Thursday, July 21
Depend on the Lord
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 15-16, Psalm 85, John 21
2 Chronicles 16:7–9 At that time, the seer Hanani came to King Asa of Judah and said to him, “Because you depended on the king of Aram and have not depended on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from you. 8 Were not the Cushites and Libyans a vast army with many chariots and horsemen? When you depended on the Lord, he handed them over to you. 9 For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth to show himself strong for those who are wholeheartedly devoted to him. You have been foolish in this matter. Therefore, you will have wars from now on.”
2 Chronicles 16:12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a disease in his feet, and his disease became increasingly severe. Yet even in his disease he didn’t seek the Lord but only the physicians.
Observation
Here is a lesson on depending on God. Early in his reign, when King Asa was attacked by the Cushites who outnumbered him, he sought the Lord and God delivered him. But late in his reign, when King Baasha of Israel attacked, rather than seeking the Lord, Asa sought help from the king of Aram. It worked—Baasha withdrew—but with disastrous long-term consequences. The prophet pointed out that King Asa lost an opportunity to defeat Aram as well as Israel, and that he “will have wars from now on.”
When Asa depended on God, the Lord delivered him. When Asa depended on someone else, he won the battle, but lost the war. He experienced short term victory but long term defeat.
16:9 “For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth to show himself strong for those who are wholeheartedly devoted to him.”
This beautiful promise is wedged in the middle of the prophet’s rebuke of King Asa. The king failed to be wholeheartedly devoted to God and it cost him. It cost him victory in battle, peace in the land, and ultimately his life.
His final failure was when he got sick, he sought help only from the physicians and not from the Lord. It wasn’t wrong to see the docs, but it was wrong not to seek the Lord. Once again, he failed to depend upon God.
Application
Depend on God. Lean on Him. Seek the Lord first!
Yesterday I was talking with a friend who is part of our church planting movement. He pointed out that a true movement is a work of God not the result of human strategies. Like Asa seeking the docs, it’s not either or: prayer vs strategy. It’s both/and. But certainly it starts with prayer and dependence. My friend is right. The results we long for are God’s work far more than ours. We partner with Him, but He does the heavy lifting.
I also thought about my own minor physical ailments. My first thought is often, “I need to see a doctor.” Nothing wrong with seeing a doctor. But I want my first thought to be, “I need to seek the Lord.”
I want to live in humble dependence upon God and seek Him first in everything.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times I bypass You and go first to someone or something else. Instead, help me to pray first and depend on You. I believe that You are looking to show your strength to those who are wholeheartedly devoted to You.
Bonus: 2 Chronicles 15:7 But as for you, be strong; don’t give up, for your work has a reward.”
This verse encouraged to be strong and not give up because my work has a reward. Keep going! Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”