The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 16:12,
"In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians."
Asa was Judah's third king following the division of Israel after Solomon's death. Early in his reign he was noted as a good king, one who pleased the Lord. In 2 Chronicles 14:2 we read, "Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands. He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the Lord gave him rest."
We also read of him in 2 Chronicles 15:17b, "Asa's heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life."
However, later in his life Asa sought deliverance from the advancing threat of Baasha king of Israel. Asa approached the king of Aram instead of the Lord for help. The Lord sent a prophet, Hanani with the message that because Asa did not seek the Lord's help, but relied on another nation, Asa and Judah would be at war from then on. Asa expressed a lapse of faith in the Lord.
Likewise, as we read in 2 Chronicles 16:12, when afflicted with a terrible disease in his feet later in his reign as king, he only sought help from physicians and not the Lord. Asa again expressed a lapse of faith in the Lord. "In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians." 2 Chronicles 16:12.
I am reminded that yesterday's expression of faith demonstrated my commitment to the Lord yesterday. It does not, however, "carry over" to today. It does not "cover" things for me today in my life with the Lord, my walk with the Lord, my expression to the Lord today of my love, my commitment, my reliance upon him.
"In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians."
Asa was Judah's third king following the division of Israel after Solomon's death. Early in his reign he was noted as a good king, one who pleased the Lord. In 2 Chronicles 14:2 we read, "Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands. He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the Lord gave him rest."
We also read of him in 2 Chronicles 15:17b, "Asa's heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life."
However, later in his life Asa sought deliverance from the advancing threat of Baasha king of Israel. Asa approached the king of Aram instead of the Lord for help. The Lord sent a prophet, Hanani with the message that because Asa did not seek the Lord's help, but relied on another nation, Asa and Judah would be at war from then on. Asa expressed a lapse of faith in the Lord.
Likewise, as we read in 2 Chronicles 16:12, when afflicted with a terrible disease in his feet later in his reign as king, he only sought help from physicians and not the Lord. Asa again expressed a lapse of faith in the Lord. "In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians." 2 Chronicles 16:12.
I am reminded that yesterday's expression of faith demonstrated my commitment to the Lord yesterday. It does not, however, "carry over" to today. It does not "cover" things for me today in my life with the Lord, my walk with the Lord, my expression to the Lord today of my love, my commitment, my reliance upon him.
I'm not talking about my salvation. The Scriptures are clear about the settled nature of my salvation. I'm talking about my daily relationship with the Lord and how I can live my life in a manner that pleases him from day to day.
Yesterday's victories of faith in my life simply will not do for today. Faith needs to find its expression in my life each and every day.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment