2 Chron. 17; Rev. 6

So we meet Jehoshaphat and like his Father, Asa, he's off to a good start. He walks 'in the way of David', he did not seek Baals, but instead sought the true God and 'walked in his commandments'. 'His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord' and he took away the high places.

What does an Israelite King require? God, and in v3 the good news for Israel and Jehoshaphat is that God was with Him. And so 'the Lord established his Kingdom'. That is very important to remember, especially for Jehoshaphat. If he ever forgets, sin's chasm lies right besides him. The Lord gave him courage, wealth, honour, respect and an army. The question left in my mind at the end of this chapter is: will he forget?

2 Chron. 16; Rev. 5

Irony: King Asa remember's his country's covanant with the King of Syria at the expense of His covanant with the only living God (v2). Then add to this Asa's remarkvto King of Syra: 'break your covanant with King Baasha'. He obviously has a low view of covanant keeping, which is a shame because he and his people had done so well previously in ch. 15 in regards to covanant-making.

Who knows what happened to Asa to bring him down from his former reliance on God? Maybe he became too used to success, or maybe success, with it's wealth, and the passing of time, with its dumbing effect, got the better of him. But God knew exactly what Asa had done in v2 and so sends a messenger in v7.

What's my reliance on to get me through difficult times? "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless towards him". What does 'blameless' mean? In the context, it means relying totally on God; being not at fault of relying on anything but God.

Wow! what a character change! It's as if his heart had turned, sin had darkened and so he hated the light of truth the seer hard brought. (v10)Hate the message, hurt the messenger.

v12- a word for our day: how often do we seek the Lord as opposed to physicians?

Asa's story is a lesson in dependance. Depend on God all of your days, do not turn aside from him in prayer (for it certainly happens!). v9. Reliance on God changes things; He is a strong support and seeks to be one for all who rely on Him.

2 Chron. 14-15, Rev. 4

King Asa, a man 'who did good and right in the eyes of the Lord'. He was a man dependant and obediant. So dependant was he that in the heat of battle he cries out to God 'we rely on you': mighty men of valour admitting they don't rely on themselves. It continues: 'So the Lord defeated the Ethiopians...'. The Lord was asked and he answered.

Notice also the insistance that everything comes from the Lord. 'he had no war in those years for the Lord gave him peace'; 'we have sought him and he has given us peace on every side'. The message is at least: 'if you seek him he will be found by you' (15:2).

The Lord speaks through Azariah in ch.15 and the impact of His words are clear. He took courage and began a revolution, which would be no easy thing to accomplish. He ordered all detestable idols to be destroyed and restored the alter of the Lord. Asa recognised the authority with which the Lord spoke. The Lord has opened Asa eyes to see the power of the One on the throne; the creator and sustainer; the one to whom all is owed and to whom all worship is due (Rev. 4). You would think Asa will be among the heavenly number in praise of the One on the Throne.

Deception

It is frightening how easily we are deceived.

We begin at the foot of the cross: How great the grace of God to make spotless a sinner like myself! In joy we take steps to live out our new found spotless identity in Jesus. We live for Jesus wholeheartedly: with our emotions, with our time, with our mind, with all we have! May Jesus shine forth!

But like a subtle breeze developing before a storm, hardly perceived -in fact, enjoyable at first- the whisper of lies begin. So soft on the heart. 'Keep working, keep giving all you have. What a slave you are!' As they keep coming, our prayers for strength and vitality begin to disappear behind the darker clouds of self-thoughts. But still all this happens silently, at this point.

The winds pick up. Suddenly, it doesn't feel like it did before. The joy- where's it gone? The silent and repetitive prayers to God showing dependence on Him are blown away. The first sounds on thunder are heard in the self-congratulatory praise as the clouds have now fully obscured any sight of the cross.

The rain starts to fall. Standing in its midst, my own strength apart from Him begins to wash away. Like face paint, the deception is washed away. Cold, wet and at the mercy of a storm, who am I? The grace of God is like rain, washing us from our pride and deception, leaving us exposed to our true selves.

The rain ceases, the clouds part, and the cross is seen for what it is. The crucifix: a well-spring of life. Never shall I depart, I pray.