True vs. Performative Faith: 2 Chronicles 13:1-22

You're listening to The Bible Guys, a podcast where a couple of friends talk about the Bible in fun in practical ways. Hey, good moving everybody there you are. Yeah, Hey, my name is Chris and I'm Jeff, and we are the Bible Guys together. We're together together doing it, yes, and otherwise it'd be the Bible Guy right, and. That fun because one is the loneliest number that you'll ever see. But together it's amathing, right, We're better together. That's the Bible Guys. That's me, that's correct. Yes, And so today we are going to kick off a segment that is a brand new segment at least at least I think so. I don't think we've ever done it before. I don't think so either. Deira, I don't know. I haven't been paying attention. Good. Good, that's really good to know. Desirae said, Oh, by the way, somebody told me. Somebody told me that we need to be done with the bad transitions, or. At least somebody else that they love them really. Yeah, they actually posted So somebody just came and told you personally they didn't love us enough to actually post it online. Then we don't. It doesn't matter doesn't count. Here's my wife. I feel like I'm in trouble. Yeah, she goes, she goes. You probably need to be done with the cheesy tand okay, but we'll try it this week and then moment okay, you know what, Hey about this. We'll do this week as a test run, and we'll tell people people to vote. Yeah, okay, if you want to get rid of them, let us know. Okay, how about there. Okay, so this segment is called a time capsule. As we explore the history of the Old Testament, let's consider what you would want future generations to remember from our time. If you were creating a time capsule for them to discover, what items would you include? First of all, this is a pretty massive question. This is not like a fun question. This is actually like. A serious question. I think it's kind of fun unless, well, unless we treat it goofy. Well, how big is the time capsule? For one? Oh? Yeah, well use it? Infinite is infinitely large, because that's because I just put the planet. I'd put the planet in there and say, hey, check this out. Okay, that's not so, it's not infinitely large. No, most time capsules you can fit under a statue, okay, like the statue Liberty. No, usually like a statue of George Washington. Oh okay, unless they tear it down. So George Washington sized statue, yes, okay, we have to have a capsule that can fit under that. Yeah, and it's like, you know, like it looks like a. Big okay, so reasonable container. Because I was going to put a Tesla in there. Oh that's what I wanted to put in there. Oh, well, you know what, that's not a bad thought. I know, what about a Matchbox Cars Tesla? Okay, okay, okay, so that was mine. Okay, I'm going to say, obviously an iPhone iPhone is a must, it's a must. And not a Samsung though. No, because by the time we get to the future, Samsung to be obsolate. Nobody cares about Samsung. No, nobody, nobody cares at all about androids. No, because if you are an Android person. You're not a Christian Android listen. Uh, owners wouldn't be listening to the Bible. Guys. That's that's correct, unless just to be critics and complain. That they're not going to be in heaven. We know that. Gus, Wow, that's so great. Actually, actually actually, like you're a hostage joke. Actually, do you know who you know who is a big Android fan? Wesley Woods? Yeah, I know he's a He's an occasional. He used to be an occasional co host on the Bible Guys used to Now now that we've brought to light, Yeah, that's right, we've exposed him. Now he can't come back. We've ruined his reputation. Okay, So you did an iPhone? Yeah, I think that's a standard. We have to do that one. Yeah. What else should we put under there? Uh? Times cap? Time capsule for this generation? Yeah, I don't know. Should we put a red baseball hat? Wow? Yeah? Well, I mean I'm just saying it had an effect on society. Oh yeah, I was just gonna say it is one of the things that defines. The age that I'm saying. Okay, okay, yeah, red red baseball cap? What else I think I'm going to put in a Detroit Lions. Yes, sir, Yes, yes, Okay, finally the curses? Well, yeah, we believe, we believe. Hey, listen, twenty twenty five, the twenty four season, twenty five, remember that was the year that we won the Super Bowl. Yeah, okay, that is it is the year. Yes, back at it. It was the first year. It was that we look at you. That was the first in. Our first in our streak. I would say, I would add so I love that in Detroit, Lions Jersey would be great. I would put in a bitcoin. Oh yeah, bitcoin. There's not a physical bitcoin. Did you know that. I'm not sure you know how it works? Yeah, yeah, there's no actual coin to put in a yeah. Yeah, yeah, I know that there used to be used to be you used to be able to get bitcoins. But did you take out a napcin and just write the word bitcoin? Yeah, I would just a little symbol for bitcoin. I put it symbol an explanation of bitcoin. Yeah, yeah, bitcoin. All right, and are we done? I don't know. That was my third one, okay, and I have to come up with a. Third one, okay, all right. Uh And by the ways, this is a good time capsule so far. I know it's a good one. I like it. We covered politics, we covered sports, we covered technology. That's right, we covered finance. Yes, I know, Christmas, I know it's amazing. Wow, and uh gee, what else is left? Well? You got to put in something about faith? That's something we've missed in society, medicine. Faith or medicine. Wow, oh I got it, ozempic pen. Yeah, yeah, there you go. It is okay, completely taking over the world. Okay, and