2 Chronicles 12 – After
Rehoboam becomes secure, however, he abandons “the law of the Lord,” he and all
Israel (12:1). The Lords brings King Shishak of Egypt against them with 1200
chariots and 60,000 cavalry. This threat must have
been there from the beginning because most of the fortified cities he built up
were in mid to lower Judah—defending against Egypt, not Israel.
Shishak takes these cities and approaches Jerusalem. The
prophet Shemaiah tells Rehoboam and the officers of Judah that they must humble themselves. They are not destroyed but they must become
Shishak’s vassals. Shishak takes the treasure from the king’s house and
from the Temple. Conditions were not bad, however, in Judah. Rehoboam reigns 17
years. Still the chapter ends with this: “He did evil, for he did not set his
heart to seek the Lord” (12:14). His son Abijah
becomes king.
2 Chronicles 13 – Abijah
rules for three years in Jerusalem. There is war between him and Jeroboam, now
in his 18th year as king over Israel. The army of Jeroboam is twice
the size of Abijah’s - 800,000 as opposed to 400,000, but Abijah calls out to
them from a mountain in Ephraim, and says:
“Do you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingship over
Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt [a lasting covenant]?”
(13:5)
Jeroboam rebelled against his lord Rehoboam when he was
“young and irresolute and could not withstand them” (13:7). He continues
telling them they think they can defeat David’s heir now because they have so
many more men and golden calves that Jeroboam had made for them to worship
after driving out the priests of Aaron and the Levites. “But as for us, the
Lord is our God, and we have not abandoned him. We have priests ministering to
the Lord who are descendants of Aaron, and Levites for their service” (13:10) They have
legitimacy and continuity on their side.
While Abijah thus addresses the Israelites, Jeroboam is busy
trying to encircle them. He sends men to
their rear, so when they finish and prepare to fight, they have enemy in front
of them and behind them. Still, the
victory goes to Abijah; “God defeated
Jeroboam and all Israel” (13:15). It says 500,000 picked men of Israel fell
slain (13:17). Abijah takes Bethel and Jeshanah and Ephron. Abijah grew strong,
took 14 wives; the rest of his story is written in the works of the prophet
Iddo.
Augustine’s Treatise
on the Profit of Believing
18 - But in truth
was there either decree of any law, or power of gainsayers [deniers], or vile
character of persons consecrated, or shameful report, or newness of
institution, or hidden profession, to recall us from, and forbid us, the
search? There is nothing of these. At the time Augustine is writing, there is no “established”
or “forcibly practiced” Catholic Church. The “Catholic” Church he is referring
to throughout this treatise is simply the church that was most prevalent, most
universal throughout the world at the time. No law required you to believe or
practice a set form of Christianity.
All laws divine and human allow us to seek the Catholic
Faith; but to hold and exercise it is allowed us at any rate by human law, even
if so long as we are in error there be a doubt concerning divine law; no enemy
alarms our weakness, (although truth and the salvation of the soul, in case
being diligently sought it be not found where it may with most safety, ought to
be sought at any risk); the degrees of
all ranks and powers most devotedly minister to this divine worship; the name
of religion is most honorable and most famous. It
was gaining serious ground among the people. What, I pray, hinders to
search out and discuss with pious and careful enquiry, whether there be here
that which it must needs be few know and guard in entire purity, although the goodwill and affection of all nations
conspire in its favor?
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