Week 2 - 2 Chronicles 16:9
Week 2 – 2 Chronicles 16:9a: For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.
King Asa was a good king who had a successful reign and he lived happily ever after. Not quite. Actually, he was a good king with a successful reign, at least for 36 years of it. His reign is detailed in 2 Chronicles, starting in chapter 14. The Chronicler describes him as one “did what was right and good in the eyes of the Lord his God.” (2 Chron. 14:2) He also destroyed places of idle worship. He even removed his mother from office as “queen Mother” and destroyed the image she had made for a false god.
Militarily, the Lord gave him victory over the Ethiopians and Libyans. Surely, the Lord did find a heart in Asa that was devoted and blameless toward Him. However, there are a few things to keep in mind about Asa’s story.
1.He is not a perfectly righteous king. He is a man. Therefore, he is not the king Israel should be placing all their hope in as the one who will reign on David’s throne forever. He did destroy the high places, but not all the high places – 1 Kings 15:14.
2.He failed to rely on God in the 36th year of his reign. He relied on help from a foreign king. – 2 Chronicles 16:7
3.He failed to seek the Lord when his feet became diseased during his 39th year on the throne, relying solely on physicians. – 2 Chronicles 16:12
Why did King Asa fall prey to these sins? The only reason I can surmise is that Asa was just as susceptible to a certain failure as we are. He forgot. He did not forget as in, “Where did I put my phone?” but he forgot the steadfast love and faithfulness of God. He forgot that this was all for God’s glory. He forgot what he was looking forward to.
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. (Col. 1:16)
He forgot that those who feared God with an upright heart would behold His face (Psalm 11:7). The eternal presence of the God that he honored was his prize. He began to live for the security and peace and wealth of now instead of eternity. Can you see how easy it is for even the blameless to swerve from the path? What hope do we have of not making a mess of things after years of faithfulness? Obviously, hope in our own flesh to accomplish this is of no comfort. Therefore, every day you must go first to the Lord. Your day, which moves forward into the rest of your life, only finds faithfulness and holiness in the source of such things, which is God. The triune God sustains, protects, and equips us as we endeavor to walk in a manner worthy of our calling in Christ Jesus. Listen to how Paul prays for the Thessalonians - 11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,
You will find help by seeking His help. It is only possible through Him to bear fruit pleasing unto God (John 15:5). Where will you look today?
King Asa was a good king who had a successful reign and he lived happily ever after. Not quite. Actually, he was a good king with a successful reign, at least for 36 years of it. His reign is detailed in 2 Chronicles, starting in chapter 14. The Chronicler describes him as one “did what was right and good in the eyes of the Lord his God.” (2 Chron. 14:2) He also destroyed places of idle worship. He even removed his mother from office as “queen Mother” and destroyed the image she had made for a false god.
Militarily, the Lord gave him victory over the Ethiopians and Libyans. Surely, the Lord did find a heart in Asa that was devoted and blameless toward Him. However, there are a few things to keep in mind about Asa’s story.
1.He is not a perfectly righteous king. He is a man. Therefore, he is not the king Israel should be placing all their hope in as the one who will reign on David’s throne forever. He did destroy the high places, but not all the high places – 1 Kings 15:14.
2.He failed to rely on God in the 36th year of his reign. He relied on help from a foreign king. – 2 Chronicles 16:7
3.He failed to seek the Lord when his feet became diseased during his 39th year on the throne, relying solely on physicians. – 2 Chronicles 16:12
Why did King Asa fall prey to these sins? The only reason I can surmise is that Asa was just as susceptible to a certain failure as we are. He forgot. He did not forget as in, “Where did I put my phone?” but he forgot the steadfast love and faithfulness of God. He forgot that this was all for God’s glory. He forgot what he was looking forward to.
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. (Col. 1:16)
He forgot that those who feared God with an upright heart would behold His face (Psalm 11:7). The eternal presence of the God that he honored was his prize. He began to live for the security and peace and wealth of now instead of eternity. Can you see how easy it is for even the blameless to swerve from the path? What hope do we have of not making a mess of things after years of faithfulness? Obviously, hope in our own flesh to accomplish this is of no comfort. Therefore, every day you must go first to the Lord. Your day, which moves forward into the rest of your life, only finds faithfulness and holiness in the source of such things, which is God. The triune God sustains, protects, and equips us as we endeavor to walk in a manner worthy of our calling in Christ Jesus. Listen to how Paul prays for the Thessalonians - 11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,
You will find help by seeking His help. It is only possible through Him to bear fruit pleasing unto God (John 15:5). Where will you look today?
Posted in Fighter Verses
Recent
Archive
2024
January
No Comments