by faith everybody's. Using that's medicine, you said, and medicine. Okay, yep. And then we put in uh uh. This week on Friday, it will be our six hundredth Bible Guy episode. We'll just put in a little thing of all of the Bible guys. Yes, I was just gonna say, I'm a thumb drive. Yes, transformative for twenty five Yes, what a great way to end this segments. We got them all. We've covered everything. We covered it all sports and politics and medicine and money, and so twenty. Years from now, they're gonna look back and say, these are the Bible guys. That's right. Wow, the Bible guys. So I got to meet four girls that are fans from thirteen down to four, four sisters and they listen every day. They're the daughters of one of the girls that was in my former youth group back twenty years ago, and she married the bass player in my Young Adults ministry back then. Okay, they brought them and the little girls. We finally we got to meet their daughters and it was so great and they're huge fans and they just kept asking about Chris. So they were like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, where's Chris. So that was that's very sweet. That's very nice. Well, hey daughters, yes, Jeff's friends daughters. That's right. The girls. Oh, it's nice to meet you preuit girls. There you go, and that's very sweet. That's it. So I feel like I would like to say hi to you and meet you. That's right. It's going to be fun. Yeah, okay, so next time they come back to Heritage churchy. They live on the other side of the city. But yeah, okay, Well hey, uh, what's your goofy transition for the day? Well, did we ruled? We ruled that segment? Speaking of time, we are flying through chronicles, we are the time is going by in a blink, yes, and so we are already in second chronicles, not just first in chapter thirteen. Well, I was going to mention how we just totally ruled that last segment. Oh I interrupted you and a bijam rules judah. Wow, I like friends, I like my way better. Wow. Well that was a two for he's because since people are voting. See, I had no idea that when you said we ruled that segment that you were transitioning. I thought you were just saying making a comment like bragging. We ruled it, we killed it. Okay. So anyways, here we are Second Chronicles, chapter thirteen, and it says this in verse one, a baie Joe began to rule over Judah in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam's reign in Israel. Remember the Israel and Judah are separate. Now, Yes, he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother was Maka, the daughter of Uriel Gibba. Let's just pause here. How do you pronounce it? I said, Maka, Maka Maaka. That is one of the strangest names in the Bible. I'm so sorry to interrupt. Yeah, I rarely do that, and I apologize. No, no, no, I appreciate it because it's worth pointing out. I wanted to giggle. So okay, anyways, she's the daughter of Uriel from Gibea. Then war broke out between a Bijah and Jereboe Judah, led by King of Bijah, fielded four hundred thousand select warriors, where Jeroboam mustered eight hundred thousand select troops from Israel. When the army of Judah arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraeum, I guess and shouted to Jereboam and all Israel, listen to me. Don't you realize that the Lord, the God of Israel, made a lasting covenant with David, giving him and his descendants the throne of Israel forever. Yet Jereboam, son of Nebat, a mere servant of David's son Solomon, rebelled against his master. Then a whole gang of scoundrels joined him, defying Solomon's son Raya Baham when he was young and inexperienced and could not stand up to them. Do you really think you can stand against the kingdom of the Lord that is led by the descendants of David. You may have a vast army, and you have those gold cabs that Jereboam made as your gods, but you have chased away the priests of the Lord, the descendants of Erin and the Levites, and you have appointed your own priests just like the pagan nations. You let anyone become a priest. These days, whoever comes to be dedicated with a young bull and seven rams can become a priest of these so called gods of yours. But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not abandoned him. Only the descendants of Aaron serve the Lord as priests, and the Levites alone may help them in their work. They present burnt offerings and fragrance incense to the Lord every morning and evening. They placed the bread of the presence on the holy table, and they light the gold lamp stand every evening. We are following the instruction of the Lord, our God, but you have abandoned him. So you see, God is with us. He is our leader. His priests blow their trumpets and lead us into battle against you, O people of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed. Meanwhile, Jeroboam had secretly set part of his army around behind the men of Judah ambushed them. When Judah realized that they were being attacked from the front and the rear, they cried out to the Lord for help. Then the priests blew the trumpets and the men of Judah began to shout at the sound of their battle cry. God defeated Jeroboam and all of it Is and routed them before Abijah and the army of Judah. The Israelite army fled from Judah, and God handed them over to Judah. In defeat, a Bijah and his army inflicted heavy losses on them. Five hundred thousands of Israels select troops were killed that day, So Judah defeated Israel on that occasion because they trusted in the Lord, the God of their ancestors. Abijah and his army pursued Jereboam's troops and captured some of his towns, including Bethel, Jashana, and Ephron, along with their