"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth..."
He's searching.
He's watching, observing. Why?
"...to show Himself strong..."
He's seeking an opportunity to intercede. He longs to shelter, to provide. He desires to make a way. He's working things out. He's fulfilling a purpose, a plan. For whom?
"...in behalf of those whose hearts are blameless toward Him." II Chron. 16:9a Amplified
Oh that I'd be found blameless and loyal to my Lord when His eyes fall upon me. When they look into my heart and search my faith, my obedience, I pray He finds something in me worthy of His mercy and grace. May my motives be pure.
The Lord wants to show Himself strong in my life. He doesn't want to show me strong in my life. He wants my weakness, my dependence, my faith to rest in Him--not in the world. To boast of myself, my wit, wisdom, ideas, creativity or ability steals from the glory that belongs only to Him.
God had helped King Asa defeat an army. Yet when confronted with threatening from a much weaker foe, Asa crumbled and sought the aid--not of God--but another king. And the army of the king of Syria escaped Asa. God was not happy, so the latter part of II Chronicles 16:9 explains: "You have done foolishly in this; therefore, from now on you shall have wars."
Sad. Asa didn't trust God to deliver him. His fear swallowed his faith, his memory, his knowledge of God's power and strength. I wonder.
What wars do I have as a result of my faltering faith?
The past few months the Lord has provided again and again and again for my husband and I. I've had tremendous peace in the midst of our trials. Every day presents us with another problem, obstacle or difficulty. But I know Who holds those things in the palm of His hand. Indeed!
"I know Whom I am believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day." II Tim. 1:12
When my strength is gone, I rest. When my brain won't work, I rest. When my efforts prove worthless, I rest. When I hit the proverbial brick wall, I rest. And I praise the Lord that it is not up to me to fix anything.
There is no shadow of turning allowed in a believer's heart when it comes to trusting God's sovereign grace and mercy. God is good. Completely good. He loves me so much that He doesn't want anything but good for me. And every good and perfect gift comes from Him.
Did God curse Asa? Or did God know what Asa would do from that day forward and therefore told him his future fate? I believe it is the latter. God knew Asa's heart. He knew he'd be angry and bitter forever. He knew Asa would never turn to him again--he would remain as foolish in years to come as he was with his actions against the king of Syria. What do you think? selahV
[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]
