Abijah - First Battle

By Mary Vee
II Chronicles 13

From Abijah's Journal

Last time I wrote, I told you of my new position as king of Judah. After father's passing, I deeply wanted to reunite the kingdom, all twelve tribes.

As my foe, Jeroboam, king of Israel, he drew the battle line with an army twice the size of mine. I spoke to them, warning the soldiers of our deep desire to worship the Lord. I welcomed them to join us and to walk away from Jeroboam as their leader.

Not one came to our side. 

I raised my sword signaling my army to attack. But, it was then that a noise from behind my army captured my attention. I looked and found an ambush of Jeroboam's soldiers waiting to attack. They crept around behind us while I offered their army one last chance to join us. Crafty.

Surrounded on all sides by an army twice the size of us, I knew we were doomed unless we had help from God. I and my men cried out to the Lord. The priests with us, ones appointed by God, blew their trumpets signaling all the men of Judah to raise the battle cry.

At the same moment our cry rang toward the heavens, God routed Jeroboam and all of his army before us. Jeroboam and his army tried to flee, but God delivered them into our hands. Their army suffered five hundred thousand casualties from our swords. A heavy loss for Jeroboam's army.

My army chased Jeroboam, forcing him to retreat quite a ways. We took from him the towns of Bethel, Jeshanah and Ephron, with their surrounding villages. What a glorious victory for Judah. Jeroboam did not regain power at any time during my reign.

After the battle we celebrated the Lord's victory over Jeroboam's army. We had relied on the Lord the God of our fathers for help, and he provided.

Life became easier afterwards.

I married fourteen times and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. I must admit I didn't keep all the commands of the Lord after the day of the battle. The priests warned my father against doing many of the things he did. They warned me too. My heart was not fully devoted to the Lord any longer.

Not like David, the great king that everyone talks about. The priest once told me I should feel blessed because, although I had sinned, for David's sake, the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong. 

The priest also said David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord's commands all the days of his life--except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.

I don't know that I could live up to such a standard. It seemed easier to follow my father's footsteps, even though it did not please God.

**********************************
1. Who is king of Israel at this time?  Who is king of Judah at this time?
2. Why did Abijah fight Jeroboam's army?
3. What sneaky plan did Jeroboam's army have?
4. What did Abijah and his army do when they saw Jeroboam's attack? They cried to _____
5. What happened next?
6. After the battle what kind of life did Abijah choose to live? Why?
7. Did Abijah choose to continue following God?

Jeroboam-The Prophet Gives Bad News to the King

By Mary Vee
I Kings 13-14

From the Prophet Ahijah's, who lives in Shiloh, Notes

Long ago, before Jerusalem became capital of Israel, Shiloh had been the home for our leaders. I have continued to live in Shiloh, conducting my priestly duties as before.

While Solomon was still on the throne, the Lord gave me a message to tell Jeroboam. It was then that he heard he would one day rule Israel. Time has passed and Solomon died.

Jeroboam took over as king of Israel while Rehoboam, son of king Solomon, ruled as king over Jerusalem. Most, if not all of the Levites, left their homes and moved to Jerusalem to show their dedication to the throne of David.

The Lord spoke to me saying king Jeroboam's son became ill and that he wanted to know if his son would live. He would send his wife to me dressed in a disguise. When she arrives I was to give her the answer from the Lord.

I am an old man, and not able to see well any more. Knowing who would be coming helped me tremendously. That afternoon I heard the sound of footsteps at the door. 

"Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why are you dressed in a disguise? I have bad news for you. 

"Go and tell Jeroboam this message from the Lord. 'I raised you up from among the people and made you a leader over my people Israel. I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, but you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commands and followed me with all his heart, doing only what was right in my eyes. 

'You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods, idols made of metal. You have provoked me to anger and thrust me behind your back. 

'Because of this, I am going to bring disaster on our house. I will cut off from you every last male in Israel--slave or free. I will burn up your house until it is gone. Dongs will eat those belonging to you, and the birds of the air will feed on those who die in the country where you rule. The Lord has spoken!'

"Then I spoke to her. "As for you, go back home. The moment you return the boy will die. All of Israel will mourn for him and bury him. He is the only one belonging to Jeroboam who will be buried, because he is the only one the Lord has found favor.

"The Lord will raise up a king over Israel who will cut off the family of Jeroboam from the throne. It will happen today. Yes, today. It will happen because of the idols Jeroboam has set up. Israel will suffer because of Jeroboam's sins and the people's choice to follow him."

She left my home without a word. Later I learned that the moment she stepped into her home her son died. The king buried him and all Israel mourned for him as the Lord said. Next Jeroboam will see the rest of the fulfillment of the Lord's message.

The Liar's Lament

By Mary Vee
I Kings 13:25-32

From The Prophet's Journal

I had heard that a prophet from Jerusalem came to the altar king Jeroboam set up. The prophet spoke a message from God to him. His message didn't exactly please, Jeroboam. In fact, Jeroboam wanted him arrested. 

A strange thing happened. Jeroboam had reached out his hand to yell at the prophet, and immediately it became paralyzed. Those who witnessed the event said they were amazed. Jeroboam ordered the prophet to pray to his God to heal the hand. The prophet did then finished his message. 

I'd heard he went back home down the road that went past my home. I went out looking for him, to offer food and rest. Not far away I saw him sitting under a tree. I invited him to my home, but he refused saying, "God instructed me not to turn back, I am not to eat bread or drink water with you in this place."

