Originally posted: 5/18/2020
“Now behold, God is with us at our head and His priests with the signal trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the Lord God of your fathers, for you will not succeed,” (13:12).
The kingdom of Judah is facing a formidable battle. And the odds are definitely against them. For although Judah’s army is described as valiant warriors, equaling those of Jeroboam’s; statistically, they are outnumbered two to one.
Now there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 3 Abijah began the battle with an army of valiant warriors, 400,000 chosen men, while Jeroboam drew up in battle formation against him with 800,000 chosen men who were valiant warrior, (13:2-3).
And as King Abijah faces what some would consider terrifying odds, in a manner reminiscent of young David facing Goliath, the king lets his voice be heard, proclaiming truth that would work itself into the hearts and minds of every hearer.
And as he wraps up his proclamation, he boldly asserts God is with them at their head. “Now behold, God is with us at our head.” Other versions translate head as leader or captain.
Head: “7218. רֹאשׁ rōʾš: A masculine noun meaning a head, a person, a point, the top, the beginning, the best, a chief, a leader… Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.
What is clear in the mind of Abijah, is that the Lord would be at the head to lead their army as their Captain. And because He was the One in charge, success was a given. For who would dare to think there was any hope of defeating the LORD God Himself?
“Now behold, God is with us at our head and His priests with the signal trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the Lord God of your fathers, for you will not succeed,” (13:12).
And as the King reminded everyone Who was at the Head, the truth would make its way into his own head, along with all those in Judah’s forces, and a Presence of Mind swept over him, influencing every word and action.
Presence of Mind: “self-control so maintained in an emergency or in an embarrassing situation that one can say or do the right thing; the ability to think and act calmly, efficiently, constructively and appropriately so as to make good, sensible decisions in a difficult situation, emergency or crisis.”
And rather than fear or panic, the king and his army would go forth in faith; faith to believe Him for the outcome, as though already Proven in Him, Our Presence of Mind in the Battle.
Consider Him, Our Presence of Mind in the Battle
- Our Presence of Mind in the Battle… Proven in His Person
- Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel: 5 Do you not know that the Lord God of Israel…” (13:4-5).
- Our Presence of Mind in the Battle… Proven in His Promise
- “Do you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave the rule over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt?” (13:5).
- Our Presence of Mind in the Battle… Proven in His Presence
- “So now you intend to resist the kingdom of the Lord through the sons of David, being a great multitude and having with you the golden calves which Jeroboam made for gods for you. 9 Have you not driven out the priests of the Lord…10 But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken Him; and the sons of Aaron are ministering to the Lord as priests, and the Levites attend to their work. 11 Every morning and evening they burn to the Lord burnt offerings and fragrant incense, and the showbread is set on the clean table, and the golden lampstand with its lamps is ready to light every evening; for we keep the charge of the Lord our God, but you have forsaken Him,” (13:8-11).
- Our Presence of Mind in the Battle… Proven in His Power
- “God is with us at our head and His priests with the signal trumpets to sound the alarm against you,” (13:12).
- Our Presence of Mind in the Battle… Proven in His Protection
- When Judah turned around, behold, they were attacked both front and rear; so they cried to the Lord, and the priests blew the trumpets. 15 Then the men of Judah raised a war cry, and when the men of Judah raised the war cry, then it was that God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah, (13:14-15).
- Our Presence of Mind in the Battle… Proven in His Peace
- Thus the sons of Israel were subdued at that time, and the sons of Judah conquered because they trusted in the Lord, the God of their fathers, (13:18).
- Our Presence of Mind in the Battle… Proven in His Prosperity
- Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured from him several cities, Bethel with its villages, Jeshanah with its villages and Ephron with its villages, (13:19).
How do we respond to Him, Our Presence of Mind in the Battle?
There’s an old saying, “the proof is in the pudding.”
This maxim simply means if you want to find out if something is good or successful, then test it yourself. The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations states that this expression was first used early in the 14th century and was originally conveyed as “the proof of the pudding is in the eating.”
Throughout the nation’s history, God had provided countless occasions for His children to imbibe in His Proof. As King Abijah faced this Battle, God’s power and faithfulness to rescue had already been tested and Proven.
And God has provided His undeniable Proof for us in His Son Jesus Christ.
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, (Colossians 1:13-14).
And as born again believers, rescued and redeemed, we are indwelt with His Holy Spirit and now have the mind of Christ.
For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ, (1 Corinthians 2:16).
In light of the times we find ourselves in, with all the uncertainties ahead, it is critical that we depend on His Mind, and not our own.
Today, let us fix our minds on Him, Our Presence of Mind in the Battle; for we have all we need for every bit and every Battle in our future; Proven in His Promise, His Person, His Presence, His Power, His Protection, His Peace, and His Prosperity through Jesus Christ, our Savior.
- Our Presence of Mind in the Battle… Proven in His Person
- Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven,” (Matthew 16:13-17).
- Our Presence of Mind in the Battle… Proven in His Promise
- “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed,” (John 8:36).
- Our Presence of Mind in the Battle… Proven in His Presence
- “…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age,” (Matthew 28:20).
- Our Presence of Mind in the Battle… Proven in His Power
- “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world,” (John 16:33).
- Our Presence of Mind in the Battle… Proven in His Protection
- But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one, (2 Thessalonians 3:).
- Our Presence of Mind in the Battle… Proven in His Peace
- “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful,” (John 14: 27).
- Our Presence of Mind in the Battle… Proven in His Prosperity
- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (Ephesians 1:3).
As we renew our minds in the truth of His Word, and His Truth makes its way into our heads, He will be faithful to empower us to live in Him, Our Presence of Mind in the Battle; to enable us to walk in His Spirit with self-control to “think and act calmly, efficiently, constructively and appropriately so as to make good, sensible decisions in a difficult situation, emergency or crisis.”
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law, (Galatians 5:22-23).