surrounding villages. So Jereboam of Israel never reigned his power, never regained his power during Abijah's lifetime, and finally the Lord struck him down and he died. Meanwhile, Abijah of Judah grew more and more powerful. He married fourteen wives and had twenty two sons and sixteen daughters. The rest of the events of Abija's ran, including his words and deeds, are recorded in the commentary of Idoh the Prophet Well there you go. Wow, Abijah of Judah, a budget of Judah. Wow. I think I think Kings calls him a Baijam, a bijam Abijah the same guy. Well, I told you before. I made a joke last week and said I'm angry at these names because they're so close. Yes, right, and so I I don't like that. But then again, I proved you want to file a complaint. I like the complaint. Well it's almost it's almost humorous, right, because but if you really think about it, some of the names that we come up with today, right, they're pretty crazy. Well, at one time we had what for Chris Is on our staff. Oh yeah, yeah, for sure, for sure. But even like, but names that are like super close and weird, right, like they exist today. It's no different, right, It's just that back then they just were different than they are today. Yeah, but so so could you please remind listeners? Uh so, uh, let's try to remind them. So the Northern Israel and Southern Israel, they're they're dividing kingdoms. They were once all of Israel. That's right, and under under Saul David and Solomon. And Solomon, right, and then what ended up happening was there was a division, and uh, the division took place, it was actually just Judah and Benjamin. Uh, and Judah is by far the largest, and so Judah and Benjamin are on the southern part. That's correct. And it also contains Jerusalem, yes, right, So and so therefore, when he's sitting there bragging and saying, hey, we go into the temple and we light the lamp stands, and he's talking about the bread, the show bread, the table and everything else, he's really referring to their traditions in the temple. Right, that's right, because they have the temple and then the northern ten other tribes. Right. And by the way, the tribes were established under Jacob. Right, Jacob had twelve sons and these tribes were named after him. So the other ten tribes combined are the northern side, and they didn't have the Temple of Jerusalem. So what he did was he went ahead and created his. Own religion, I guess religion, yeah, right. And he had and he had false calves, golden golden calves. So Jared Boham made golden calves. And uh, he set him up in the temple in Dan and Dan that's right, that's right, because you said you've been to day I was in Dan. Yeah, and the foundation for that temple is still there. Yeah, that's that's crazy. And uh anyway, it's just just as a reminder to all of our listeners. So so here comes you know, here, here's jeroboem you know, and he's he's he has you know, these golden calves marching with his army. And then I can't get the names right again, what is Bijah? Bijah the king of just making this speech? He's the king of Judah. But other places in the Bible, a Baija was actually like a wicked king, right, wasn't he a wicked king? Oh? Man, that's a good question, because. Like I think what he's doing here is he's making a speech, and I think Chronicles is recording him as. Like the good side. You know, you know, people, even even the worst of us, have great moments, right, moments of repentance are coming to ourselves or right. But I think I think a Baijo was for the most part a wicked king. But here he is, there's here's the good the good side of him. I'm gonna look it up. Yeah, but I but I but I'm welcome I'm welcome to be wrong here, I hope. So yeah, because I like the speech. Oh, his speech was fantastic. That's right. Oh oh my goodness. Listen, you're never to believe this. Look at us. Here is a note from the Application study Bible. According to one King's fifteen three, a Baijah committed many sins, but the Chronicles account has only it's almost like they're reading my mind, has only positive comments about him. For the most part, Abijah was a wicked king. The writer of Chronicles chose to highlight the little good he did in order to show that he was still under the Covenant promises of date. Because of a Bijah's fiery speech to Jerreboam that we just read, he was spared the immediate consequences of his sin. So it's interesting because I was pulling that up. You know, we're still reading from the chronological that's right Bible. I don't necessarily recommend the chronological Bible all the time to everybody. No, it was actually really helpful, super useful. In the Gospels. We were doing the Gospel. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's why we did it. But for whatever that's the one we still have here in the off air in the studio. Right. But the life application study Bible is amazing because it gives you those cross references like that, Right, that's what you want. So this is a life application study Bible that's chronological. But it is interesting because just as you were asking that verse three in First Kings fifteen, which is right above where we just read, Oh yeah, because we have the chronological Bible, it says he committed the same sentence as his father before him and was not faithful to the Lord his God as his ancestor David had been. It's the NIV says was not fully devoted. Remember we talked about that how his father was not fully devoted, Ray Boham, Yeah, he was kind of mixed, right, and he kind of mixed commitment to God. And then the same thing with even Solomon. Solomon was fully devoted for a while and then began to kind of blend