His droopy eyes showed how tired he was. Probably hadn't eaten or drank in a while. I said, "Come on. I too am a prophet, as you are." He looked up at me, brow furrowed as if not sure of my words. I really wanted to help him so I lied, "An angel said to me by the word of the Lord: 'Bring him back with you to your house and give him bread and water.'"

I reached my hand out to help him up. I felt honored to have him in my home.

Again something strange happened. While we sat down to eat I received a message from the Lord. Imagine! Me. The words flowed from my mouth without a thought. I said, "This is what the Lord says, 'You have defied the word of the Lord and have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where he told you not to eat or drink. Therefore you will die and not be buried with your fathers."

I hardly believed the words from my mouth. Maybe God wanted to scare the prophet. After we ate, I packed my own donkey for him and watched him leave. 

A short while later some people passed by my house telling news. They said, "Further down this very road we saw a body thrown down. And there was a lion standing beside it!"

I knew who it was. "It is the man of God who did not obey the word of the Lord. The Lord has given him to the lion which has killed him as the word of the Lord had warned."

I called my sons to help me. "Saddle the donkey for me." As soon as the donkey was ready I mounted and rode as quickly as possible to the place. There I found the prophet's body with  the donkey I gave him standing near and the lion, too. The lion had neither eaten the body nor hurt the donkey. 

I pick up the prophet's body and laid it on the donkey he rode. Tears flowed down my face. I took him straight to the tomb I had set aside for myself. I wept bitterly for him. "Oh, my brother!"

I called my sons closer and instructed them, "When I die, bury me in the grave where the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones. I now know the message he brought from the word of the Lord saying all of Jeroboam's priests will be killed is true. His words against the altar in Bethel and the shrines on the high places is true. This, my sons, was a true man of God."

Despite this prophet of God's words, king Jeroboam didn't change his evil ways. He instead appointed more priests for the high places choosing anyone he please. And none were Levites as the Lord commanded.

What terrible days are ahead. And I wept more.

*************************
photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

1. Why did the prophet of Bethel invite the prophet from Jerusalem to his house?
2. While at the prophet of Bethel's house, what happened?
3. Did either man believe it would happen?
4. What news came to the prophet of Bethel from travelers on the road?
5. What did the prophet of Bethel do?
6. Why did the prophet of Bethel cry?
7. Did king Jeroboam listen to the prophet of Jerusalem?

Jeroboam-The Evil Deceiver

By Mary Vee
I Kings 12 and II Chronicles 11

From A Levite's Journal

These words I am about to write can cost me my life. If you find this, please think of God's commands to His people before you are tempted to turn it over to King Jeroboam.

Jeroboam seemed to be a man after God's heart. He won our sympathy when Solomon's son, King Rehoboam, ordered an increase in labor demands. The people walked away from Rehoboam, even though he was the blessed King David's grandson. We/they were wrong.

David's descendants were to rule over Israel. No matter if good or bad, God said David's descendants would rule...end of discussion.

And now, Rehoboam, David's grandson is hiding in Jerusalem where the only tribe, Judah, has honored God's commands and remain under his rule.

As for Jeroboam, that wicked king deceived the rest of the tribes into making him king over them. I heard him talking to one of his advisors yesterday. He said, "The people will want to go to the temple in Jerusalem to offer their sacrifices to God. If they go to there, the will be in the territory of that King Rehoboam. I simply can't have that."

His advisor said, "I agree. What do you want to do?"

"We'll construct a god. We'll make two and put one in each corner of the country. We can point out how convenient it is for the people to offer their sacrifices. Yes. That should solve the problem. Have the laborers craft me two golden calfs. Quickly! Let's get this done, now."

The advisor hurried out of the king's chambers and put a rush on king Jeroboam's request. By the end of the afternoon, two golden calves were present to king Jeroboam. He smiled a wicked smile and called a meeting of all the Israelites.

"My people. Going to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices is such a long journey for you. I have made these two golden calves. One will be placed in Bethel, in the south and the other in Dan, in the north.  Go to these places to offer your sacrifices and worship your god."

The people gladly did as he said. They said it was much easier to go a short distance to offer their sacrifices. As a Levite, it didn't take any thinking at all to know this displeased God. My anger burned.

Jeroboam them built shrines in high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people even though they were not Levites! To insure the people would not go to Jerusalem for feasts and festivals, he created new ones. He offered the first sacrifices on these new altars.

Enough was enough. I refuse to give my allegiance to Jeroboam. Solomon's son, Rehoboam may be wicked, but at least he is from the line of David. I joined the other Levites, leaving our pastureland and property behind to journey to Jerusalem and live under the rule of Rehoboam.

We were not the only ones to see the truth. There were many from each tribe of Israel who decided to stay true to seeking the will of the Lord, the God of Israel. They journeyed with us to Jerusalem and offered their sacrifices to the Lord, the God of their fathers where God told us to. 

They joined us in supporting king Rehoboam, Solomon's son and lived in Jerusalem under Rehoboam's rule.

There simply is a time to stand up and do what is right, no matter what. 

I am proud to be among those who left Jeroboam and set my allegiance to king Rehoboam, the grandson of David, blessed by God.

*******************************
picture courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

1. Who is the evil king?
2. What did he do that was wrong?
3. Who was the blessed king of Israel?
4. Who is Rehoboam?
5. Why were the Levites angry?
6. What did they do?
7. What kind of people joined them?