The Right Person for the Job
4. When the army of Judah arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim and shouted to Jeroboam and all Israel: “Listen to me!
5. Don’t you realize that the Lord, the God of Israel, made a lasting covenant with David, giving him and his descendants the throne of Israel forever?
6. Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, a mere servant of David’s son Solomon, rebelled against his master.
7. Then a whole gang of scoundrels joined him, defying Solomon’s son Rehoboam when he was young and inexperienced and could not stand up to them.
8. Do you really think you can stand against the kingdom of the Lord that is led by the descendants of David? You may have a vast army, and you have those gold calves that Jeroboam made as your gods.
9. But you have chased away the priests of the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 13:4-9
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There’s more to babysitting than preventing food fights and keeping the kids alive. That’s why when parents need a babysitter, they want someone who will care for the children the way they themselves would.
Kings are similar to babysitters—they’re both in charge of caring for people and keeping order. In this reading, the Jews of the northern tribes of Israel need to choose a king because they have decided not to put up with the current tyrant. Unfortunately, they aren’t careful as to who they choose. As you read this story, note especially Abijah’s advice to Jeroboam, and learn God’s lesson there.
In this passage, you also will find these lessons: how to avoid bad advice; trappings of greed and power; confession and repentance; and a source of peace.
In setting up his own religion, Jeroboam discarded the worship of God and made idols. He appointed priests to serve in his new religion, but he tossed out the standards that God had set for the priesthood of his people. Literally anyone could qualify to be a priest—all the person had to do was to present a prescribed offering, much like paying a fee.
Abijah criticized Jeroboam for this (2 Chronicles 13:9). He wanted Jeroboam to follow the instructions of the Lord (2 Chronicles 13:11), because a priest is a representative of God. Anyone can represent a worthless god; but to represent the Lord God Almighty, a person must live by God’s standards.
Those appointed to positions of responsibility in your church should not be selected merely because they are influential or are highly educated. Instead they should demonstrate sound doctrine, dedication to God, and strong spiritual character (see see 1 Timothy 3; Titus 1). It matters who leads you in worship, so don’t choose just anybody.
