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Context No. 2025 of 4322 · 2 Chronicles

Context · Reflection

2 Chronicles 13:8-12: in context

8“Now you intend to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David. You are a great multitude, and the golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods are with you. 9Haven’t you driven out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves according to the ways of the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may be a priest of those who are no gods. 10“But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him. We have priests serving the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites in their work. 11They burn to the LORD every morning and every evening burnt offerings and sweet incense. They also set the show bread in order on the pure table, and care for the gold lamp stand with its lamps, to burn every evening; for we keep the instruction of the LORD our God, but you have forsaken him. 12Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with the trumpets of alarm to sound an alarm against you. Children of Israel, don’t fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers; for you will not prosper.”

As King Abijah of Judah faces the far larger army of Jeroboam's Israel, he calls out a declaration across the battle lines. Jeroboam's people had driven out the priests of the LORD and set up golden calves and false priests. And against all that, Abijah says: but as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him. We have priests serving the LORD, offerings morning and evening, the lamps burning; for we keep the charge of the LORD our God. God is with us at our head; do not fight against the LORD.

The heart of Abijah's declaration is the phrase, as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him. Around him was a people who had forsaken God, turned to golden calves, set up a false worship; and in the face of that surrounding apostasy, Abijah takes a clear stand: whatever they have done, as for us, we serve the LORD, and we have not abandoned him. It is a plain declaration of allegiance, drawn sharply against the background of a people who had turned away. However many have forsaken God, Abijah says, as for us, he is our God still. There is a resolve here worth learning, the resolve to stand clearly on God's side even when surrounded by those who have abandoned him. It is one thing to be faithful when faith is common; it is another to hold firm when those around us have turned away, when the majority worships other gods, when apostasy is the norm and faithfulness the exception. In such a setting, the temptation is to drift with the crowd, to blur our allegiance, to keep quiet. Abijah shows a different way: to say plainly, whatever others do, as for us, the LORD is our God. This echoes Joshua's ringing declaration: whatever others choose, as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. The clear stand, the plain confession of allegiance amid a people who have forsaken God, is a mark of faithfulness. This searches our own resolve. When those around us have turned from God, when faithfulness sets us apart, can we say plainly, as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him? Or do we blur our allegiance, drift with the surrounding tide, keep our faith quiet to fit in? The call is to the clear stand Abijah took, to hold firm and confess plainly, whatever others do, that God is ours and we have not abandoned him, standing clearly on his side even when we stand there nearly alone.

When those around me have turned from God and faithfulness sets me apart, can I take the clear stand Abijah took, saying plainly, as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him, or do I blur my allegiance and drift with the surrounding tide, and can I resolve, whatever others do, to stand clearly on God's side and confess him as my own?

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