Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me. - Psalm 50:15
Last week we concluded our discussion of Rehoboam, the first king of Judah, and Jeroboam, the first king of Israel. This morning we will turn our attention exclusively to Judah and read about her next 2 kings, namely Abijam and Asa. I trust that God has something wonderful in store for us today as we learn about these 2 men.
I. ABIJAM’S BRIEF REIGN (1 Kings 15:1-8; 2 Chronicles 13)
In the 18th year of Jeroboam’s reign in the northern kingdom of Israel, Abijam became king over the southern kingdom of Judah. Abijam was the son of Rehoboam and Maacah (she was likely the granddaughter of Abishalom, or Absalom). Abijam was not a godly king, but the Lord sustained him for the sake of His covenant with David (2 Samuel 7:16). War continued between Israel and Judah throughout his brief 3 year reign. When Abijam died, he was buried in Jerusalem and his son Asa became king in his place.
Abijam (also called Abijah) is remembered mostly for his military victory over Jeroboam. Though his forces were outnumbered 2-to-1, he boldly stood on Mount Zemaraim in the hill country of Ephraim and declared that God had made a covenant to David and his descendants (ie, Judah) to rule over all of Israel forever. He rebuked Jeroboam and the northern tribes for rebelling against God’s covenant. He chastised them for worshiping golden calves, appointing pagan priests, and driving out the Levites and true priests of God. He defended Judah for remaining faithful to the Lord and following the ceremonial law in the temple. He declared that God was with Judah, and warned the much larger army of Israel not to fight against the Lord.
Nevertheless, Jeroboam’s vast army ambushed Judah from the front and the rear. While under attack, Abijam’s priests blew their trumpets, his soldiers cried out to God, and then shouted a fearsome war cry. The Lord rose up and routed the men of Israel before Judah, so that they fled and their army was decimated. Some 500,000 soldiers of Israel were slain, and the northern kingdom was subdued. Abijam’s forces pursued Jeroboam’s and temporarily captured several southern Israelite cities, including Bethel, which would later be returned. Apparently, Jeroboam sustained some type of injury during the battle and suffered from its lingering effects until his death. Meanwhile, in just a few years, Abijam became quite powerful, married several wives, and fathered a large family. Still, his reign as king was fairly short.
II. ASA’S EARLY SUCCESSES (1 Kings 15:9-10; 2 Chronicles 14)
After his father Abijam died, Asa became the king of Judah in the 20th year of Jeroboam’s reign over Israel. Asa would serve as king for 41 years, ruling from his palace in Jerusalem. Asa’s mother was named Maacah, apparently the same woman as Abijam’s mother, which would seemingly make these 2 kings brothers rather than father and son. However, it is quite possible that for unknown reasons Asa was raised by his grandmother, so that she was in effect his “mother” though she didn’t actually give birth to him. Other plausible explanations exist for this quandary as well, and therefore it should not be regarded as an error in Scripture.
During the first 10 years of Asa’s reign, Judah enjoyed a prolonged period of peace. Asa used this tranquil decade to build and fortify cities throughout the southern kingdom. He surrounded these cities with walls, towers, gates, and bars. He also built up a large and well equipped army with valiant soldiers from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
The peace was finally broken when an army from Ethiopia, under the leadership of Zerah, made up of a million men and 300 chariots, came up against Judah. The opposing forces met for battle at Mareshah. Asa cried out to the Lord for help, and God routed the Ethiopians. Asa and his army pursued the fleeing Ethiopians, striking down many of them, and ultimately recovered great amounts of spoil and plunder, including many sheep, camels, and livestock.
III. ASA’S REFORMS (1 Kings 15:11-15; 2 Chronicles 15)
The prophet Azariah went out to meet with King Asa. Azariah told Asa that if he and the people of Judah would earnestly seek the LORD, that He would be with them. He further warned that if they were to abandon the LORD, He would forsake them. Azariah cited Israel’s past and an example of this principle, and encouraged Asa to be strong and to continue doing good work.
