2 Chronicles 13 | Victory Through Covenant Faithfulness

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Transcript

Charlie Mitchell 0:01

You're listening to the Dope Daily Audio Bible, and I'm your guide, Pastor Charlie Mitchell. And today, we're looking at 2 Chronicles, chapter 13. Let's roll. in the 18th year of Israel's King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah, and he reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Micaiah, daughter of Uriel. she was from Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. Abijah set his army of warriors in order with 400,000 fit young men. Jeroboam arranged his mighty army of 800,000 fit young men in battle formation against him. Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, "Jeroboam and all Israel, hear me. don't you know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel to David and his descendants forever by covenant of salt? But Jeroboam, son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon, son of David, rose up and rebelled against his Lord. then worthless and wicked men gathered around him to resist Rehoboam, son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young, inexperienced, and unable to assert himself against them. And now you are saying you can assert yourselves against the Lord's kingdom, which is in the hand of David's sons. You are a vast number and have with you the golden calves Jeroboam made for you as gods. Didn't you banish the priests of the Lord, the descendants of Aaron and the Levites, and make your own priests like the peoples of other lands do? Whoever comes to ordain himself with a young bull and seven rams may become priests of what are not gods. But as for us, the Lord is our God. We have not abandoned Him. The priests ministering to the Lord are descendants of Aaron, and the Levites serve at their tasks. offer a burnt offering and fragrant incense to the Lord every morning and every evening, and they set the rows of the bread of the presence on the ceremonially clean table. They light the lamps of gold lampstand every evening. We are carrying out the requirements of the Lord, our God, while you have abandoned Him. Look, God and His priests are with us at our head. The trumpets are ready to sound the charge against you. Israelites, don't fight against the Lord God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed. Now, Jeroboam has sent an ambush around to advance from behind them, so they were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them. Judah turned and discovered that the battle was in front of them and behind them, so they cried out to the Lord. Then the priest blew the trumpets, and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. When the men of Judah raised the battle cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. So the Israelites fled before Judah, and God handed them over to them. Then Abijah and his people struck them with a mighty blow, and 500,000 fit young men of Israel were killed. The Israelites were subdued at that time. The Judahites succeeded because they, depended on the Lord, the God of their ancestors. Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured some cities from him, Jeshana, and Ephron, along with the surrounding villages. Jeroboam no longer retained his power during Abijah's reign. Ultimately, the Lord struck him and he died. However, Abijah grew strong, acquired 14 wives and fathered 22 sons and 16 daughters. The rest of the events of Abijah's reign, along with his ways and his sayings, are written in the writings of the prophet Iddo. Let's pray. Jesus, you are our confidence and our strength. When we're outnumbered, outmatched, or overwhelmed, you are still enough. Judah cried out to you in the middle of the battle, and you gave them victory because they relied on you. I pray that you would teach us to do the same. When we face challenges that are bigger than us, help us to run to you first instead of relying on our own strength. Remind us that our greatest victories don't come from our abilities, but from your presence. give us faith to trust you when the odds seem against us, courage to obey you when it's difficult, and peace to know that you are fighting for us. Jesus, thank you that through the cross, you have already run the greatest victory. Help us to live today with confidence, not in ourselves, but in you. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.