his faith a little bit. Only David was fully devoted to God. David sinned as people do, but David was only and completely fully devoted to God. David never strayed, He never had multiple gods, he never he never was straight in his belief right, he was you know, he may have you know, not necessarily always been the most obedient throughout his whole life, but at any given time, And think about this, this is a true statement. Any time that he. Was ever approached or challenged with what he knew to be true about himself. Hey, this is what God says, here's how you're behaving. He immediately went, you're right, you're right, you're right. Absolutely. It was quick to fess up and admit. Yes, always quick to fis so with Abaijah. Here verse four says, but for David's sake, the Lord has God allowed his descendants to continue ruling, shining like a lamp, and he gave up by just under rule after him in Jerusalem. So remember the kings in Jerusalem were still so for Judah and Benjamin were still the direct descendants of King David right. And Jerebaeum was the usurper. And that's why he created a He created a fake religion. He led the people away. So here he is, he's got twice as many fighters to show up to fight, and a Baijah just stands up and says, in that moment he has confidence knowing, Hey, we have God on our side, and you have come worshiping evil gods, wicked gods, and we have not now we know later on in his life he also blends all these things together too, which is absurd to me. It just doesn't make any sense. But that's what they do, and God gives a great victory even though they were completely outnumbered. And one of his complaints to it Jeroboum. One of a Bijes's complaints to Jeroboam was you just let anybody be a priest. They can buy their priesthood right. And this was a big issue because God had set it up that the Levites serve in the Temple and the Sons of Aaron are the only priests. They were consecrated. As a matter of fact, when God set that up, he made the Sons of Aaron holy, meaning God set them aside for his own use. And then when Solomon consecrated the temple, he also announced again that the you know, the Sons of Aaron, they're the priests, and they're the ones that continue to lead. Multiple times in the Tabernacle and in the Temple, it was constantly being reminded the sons of Aaron are set aside holy for God, meaning God chose them it's not that they were holy people by themselves, it was a God had chose them. And you don't mess around with the holy things God. There's several things that God says is holy. The other day we just talked with our staff about the fact God says Sabbath is holy to God. That's God's don't mess around with it. It's it's for him and for you. Don't mess with it. God set aside the tie this holy. We think of holy, and we think of sinless. Yes, purity, yeah right, yeah, like you get a halo in the painting when you're dead, right right. But but holy, holy is set aside for God's use. That's that's that's what the word holy means, right and set aside for God and pure attempting to be pure for God. Right, that that'd be the thing. So to the point where finally God says he wants his people to be holy because he's holy, and he re ups that again in Corinthians where he says, you be holy as I'm holy. Don't touch the unclean thing. So there is this sense here that the issue that a Bijah has with jerre Boehm is you've profaned the holy things right, And you've just made this a perfunctory religious process. You even have your you have your own Wow, perfunctory. That's a big one. That's a big one. I was scrolling through my dictionary today. Wow. No, So you just made this a performative thing. You just you just have this religious thing. People can buy their priesthood. You're just going through these emotions. Everything about what you're doing is commercial and fake and you know, don't profane the holy thing. Yeah. And by the way, there's a sermon in there somewhere, isn't there just about authentic authentic faith and authentic Uh? You know, uh, I think, I think, I. Think some of us have had bad church experiences, you know, especially people from our generation, right, our generation had bad church experiences. But even even people from you know, uh, you know gen zers, you know coming up there's probably reluctant to even try out a church because they're thinking which one is genuine, which one? Which one is like the one that that I want something. I want something authentic. I want something genuine. I want something real and uh and and I don't blame anybody who's new to that of being skeptical, because I mean, you know, there's the sermon. A sermon is is like you know, hey, you call them priests, but they're not priests, right. You just put them in position, and the people may have followed them not knowing God's word, right, right, And so that's one of the benefits or one of the important things. You need to know God's word to be able to filter whether or not what's being presented to you is consistent with God's Word. If you spend time in it, you'll know it. And then the Bible says that God's Holy Spirit for us as Christians, God's Holy spirits our teacher and our guide. And so if we're spending time in the Word, even as a brand new Christian, spend time in the Word, you'll begin to pick up on the Holy Spirit, will begin to use his word to be able to convict you. Hey, this is a good place, or this isn't the right place or whatever. Right, this is the truth of God's Word. Or it's not. So Yeah, that's great, Thank it's good. Well, hey, that is our time. So that's a great chapter, and hopefully we will pick up with you next time on the Bible. Guys,