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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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2 Chronicles 16:9
“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. You have done a foolish thing and from now on you will be at war.”
Asa was a good king (of Judah) for most of his reign.
He sought the Lord and started turning the hearts of the people back to Him. He cut down the Asherah poles, smashed the sacred stones and removed the foreign altars and high places. He rebuilt the towns and placed walls around them and they had peace for 10 years. When he eventually had to go to battle, he sought the Lord and God gave him a great victory. Afterwards, he went on to repair “the altar of the Lord in front of the portico of the Lord’s Temple” (2 Chronicles 15:8).
Interestingly enough, when he assembled all the people of Judah and Benjamin together, Israelites from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon came as well because “they saw that the Lord, his God, was with him” (15:9). Asa went on to depose his wicked grandmother from being queen mother and cut down her repulsive Asherah pole, broke it up and burned it. Indeed, the Lord gave him peace for a total of 35 years.
In the 36th year, however, Asa had to face a reinforced Israel under the kingship of Baasha who tried to blockade Judah. However, instead of crying out to God as in the past, Asa bought support from Damascus, from Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, and used as payment, the silver and gold from the Treasuries of the Lord in the Temple. They attacked Israel and won.
God was furious and sent Hanani, the prophet, to Asa to tell him of his wrong. But unlike David - he did not repent and seek forgiveness, instead he imprisoned Hanani and also “brutally oppressed some of the people” (16:10).
But what of our verse today? Can I encourage you? Read the first part again and remember God was reminding Asa that He had helped him against mighty armies before, and since God had delivered him then, why did he not trust God to do it again now?
Listen to those words again. “The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.”
Does that include you? Are you fully committed to Him?
Because if you are, God is on your side and no matter the problem or opposition you may be facing, God will strengthen your hand and if you trust Him He will cause you to win (yes, even you).
What I also love about this verse is that God’s not waiting for me to cry out in desperation; He is already looking to see what He can do to help.
Trust Him to help you - again and again - even today. He can and He will.
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