Upon hearing this prophecy, King Asa began implementing reforms in hopes of restoring Judah’s allegiance to God. He removed many abominable idols from throughout the land and restored the altar in the temple. He appointed a day for people throughout his kingdom to bring animals and make sacrifices to God. On that day, they all assembled at the temple in Jerusalem and together gave a great offering to the LORD. While there, Asa and the citizens of Judah made a covenant to seek the LORD wholeheartedly. They celebrated their oath with shouting, singing, and music.
Asa also removed Maacah from the royal position of queen mother because she had made an Asherah. He cut down the horrid, idolatrous image she’d built and burned it at the brook Kidron. Asa put away the male cult prostitutes that his father Abijam had allowed. He also returned many dedicated things to the house of the LORD, including gold and silver utensils, which had apparently been removed. Asa was a good and righteous king who, for the most part, walked in the ways of David and was devoted to God. Still, his purification of Judah was incomplete as some of the high places remained.
CONCLUSION
Both King Abijam and King Asa achieved a great victory over a much larger army. Abijam defeated Jeroboam and the Israelites, while Asa defeated Zerah and the Ethiopians. They were victorious because they cried out to God for help. Friend, no matter how great the enemy may appear, God is always bigger and stronger. Let us turn to Him for help in all of life’s battles.
As for Abijam, the Bible describes him as a bad king who provoked the Lord. His reliance on God during his conflict with Jeroboam seems to have been an isolated occurrence. Most of the time, he was promoting and allowing idolatrous behavior to run rampant in Judah. His life was characterized by long seasons of unrighteousness and sin, with an occasional act of humility and obedience. This is the opposite of what Christianity should look like. While none of us are perfect and we all stumble at times, our lives should be characterized by ongoing righteousness, faithfulness, and obedience with occasional missteps along the way. Sinful speech and conduct should be the exception, not the rule.
We will talk more about Asa next week, but for now let’s remember that he was a good king who desired to bring his people closer to God. He implemented several reforms in order to purge the wickedness from Judah and restore its devotion to the Lord. May we follow his example as we consider what changes are needed in our lives, in our homes, in our church, in our relationships, and so on, that we might walk in closer fellowship with God. May we have the courage and wisdom to put these changes into action.
Last week we concluded our discussion of Rehoboam, the first king of Judah, and Jeroboam, the first king of Israel. This morning we will turn our attention exclusively to Judah and read about her next 2 kings, namely Abijam and Asa. I trust that God has something wonderful in store for us today as we learn about these 2 men.
I. ABIJAM’S BRIEF REIGN (1 Kings 15:1-8; 2 Chronicles 13)
In the 18th year of Jeroboam’s reign in the northern kingdom of Israel, Abijam became king over the southern kingdom of Judah. Abijam was the son of Rehoboam and Maacah (she was likely the granddaughter of Abishalom, or Absalom). Abijam was not a godly king, but the Lord sustained him for the sake of His covenant with David (2 Samuel 7:16). War continued between Israel and Judah throughout his brief 3 year reign. When Abijam died, he was buried in Jerusalem and his son Asa became king in his place.
Abijam (also called Abijah) is remembered mostly for his military victory over Jeroboam. Though his forces were outnumbered 2-to-1, he boldly stood on Mount Zemaraim in the hill country of Ephraim and declared that God had made a covenant to David and his descendants (ie, Judah) to rule over all of Israel forever. He rebuked Jeroboam and the northern tribes for rebelling against God’s covenant. He chastised them for worshiping golden calves, appointing pagan priests, and driving out the Levites and true priests of God. He defended Judah for remaining faithful to the Lord and following the ceremonial law in the temple. He declared that God was with Judah, and warned the much larger army of Israel not to fight against the Lord.
Nevertheless, Jeroboam’s vast army ambushed Judah from the front and the rear. While under attack, Abijam’s priests blew their trumpets, his soldiers cried out to God, and then shouted a fearsome war cry. The Lord rose up and routed the men of Israel before Judah, so that they fled and their army was decimated. Some 500,000 soldiers of Israel were slain, and the northern kingdom was subdued. Abijam’s forces pursued Jeroboam’s and temporarily captured several southern Israelite cities, including Bethel, which would later be returned. Apparently, Jeroboam sustained some type of injury during the battle and suffered from its lingering effects until his death. Meanwhile, in just a few years, Abijam became quite powerful, married several wives, and fathered a large family. Still, his reign as king was fairly short.
