Verse of the Day 2/10 - 2 Chron. 16:9

Through the Bible - Isaiah 47-49, Mark 12:1-27

 

Good morning,

I recently read 2 Chronicles 15 and 16 about King Asa.  He instituted many religious reforms in Judah and brought back many of the sacrifices and removed many of the idols and high places of pagan rituals from the land.  He was also granted many victories with his army.  However, in his later years he sought security in military alliances and not in God.  His was not a heart that held on which resulted in constant battles to his dying day.

 

For today's verse we'll go to 2 Chronicles 16 that show us that God sees and knows our hearts, which should encourage us to hold on.

 

2 Chron 16:9 The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war."  NLT

 

God is still looking, constantly looking for a few good men.  Men who have a heart that is steadfast, men that will stand in the gap, men who will be honorable husbands and fathers, and men that will see the light that is coming for the heart that holds on when facing various trials.

 

The words of the song "A Few Good Men" sung by the Gaither Vocal Band came to mind.  Here are a few of the lines.

 

What this dying world could use is a willing Man of God 
Who dares to go against the grain and works without applause; 
A man who'll raise the shield of Faith, protecting what is pure;
Whose love is tough and gentle; a man whose word is sure. 

God doesn't need an Orator who knows what just to say;
He doesn't need authorities to reason Him away;
He doesn't need an army to guarantee a win;
He just needs a Few Good Men. 

Men full of Compassion, who Laugh and Love and Cry- 
Men who'll face Eternity and aren't afraid to die- 
Men who'll fight for Freedom and Honor once again- 
He just needs a Few Good Men. 

 

Are you or will you be one of those men?  Will you work to strengthen and encourage your men to be one of them?

 

Don't be a fool, don't seek security in and from the world around you.  If you do,  the rat race will continue, you'll find yourself constantly in battle with the wheel spinning faster and faster.

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV
2 Chron 16:1-10

 

16 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from entering or leaving King Asa's territory in Judah.

 

2 Asa responded by removing the silver and gold from the treasuries of the Temple of the Lord and the royal palace. He sent it to King Ben-hadad of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus, along with this message:

 

3 "Let there be a treaty between you and me like the one between your father and my father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will leave me alone."

 

4 Ben-hadad agreed to King Asa's request and sent the commanders of his army to attack the towns of Israel. They conquered the towns of Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all the store cities in Naphtali. 5 As soon as Baasha of Israel heard what was happening, he abandoned his project of fortifying Ramah and stopped all work on it. 6 Then King Asa called out all the men of Judah to carry away the building stones and timbers that Baasha had been using to fortify Ramah. Asa used these materials to fortify the towns of Geba and Mizpah.

 

7 At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa and told him, "Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the Lord your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram. 8 Don't you remember what happened to the Ethiopians and Libyans and their vast army, with all of their chariots and charioteers? At that time you relied on the Lord, and he handed them over to you. 9 The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war."

 

10 Asa became so angry with Hanani for saying this that he threw him into prison and put him in stocks. At that time Asa also began to oppress some of his people.  NLT