READING THE BOOK OF Second Chronicles CHAPTER Thirteen.
Our favorite verse in 2 Chronicles Chapter 13 is:
Judah turned and saw that they were being attacked at both front and rear. Then they cried outto the Lord. The priests blew their trumpets (2 Chronicles 13:14 NIV).
Obey the divine command.
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Historical Commentary.– At the end of a troubled reign of twenty-two years, Jeroboam suffered a disastrous defeat in the war with Abijah, and was succeeded by Rehoboam. “Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.” … The apostasy introduced during the reign of Jeroboam became extended with time, until finally resulted in the complete destruction of the kingdom of Israel . Even before the death of Jeroboam, Ahijah of Shiloh, the old prophet who many years before had predicted the rise of Jeroboam to the throne, said: “The Lord will smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and He will remove Israel from this land which He gave to their fathers, and will scatter them on the other side of the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD. And he will give Israel up because of the sins by Jeroboam, who did sin, and made Israel to sin. “PR 78.
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Differences between the army of Judah and Israel.– Judah had 400,000 soldiers, Israel had 800,000 (twice as much). Judah’s soldiers were brave and chosen. The soldiers of Israel were chosen, strong and courageous (one quality more than those of Judah.)
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Proper strategy Vs. Divine Power.- The technique of ambushing the enemy’s army was successful in biblical history. Joshua instructed to ambushed the army of Ai and they were defeated (Joshua 8: 2-21). Abimelech ambushed the people of Shechem (Judges 9: 22-44). All Israel set an ambush on Gibeah of Benjamin and destroyed them(Judges 20: 29-38). The biblical account emphasizes that Jeroboam developed an appropriate military strategy: divide the army into two flanks and attack on two fronts, from the front and rear. However, any strategy as well prepared or sophisticated as it may be, it will not succeed against the power of God. When King Abijah, the priests and the army cried out to God, He took charge and give them a resounding victory.
Prayer
Dear almighty God. We pray that you go forward in our favor, that any scheme prepared by either satan or anybody that wants to harm us you may take control, neutralize it and give us the victory. In the name of jesus, amen.
By Dr. Franz Rios, Translated and adapted by Pablo J. Rios.
