- Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the
severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It
appears from the character of Abijah, (1Ki 15:3), that he was
not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the
religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the
power of godliness, to boast of the form of it. Many that have
little religion themselves, value it in others. But it was true
that there were numbers of pious worshippers in Judah, and that
theirs was the more righteous cause. In their distress, when
danger was on every side, which way should they look for
deliverance unless upward? It is an unspeakable comfort, that
our way thither is always open. They cried unto the Lord.
Earnest prayer is crying. To the cry of prayer they added the
shout of faith, and became more than conquerors. Jeroboam
escaped the sword of Abijah, but God struck him; there is no
escaping his sword.
bijah overcomes Jeroboam.