II. ASA’S EARLY SUCCESSES (1 Kings 15:9-10; 2 Chronicles 14)
After his father Abijam died, Asa became the king of Judah in the 20th year of Jeroboam’s reign over Israel. Asa would serve as king for 41 years, ruling from his palace in Jerusalem. Asa’s mother was named Maacah, apparently the same woman as Abijam’s mother, which would seemingly make these 2 kings brothers rather than father and son. However, it is quite possible that for unknown reasons Asa was raised by his grandmother, so that she was in effect his “mother” though she didn’t actually give birth to him. Other plausible explanations exist for this quandary as well, and therefore it should not be regarded as an error in Scripture.
During the first 10 years of Asa’s reign, Judah enjoyed a prolonged period of peace. Asa used this tranquil decade to build and fortify cities throughout the southern kingdom. He surrounded these cities with walls, towers, gates, and bars. He also built up a large and well equipped army with valiant soldiers from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
The peace was finally broken when an army from Ethiopia, under the leadership of Zerah, made up of a million men and 300 chariots, came up against Judah. The opposing forces met for battle at Mareshah. Asa cried out to the Lord for help, and God routed the Ethiopians. Asa and his army pursued the fleeing Ethiopians, striking down many of them, and ultimately recovered great amounts of spoil and plunder, including many sheep, camels, and livestock.
III. ASA’S REFORMS (1 Kings 15:11-15; 2 Chronicles 15)
The prophet Azariah went out to meet with King Asa. Azariah told Asa that if he and the people of Judah would earnestly seek the LORD, that He would be with them. He further warned that if they were to abandon the LORD, He would forsake them. Azariah cited Israel’s past and an example of this principle, and encouraged Asa to be strong and to continue doing good work.
Upon hearing this prophecy, King Asa began implementing reforms in hopes of restoring Judah’s allegiance to God. He removed many abominable idols from throughout the land and restored the altar in the temple. He appointed a day for people throughout his kingdom to bring animals and make sacrifices to God. On that day, they all assembled at the temple in Jerusalem and together gave a great offering to the LORD. While there, Asa and the citizens of Judah made a covenant to seek the LORD wholeheartedly. They celebrated their oath with shouting, singing, and music.
Asa also removed Maacah from the royal position of queen mother because she had made an Asherah. He cut down the horrid, idolatrous image she’d built and burned it at the brook Kidron. Asa put away the male cult prostitutes that his father Abijam had allowed. He also returned many dedicated things to the house of the LORD, including gold and silver utensils, which had apparently been removed. Asa was a good and righteous king who, for the most part, walked in the ways of David and was devoted to God. Still, his purification of Judah was incomplete as some of the high places remained.
CONCLUSION
Both King Abijam and King Asa achieved a great victory over a much larger army. Abijam defeated Jeroboam and the Israelites, while Asa defeated Zerah and the Ethiopians. They were victorious because they cried out to God for help. Friend, no matter how great the enemy may appear, God is always bigger and stronger. Let us turn to Him for help in all of life’s battles.
As for Abijam, the Bible describes him as a bad king who provoked the Lord. His reliance on God during his conflict with Jeroboam seems to have been an isolated occurrence. Most of the time, he was promoting and allowing idolatrous behavior to run rampant in Judah. His life was characterized by long seasons of unrighteousness and sin, with an occasional act of humility and obedience. This is the opposite of what Christianity should look like. While none of us are perfect and we all stumble at times, our lives should be characterized by ongoing righteousness, faithfulness, and obedience with occasional missteps along the way. Sinful speech and conduct should be the exception, not the rule.
We will talk more about Asa next week, but for now let’s remember that he was a good king who desired to bring his people closer to God. He implemented several reforms in order to purge the wickedness from Judah and restore its devotion to the Lord. May we follow his example as we consider what changes are needed in our lives, in our homes, in our church, in our relationships, and so on, that we might walk in closer fellowship with God. May we have the courage and wisdom to put these changes into action.