My dear sheep,
As I was reading through second Chronicles 14-15 this morning, I was struck by its power and relevance for today. It is an incredible story of what happens when God's people seek the Lord with all their heart, not just in word, but also in deed.
Asa was the great-grandson of King David. We are told that Asa did "what was right and good in the eyes of the Lord." (2 Chron 14:2) Yet eventually Asa faced one-million Ethiopian soldiers. What did he do? He cried out, "O LORD, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you." (2 Chron 14:11) So the Lord answered and defeated the enemies of Asa.
What is really striking is what happens in chapter 15. The Lord brings revival and reformation to Judah through the word of God. When you read through it slowly a couple of times, it starts to take your breath away. Let me highlight the key points for you.
1 The Lord is with you, while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 7 But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work will be rewarded. 8 As soon as Asa heard these words... he took courage and put away the detestable idols. 9 And he gathered all [the people], for great numbers had deserted to him from Israel, when they saw that the Lord his God was with him. 12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord,... with all their heart and all their soul 15 And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around.
Are you able to catch the magnificence of what is happening? The Lord reminds Asa that He is with him and He promises to continue to be with him. The Lord exhorts him to move courageously forward in faithfulness. Now what do Asa and the people do? They do it! My dear brothers and sisters, we serve the same Lord today! He has not changed! The question is, will we simply take Him at His word and seek Him while He may be found? Will we strengthen what remains and do what is required? Will we seek Him with all our heart and soul?
May the Lord grant us to do so!
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