Judah, the Israeli kingdom with capital in Jerusalem, had a succession of kings tracing their lineage to King David. Today, we are interviewing one of those kings, Abijah, the son of Rehoboam.
Shepherd Heart: We are glad to have you with us, King Abijah.
King Abijah: Thank you for having me.
Shepherd Heart: Your great-grandfather, King David, and your grandfather, King Solomon had a special relationship with the LORD God of Israel. You are indeed, blessed to be their descendant. Kindly introduce yourself to our readers.
King Abijah: I was the first son of King Rehoboam and I ruled over Judah for only three years from 913 to 911 BC. The most significant thing I did was that I tried to reclaim the Northern ten tribes, which invariably led to war with Jeroboam throughout my lifetime.
However, I had some victories over Israel, especially in the battle in which my 400,000 troops and I triumphed over Jeroboam with his 800,000 men. I succeeded in taking the towns of Bethel, Jeshanah, Ephron and the surrounding villages from him.
Shepherd Heart: Despite this victory, did it not bother you that you were fighting against fellow Israelites?
King Abijah: Worst things happened in both Judah and the Northern kingdom in ancient times because we fell out of God’s favour.
Shepherd Heart: 1 Kings chapter 15 verse 3 said this about you, “He committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been.” Is this epitaph something you are proud of? Do you believe that you left a worthy legacy in Judah?
King Abijah: Hmmm, no one in his right mind can question the veracity of Scripture. I am guilty as charged. I also refuse to justify my actions or inactions in any form or shape.
Shepherd Heart: We are impressed with your honesty, King Abijah. Other people would have looked for scapegoats for their inadequacies. It is rare to find anyone with such candour. Now, it is clear that you were born long after the death of your great-grandfather, King David. Did you in anyway try to find out why he was “a man after God’s own heart” as indicated in 1 Samuel 13:14?
King Abijah: I had huge respect for the memory of my great-grandfather, but I could not imitate him by pretending to love God. I am sure that you would find that strange. The relationship of the people of Judah with God had cooled appreciably at the time I became king. We still had the rituals, though, but God was a distant feature in our lives.
Shepherd Heart: So, what was the strength of your administration? Your military prowess?
King Abijah: I would say yes. I put all my energies into developing a functional army because I was determined to reclaim the rebellious tribes and unify Israel.
Shepherd Heart: With the benefit of hindsight, what could you have done differently?
King Abijah: I would have called for a solemn assembly for my people to repent of their idolatries and seek the face of the God of Israel. I also would have reached out to Jeroboam as a brother, to explore the possibility of compromise that would have prevented further shedding of Israeli blood.
Shepherd Heart: What was your relationship with the prophets raised by God at this time to call Judah back from the brink of destruction and restore peace in the nation?
King Abijah: I did not believe in their prophecies because I saw them as adversaries. That is something I have also regretted.
Shepherd Heart: There are world leaders in our days who do not have any relationship with God, and scoff at spiritual truths. What would you say to such people?
King Abijah: Power is transient and human life is very brief. Even if you live to be 200 years or more, death will catch up with you in future. What would you gain after getting the accolades of men and dying as a fool? What would such accolades do for you when you stand before the great King and He says, “Depart from Me into the lake of fire created for satan and his demons?”
I made many mistakes in my life that I have regretted because they prevented me from knowing and worshipping God, the Source of all life in the universe. You who are still alive should not wait until you are death to say, “I wish I had lived my life in the light of eternity.”
You will not get any prize in hell for obstinacy. I doubt that satan would even think of giving you one himself if he had the opportunity to award such a prize. As Paul said in his second letter to the church at Corinth, “Behold, now is the day of salvation.” You are not promised tomorrow so, do not procrastinate.
Shepherd Heart: We could not have said it better, King Abijah. We know that many people, especially the younger generation have this perception that they can serve God at their own time.
Their perception is that becoming a believer would deprive them the opportunity to enjoy life, whatever that means. We know that you became a king at a young age, so you can appreciate the fears and concerns of this age group regarding full commitment to the things of God. What advise can you give them?
King Abijah: My grandfather, King Solomon had people like them in mind when he wrote Ecclesiastes 12:1, “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, ‘I find no pleasure in them.”
They also need to remember the rhetorical question the Messiah asked in Mark 8:36, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul.” Perhaps, the rarefied atmosphere in heaven gives one a better appreciation of the holiness and awesomeness of God. If many people catch a glimpse of His magnificence and glory, they would pursue Him with every ounce of their strength.
Shepherd Heart: We agree with you King Abijah. We believe that the major issue with most humans is that they choose to walk by sight rather than having faith in an invisible God. This allows the enemy to tantalise them with things that appeal to their five senses.
Of course, power is the most potent Aphrodite in the hand of satan, because he knows that humans cannot resist its lure. Many rulers, including kings, emperors, heads of state and presidents have drunk from this bewitching cup and sold their souls to the devil. What is your final word on this matter?
King Abijah: One of the former Presidents of the United States of America, Harry S. Truman made a very compelling statement on the pull of power. He said, “There is a lure in power. It can get into a man’s blood just as gambling and lust for money have been known to do.” Charles W. Colson, an American Christian leader gave another interesting perspective on the appeal of power.
He noted that “The lure of power can separate the most resolute of Christians from the true nature of Christian leadership, which is service to others. It’s difficult to stand on a pedestal and wash the feet of those below.”
The solution? Everyone seeking power should do what the Messiah did as stated in Philippians 2:5-11, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Shepherd Heart: Once again, we totally agree with you King Abijah. The Lord said to His disciples in Luke 22:27, “….But I am among you as the one who serves.” In Mathew 20:26, He also charged them not to exercise undue authority like heathen leaders, but to serve humanity and show humility in their actions. Thank you very much for your wise counsel, King Abijah.
We pray that everything we have shared today would resonate with our readers, and cause them to yield the entirety of their being to the LORD.
King Abijah: Thank you once again for having me. I enjoyed the chat immensely.