SHARING THE GOODNESS OF GOD

*Study Scripture*
1 Kings 15:1-8

In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah. He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maachah the granddaughter of Abishalom. And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David. Nevertheless for David’s sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, by setting up his son after him and by establishing Jerusalem; because David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. So Abijam rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. Then Asa his son reigned in his place.

*OBSERVATIONS*
we see from the portion of scripture that:
*a)* Abijam became king over Judah: This son of Rehoboam only reigned three years, and God did not bless his reign.
*i)* From comparing this account with 2 Chronicles 13 we learn that Abijam knew something of the LORD and knew how to preach – but he did not uproot the idolatry and sexual immorality that was introduced by Rehoboam. The successor of Abijam (Asa) removed the centers of the sexually-charged idolatry that was so common in this land (1 Kings 15:12-13).

*b)* His heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David: This was the real problem with Abijam’s reign – his lack of a real personal relationship with God. David sinned during his reign, but his heart stayed loyal to the LORD his God.

*c)* For David’s sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem: God preserved the dynasty of David in Jerusalem for the sake of David, not because of the character or quality of his descendants.

*_NOTE_* :. “2 Chronicles 13 spells his name Abijah, which means ‘Yahweh is my father.’ 1Kings spells the name Abijam, which means ‘my father is Yam.’ Yam was a Canaanite sea-god. Could it be that he started out as Abijah, a follower of Yahweh, and ended up as Abijam, a follower of a false god?”

*Further Study:*
1kings 15
2chronicles 13

*Nugget*
As Christians who have known the Lord, let’s not stay silent but preach His name as we make Him known in a generation where He has made us exist.

*Prayer* .
Heavenly father we thank you for the opportunity you have given us to share your goodness in the land of the living and the sweet fellowship of the Holy Spirit that works in us both to will and to do for your good pleasures. keep us with the Zeal to share your word for a positive accountability of the great commission.
in the mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ we have believed and prayed, Amen.