The Kings Of Judah - Abijah (913-911 B.C.)

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                         "THE KINGS OF JUDAH"

                         Abijah (913-911 B.C.)

INTRODUCTION

1. Our study of the kings of Judah...
   a. Began with Rehoboam (931-913 B.C.),
   b. Continues now with Abijah (913-911 B.C)

2. Abijah, also known as Abijam (1Ki 15:1)...
   a. Is noted for his evil in 1st Kings - 1Ki 15:3
   b. But given some credit for good and greatness in 2nd Chronicles

[Turning to 2nd Chronicles, let's first summarize the...]
 
I. LIFE OF ABIJAH

   A. PARENTAGE...
      1. His father was Rehoboam, son of Solomon - 2Ch 12:16
      2. His mother was Michaiah (Maacah)
         a. Daughter of Uriel of Gibeah - 2Ch 13:1
         b. Granddaughter of Absalom - 2Ch 11:20-21
         c. Later deposed as queen mother by her grandson (Asa) for
            idolatry - 1Ki 15:13

   B. REIGN...
      1. Lasted three years - 2Ch 13:2
      2. Experienced war with Jeroboam of Israel - 2Ch 13:2; cf. 2Ch
         12:15
         a. Faced Jeroboam though outnumbered 2 to 1 (800K vs. 400K) 
            - 2Ch 13:3
         b. Addressed Jeroboam and his army on Mt. Zemaraim in the
            mountains of Ephraim - 2Ch 13:4
         c. Contrasted Israel's rebellion with Judah's allegiance to
            God - 2Ch 13:5-12
         d. Delivered by God from an ambush by Jeroboam - 2Ch 13:13-18
         e. Took the cities of Bethel, Jeshanah, Ephrain - 2Ch 13:19
         f. Jeroboam weakened, died soon after - 2Ch 13:20
      3. Abijah grew mighty, had 14 wives, 22 sons, 16 daughters - 2Ch
         13:21-22

   C. DEATH...
      1. Buried in the city of David, his son Asa reigned in his place
         - 2Ch 14:1
      2. Emulated his father Rehoboam more than his great-grandfather
         David - cf. 1Ki 15:3
         a. And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had
            done before him
         b. His heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the
            heart of his father David

[In his brief reign, the prominent event seems to have been his war with
Jeroboam.   Consider now, a few brief...]

II. LESSONS FROM ABIJAH

   A. MAN'S WISDOM DOES NOT ENSURE VICTORY...
      1. Jeroboam had a much larger force than Abijah - 2Ch 13:3
      2. Jeroboam's forces had Abijah's surrounded - 2Ch 13:13
      3. But Jeroboam's forces were defeated - 2Ch 13:17,19-20
      4. So we should not trust in human wisdom - cf. 1Co 1:18-31

   B. THE VALUE OF TRUE RELIGION...
      1. Jeroboam, king of Israel, had established his own religion 
         - 2Ch 13:9
      2. At first, Abijah, king of Judah, adhered to the true religion
         - 2Ch 13:10-12
      3. With God's help, Abijah was able to defeat a much larger foe 
         - 2Ch 13:18
      4. True religious remains superior to false religion today as
         well - cf. 1Jn 4:1-4

   C. CALLING ON THE LORD IN TROUBLE...
      1. Surrounded by their much larger foe, Judah cried out to the
         Lord - 2Ch 13:14
      2. God intervened, enabling Abijah and Judah to prevail - 2Ch
         13:15-18
      3. Just as God helped Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh - 1Ch 5:18-20
      4. Blessed are those who trust in the Lord! - Ps 20:7-8;
         84:11-12; Jer 17:7-8; Nah 1:7

   D. GREATNESS DOES NOT ENSURE FAITHFULNESS...
      1. Abijah grew mighty in his kingdom and family - 2Ch 13:19-20
      2. But in the end, he succumbed to unfaithfulness - 1Ki 15:3
      3. For greatness can easily lead to haughtiness - cf. 1Ti 6:17-19

   E. APOSTASY CAN OCCUR QUICKLY...
      1. Abijah's reign lasted just three years - 2Ch 13:2
      2. He trusted in the Lord at first - 2Ch 13:10-12
      3. But within a short time he became evil - 1Ki 15:3
      4. Apostasy in the Lord's church can happen quickly - cf. Ac
         20:29-30; Re 2:2-5

CONCLUSION

1. Like his father Rehoboam, Abijah demonstrated both good and evil
   qualities...
   a. We are not told why his reign was short
   b. But perhaps its was because he so quickly fell away

2. May we learn from the life and lessons of Abijah...
   a. Not to trust in human wisdom
   b. Seek to worship God in truth
   c. Calling on Him when in trouble
   d. Not letting success lead us astray
   e. Ever mindful how easy it is to fall away

May what was said of Judah at the beginning of Abijah's reign be said of
us at the end of our lives:

"...as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken Him." - 2Ch
13:10

"...they relied on the LORD God of their fathers." - 2Ch 13:18
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