2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 13: Judah relies on the LORD

Begin in prayer

Before you open 2 Chronicles 13, stop and ask God to show your family why Judah won against a larger army. Ask Him to show you Christ, who is God with us.

I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Psalm 56:11

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that Judah won because they relied on You, and help us to see Jesus, God with us. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Abijah begins to reign over Judah, and there is war between him and Jeroboam of Israel. Abijah has four hundred thousand chosen men, and Jeroboam has eight hundred thousand. Before the battle Abijah stands on Mount Zemaraim and tells Israel that the LORD gave David the kingdom forever. He says Judah has not forsaken the LORD, and that “God is with us at our head.” Jeroboam sets an ambush behind them, and Judah cries to the LORD while the priests sound the trumpets. God strikes Jeroboam and all Israel, and Judah wins because they relied on the LORD.

As you read 2 Chronicles 13, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD gave Judah the victory over Jeroboam's larger army, because Judah relied on Him.

Abijah was Rehoboam's son, and he began to reign in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam (verse 1). Judah had four hundred thousand men, and Jeroboam had eight hundred thousand (verse 3). Before the battle Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim and spoke to Jeroboam and all Israel (verse 4). He said the LORD gave David the kingdom forever, and that Jeroboam had made priests for golden calves (verses 5 to 9). Judah, he said, had not forsaken the LORD, and still kept His offerings and His lamps (verses 10 and 11). “God is with us at our head,” he said, and he told Israel not to fight the LORD (verse 12). When Jeroboam's ambush trapped them, Judah cried to the LORD, and God struck Jeroboam and Israel (verses 14 and 15). The text gives the reason, that Judah prevailed because they relied on the LORD (verse 18). This shows a God who gives victory to those who rely on Him, even against a larger army.

How does 2 Chronicles 13 show us that the LORD gave Judah the victory over Jeroboam's larger army, because Judah relied on Him?

Abijah told Israel that the LORD gave David the kingdom.

Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim and called Israel to hear him (verse 4). He said the LORD, the God of Israel, gave the kingdom to David and his sons forever (verse 5). He said Jeroboam had rebelled and had gathered worthless men (verses 6 and 7). He said Israel had golden calves and priests who served no gods (verses 8 and 9).

Judah served the LORD, and Abijah said God was with them.

Abijah said Judah had not forsaken the LORD (verse 10). Priests from the sons of Aaron served, and the Levites did their work (verse 10). They burned offerings every morning and evening, and set out the show bread (verse 11). Abijah said, “God is with us at our head,” and told Israel not to fight the LORD (verse 12).

God struck Jeroboam, and Judah won because they relied on the LORD.

Jeroboam set an ambush, and the battle was before and behind Judah (verses 13 and 14). Judah cried to the LORD, and the priests sounded the trumpets (verse 14). When Judah shouted, God struck Jeroboam and all Israel, and God delivered Israel into their hand (verses 15 and 16). The text says Judah prevailed because they relied on the LORD (verse 18).

Jesus is God who came to be with sinners.

Matthew says Jesus is Immanuel, which means God with us (Matthew 1 verse 23). Jesus promised to be with His own always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28 verse 20). Abijah said God was with Judah at their head, and Jesus is God who came to be with sinners.

Memorise

Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied on Yahweh, the God of their fathers.

2 Chronicles 13:18

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, who am I relying on to save me, and do I need Jesus?

Abijah told Judah, “God is with us at our head.” In Jesus, God came to be with sinners. Matthew says His name is Immanuel, which means God with us (Matthew 1 verse 23).

Judah's enemy was an army. Our enemies are sin and death, and no army of ours can beat them. At the cross Jesus died for His sheep, and by His death He broke the power of death (Hebrews 2 verse 14). That victory is complete and enough for His people. Then He rose, alive forever.

So come to Him. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him will be forgiven, and God will be with that person.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD gave Judah the victory because they relied on Him, and that Jesus is God with us. Parents, verse 17 tells of a great slaughter, and God does not promise that every army that prays will win. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He helps those who rely on Him, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Yahweh helps them, and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, Because they have taken refuge in him.

Psalm 37:40

Father, thank You that You helped Judah when they relied on You. Thank You for Jesus, who came to be with sinners, died, and rose again. Please teach each of us to rely on Him and to turn from sin. Amen.