are in the middle of a civil war that directly threatens God’s promise to let a united Israel rule forever. Ten of Israel's twelve tribes have rejected David’s dynasty and God’s temple in Jerusalem. They have installed a rebel, Jeroboam, as their king and built a rival temple filled with golden calves in the town of Bethel (2 Chronicles 11:15). The remaining tribes loyal to David and God’s temple are led by David’s great grandson, Abijah, who is determined to reunite God’s people. Preparing for the worst, he rallies 400,000 troops to battle Jeroboam's army of 800,000 men (2 Chronicles 13:1-3). 

On the battle line, Abijah demands Jeroboam and Israel’s treasonous tribes reconsider their rebellion. By divine decree God has promised David’s dynasty to last forever (2 Chronicles 13:4-5). God’s people are supposed to unite under his name and rule forever. Jeroboam’s civil war is both ill-advised and short-sighted (2 Chronicles 13:6-7). God is on Abijah’s side. The northern tribes have abandoned God, his king, his priesthood, and his temple with their pursuit of self-sovereignty and their golden calves (2 Chronicles 13:8-9). Abijah warns that if Jeroboam continues this campaign, he won’t just be fighting Israel’s army, but God himself (2 Chronicles 13:10-12). They are trading an eternal kingdom for an inevitable defeat. 

But while Abijah is speaking, Jeroboam surrounds Abijah’s forces and springs an ambush (2 Chronicles 13:13). Abijah immediately prays for God’s help while the priests he brought with him blow their sacred trumpets and rouse the army to action (2 Chronicles 13:14). And as soon as the battle begins Jeroboam loses 500,000 of his soldiers and is forced to retreat (2 Chronicles 13:15-17). Abijah takes back three strategic cities, including Bethel, the home of Jeroboam's defeated gods (2 Chronicles 13:19). Just as Abijah warned, God was with him and his people. He trusted God would deliver them, and he did (2 Chronicles 13:18). 

Where is the Gospel?

When God’s kings worship God and seek his guidance, their kingdoms flourish. Abijah trusted God, so he was saved from an ambush. Abijah remained committed to Israel’s temple, and his family grew. This point is made repeatedly throughout the book of Chronicles. As long as God’s kings remain committed to God and his temple, they succeed. Abijah is a model for future kings to copy. He is the type of king God’s people should submit to and trust in.

Sadly, God’s people in Judah do not learn this lesson. They will soon copy the treason of Israel and trade the eternal kingdom promised to David’s son for idols and inevitable defeat. We are no different. We would rather be self-sovereign, worship our hearts’ desires, and reject God’s kingship of our lives than submit to God’s chosen King and Kingdom. To turn back our rebellious hearts, we need a faithful son of David who can turn us from rebellion and return us to God’s eternal Kingdom (Matthew 3:2). 

This is why God sent us his son, Jesus. Jesus lived a life totally aligned with God’s commands, and even gave his life to ensure God’s temple would stand forever (John 2:19-20). God then raised him from the dead and seated him on the eternal throne he had promised his forefather David. From this position of total sovereignty and authority over both life and death, Jesus offers his people the eternal Kingdom that Abijah told rebellious Israel to accept. But better than Abijah, Jesus turns rebellious hearts away from their idolatrous self-sovereignty and instead writes the laws of God’s Kingdom firmly on our hearts (2 Corinthians 3:3). He transforms us to live aligned with God’s commands so that we can enjoy his eternal Kingdom forever.

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who has given us a faithful king. And may you see Jesus as the one who has invited you to live in his eternal Kingdom forever.