2 Chronicles 13:1-3
1 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah. 2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 3 Abijah set the battle in order with an army of valiant warriors, four hundred thousand choice men. Jeroboam also drew up in battle formation against him with eight hundred thousand choice men, mighty men of valor.
The bible is clear as to when these various kings reigned. Jeroboam was the first king of the Northern Kingdom. These verses tell us when Abijah (the second king)became king over Judah. Because we know when Jeroboam was king, we can figure out the year Abijah was king. This is the way it is throughout that we might come up with a good chronology of when these kings reigned. There was fighting between the Northern and Southern kingdoms throughout their history.
2 Chronicles 13:12
Now look, God Himself is with us as our head, and His priests with sounding trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the Lord God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper!”
This is such a true statement, anyone who comes up against the Lord will not win. This is such great news for us.
2 Chronicles 13:21
But Abijah grew mighty, married fourteen wives, and begot twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
This is a picture of God’s mercy, that Abijah grew mighty in spite of his disobedience. It was not His will that man have more than one wife. In His permissive will, He allowed it. However from the beginning it was not so. This is evident in the establishment of marriage in the book of Genesis 2.
2 Chronicles 14:2-4
2 Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God, 3 for he removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places, and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images. 4 He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment.
It is evident why the land was quiet for ten years, why there was peace. When we remove the idols from our lives and seek the Lord and observe the commandments, we can expect there to be peace. When we are obedient, even in the midst of difficulty, the is great peace of heart. I love that about our God.
2 Chronicles 14:8
And Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah who carried shields and spears, and from Benjamin two hundred and eighty thousand men who carried shields and drew bows; all these were mighty men of valor.
Remember that there were twelve tribes of Israel. When the kingdom was divided, ten made up the Northern Kingdom and two made up the Southern Kingdom. The Southern Kingdom consisted of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin…as we see here in this verse.
2 Chronicles 14:11
And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, “ Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!”
This is such a great reminder to us as to how powerful our God is. Though they were terribly outnumbered by 420,000 men, it was nothing for God. Let this be our prayer, “Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God…O Lord, You are our God.”