Today’s reading: 2Chronicles 10-13
2Chronicles 13.10-12 “10
“But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken Him; and the sons
of Aaron are ministering to the LORD as priests, and the Levites attend to
their work. 11 “Every morning and evening they burn to the LORD burnt offerings
and fragrant incense, and the showbread is set
on the clean table, and the golden lampstand with its lamps is ready to light every evening; for we
keep the charge of the LORD our God, but you have forsaken Him. 12 “Now behold,
God is with us at our head and His
priests with the signal trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O sons of
Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers, for you will not
succeed.””
In todays reading, the chronicler
gives us the reign of Rehoboam, as well as his foolish decision that led to the
division of the nation (2Chronicles10-11.13). Jeroboam now is king of the Northern
tribes and brings in a false religious system (2Chronicles 11.14-17). Rehoboam follows
in the sins of his fathers, multiplying wives (2Chronicles 11.18-23). Shishak, king ofEgypt invades the Southern Kingdom, but the leaders humbly turn to the LORD,
but Sishak looted the Southern Kingdom (2Chronicles 12). Abijah succeeds his
father, Rehoboam, and fought a battle with the Northern Kingdom, and later
Jeroboam died (2Chronicles 13).
The Southern Kingdom of Judah, led
by Abijah, son of Rehoboam (grandson of Solomon), had 400,000 fighting men. The
Northern Kingdom, led by Jeroboam had 800,00 fighting men.
The Northern Kingdom had twice as
many fighters, but what the Southern Kingdom had that the Northern Kingdom did
not have was the LORD! And that’s all the Southern Kingdom needed!
The “covenant of salt” mentioned
in 2Chronicles 13.05
literally means “an everlasting covenant”. As the waters of the ocean never
lose their saltiness, so too will God never renege on His covenant that He made
with David (1Chronicles 17.10, see post on May 16,2013).
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