Second Chronicles 13 Commentary
http://www.lovingscripture.com
400,000 against 800,000. Judah against Israel. Judah is outnumbered.
The golden calves of Bethel and Dan, against the one Sovereign God of Abraham at Jerusalem. The pagan priests of countless gods of Israel against the Levitical priests of the one LORD God. Judah is not outnumbered.
At the end of the day, we have 500,000 casualties; from the 800,000 and none from the 400,000.
Figures don’t lie. Yes, the 400,000 have defeated the 800,000. Unlike Rehoboam, young and inexperienced, Abijah appears to have known the art of ‘casting it before the LORD’. It was no longer Judah’s battle. It became the LORD’s battle; the LORD against the many gods of Israel.
About half of this chapter is a war speech by King Abijah. It is more of a prayer than a war speech. But because it is addressed to Jeroboam, maybe it is not a prayer at all. Because Jeroboam is not probably listening to this speech, it appears this monologue by Abijah is only audible within his own small closet.
Abijah’s closet speech proved a waste of time. He was completely surrounded by the time he was saying Amen. Yes, let the saint waste time this way; then they won’t have to waste time by fighting the enemy. The saint is encouraged to seek the face of God in prayer; to elevate the problem to the level where the LORD can get involved. Leave it there.
Abijah’s speech is actually a prayer. This kind of prayer ministers more to the saint and helps to generate faith. Abijah is looking at the facts. He begins by identifying reasons why similar battles in the past failed. The inexperienced Rehobaom didn’t know where his strength lay. He didn’t know who his real enemy was. Abijah knows who the real enemy is. Abijah is wise enough to understand that the attack is not on Judah but on Judah’s God.
The saint must not fight the battle that they cannot win. The battle is for the LORD. Leave it there.
More resources visit http://www.lovingscripture.com
LOVING SCRIPTURE 