WE REST ON THEE. 2nd Chronicles 14 Asa demonstrated faithfulness to the Lord his God right from the start of his reign. The result was that the people of Judah enjoyed peace for ten years because of their leader's obedience to the Lord. Asa was only young when God gave a great victory to his father Abijah. That may have been what motivated him as a young king to seek the Lord and live consciously aware of his need for God. The chronicler describes the forty-one years of Asa's reign as king of Judah in three parts. The first part covers the initial ten years, during which he zealously removed idols, artifacts, and symbols of idolatry that had been present since the time of his grandmother and great-grandmother. Solomon, Rehoboam, and Abijah had all been influenced by those idolatrous women to establish high places and other elements associated with idol worship throughout the land, despite the magnificent temple in Jerusalem being the central place of worship for the Lord's people. It is possible for people to become so accustomed to evil when it is widespread that it becomes an accepted part of life in a declining society. Removing what is wrong is just as important as doing what is right. Our children often remember certain remarkable events in their early lives that leave a lasting impression for better or worse. It is very important that we talk to them often about God's truth when we "rise up... walk in the way... and lie down." We should seize every opportunity to teach them about the power and consequences of faith, and why it is so vital to "live by faith." When two different philosophies become so mixed that they blend to accommodate each other with tolerance, it is really to "give place to the devil." We must "resist the devil and he will flee" from us. Any source of temptation and anything we know is offensive to God must be removed rather than overlooked or ignored. It is essential to "worship the Father in spirit and in truth," and it is also essential to eliminate anything that can distract us from living by faith. We can live in peace despite the circumstances of life around us if we remain faithful to the Lord our God. Life can be complicated, but we can live with God's peace, keeping our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. We started our relationship with God by placing our faith in Him for salvation. We believed He is who the Bible says He is, and our minds affirm this through everything we see around us and through unseen things. When we live by faith, the promises of God's word become real to us, as we learn that “In Him we live, and move, and have our being.” Our faith is the firm foundation of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. Obedience to God brings peace with others as well as with God. Often, peace and prosperity go hand in hand when someone leading God’s people is dedicated to truth and righteousness. The chronicler’s message was clear: obedience and blessing are linked. Disobedience and punishment are related, too. Doing what is right is crucial for peace, but eliminating what is wrong is also important. Anything that leads to temptation must be removed and eliminated. As long as we are in this world, there is always potential for trouble. When we are at peace, it is wise to prepare for troubles that could come ahead. “Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee.” Make plans, consider possible defenses, and decide what is best to do before difficulties arise. We must be confident in our minds that our trust is in the Lord and His way through the valleys of life. He knows the path we will take before we reach it. Guidance comes from God through His word and the Holy Spirit, and these are available to us at all times. Asa's early years of peaceful rule were characterized by his efforts to correct what was wrong and his realistic understanding that there were steps to defend his country. He ensured that every town in Judah removed all traces of false gods, which was a positive move. True obedience to God on Asa's part resulted in ten years of peace granted by the Lord. During that time, he eliminated evil and strengthened the cities with walls to defend against inevitable attacks. There are steps we must take to promote what is right, not just to focus on what is wrong. Doing only half the job in cleansing still leaves dirt behind. Partial reform is not true reform. Partial obedience is not genuine obedience at all. There will always be opposition to the truth in some form or another. Truth and righteousness cannot coexist or "cross-pollinate" with falsehood or compromise with God's word. The god of this world does not take vacations, nor does he allow God's people to go unchallenged. Training time is never wasted, even if there don't seem to be severe difficulties at the moment. Alertness and skill go hand in hand. Consistent teaching of God's word, ongoing work with children to see them come to faith, and continual Gospel outreach may not produce immediate results. But it takes longer to prepare for a harvest than to harvest. A time will come when we'll realize that all the effort during peaceful times built the security and skills needed when the enemy strikes. Much can be accomplished quickly when we're well prepared, especially during open opposition. It's in those moments that God's power and saving grace are visible. A "time of visitation" often occurs alongside times of fear and challenge. Asa and his army were prepared when necessary. The men of Judah were trained to handle heavy shields and long spears. The men of Benjamin were equipped with small shields, bows, and arrows because they had taken the time to learn their skills. Even though a million-man army, with a two-to-one enemy ratio, came against them, they didn't run or hide; instead, they went out to face the enemy and defend what God had given them. Asa was very aware of the need to rely on God for victory. We are responsible for doing what we can and what we are called to do, but in every situation, we need God. Despite training and careful planning, it is "God that worketh in you, to will and to do of His good pleasure." Time and again, it is shown that God's "strength is made perfect in weakness." The powerless against the mighty may seem a very frightening position, but when God's power is revealed, victory will come. "To God be all the glory!" Decisions about how to face the enemies of our souls should be made well in advance, so that when temptations come, there has been preparation on how not to yield. There are reasons why our Lord gives us times of peace and preparation. When we recognize and admit our limitations, we position ourselves to trust God in both good times and bad. Asa and his army did what they could during periods of peace. Then, in the Lord's name, they faced the million-man army of the Ethiopians, and the enemy was defeated. "If God be for us, who can be against us?" In some miraculous way, God struck down the Ethiopians, and they were overthrown because they were "destroyed before the Lord." The crushing blow of divine power cleared the way for Asa and his forces to pursue the enemy and become enriched from all the enemy left behind. There are times when God allows enemies of His people to come against us, making us aware of our need for Him. Sometimes, difficulties are permitted to help us see that self-confidence can be a form of pride, and that "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." It is then that the "chastening of the Lord" happens because of our wrongdoings. There are also moments when opposition arises, and we wonder what we have done to cause it. In such times, we may be given an opportunity to exercise faith with that as its purpose. "In vain doth earth and hell oppose, for God is stronger than His foes." When we trust in God, even while questioning the events and their reasons, God is honored. "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight." Build and prosper. A man who leads but recognizes his limits and lives his life in God’s sight is someone God can trust to lead His people. His obedience helps him do what is right. If he is committed to obeying God’s truth, he will work to correct what is wrong. He will also see the importance of God’s people being strong. He will take the necessary steps to establish a biblical separation from those around us who do not view God’s Word as an obligation, but instead want to open the gates wide, allowing anyone who wishes to come in and be part of the church community, yet never face sin.
The cities also need towers, where watchmen who learn from the Word can observe the earth’s scene and guard the truth in the Lord’s name. They will recognize new trends as they emerge and set a watch to protect us from both subtle and bold threats that aim to breach the holy place. The building project continues as people learn what God has to teach. The protection this provides might seem small if you only consider what is achieved in one week. However, the ongoing effort of wise building will yield lasting results, and the strength of God’s people and the assembly will endure long after others have passed away.
The secret to prospering is building with care and concern put into each stone, so that a living stone doesn’t think it is independent and can live and act in harmony with others. The walls, towers, and gates that protect are each made to fit next to those around them, so strength from others is gained when an attack is made against them. When the enemy attacks, and it will, we have already taken defensive precautions—but at the same time, we know only the Lord can provide for our salvation. We need God in every step of building, so that His work in our hands might prosper, and He alone can bring the final victory using what we have to offer.