God Speaks
The Reigns of Kings Abijah and Asa in Judah and Jeroboam, Nadab and Baasha in Israel
Verse of the Day: For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV 2011)
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Watch TBR Day 176
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding I Kings 15 and II Chronicles 13-16:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
1 Kings 15
1. God considers the actions of people, especially rulers, “Are their actions generally acceptable to the LORD or not?”
2. People should seek to do what is right in the sight of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 13
1. God draws a distinction between those who obey Him (Judah/Benjamin and Abijah [at least at first]) and those who rebel against Him (Jeroboam and the rest of Israel [the northern kingdom]).
2. People are to keep the charge of the LORD their God.
2 Chronicles 14
1. God honors those who take a strong stand for Him as Asa did by removing the foreign altars and high places, tearing down sacred pillars and by commanding the people to seek the LORD God and observe His laws and commandments.
2. People should cry out to the LORD (as Asa did), “O LORD, no one but You can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in You alone. It is in Your name that we have come . . . O LORD, You are our God; do not let mere men prevail against You!”
2 Chronicles 15
1. God, by His Spirit, raises up prophets, like Azariah son of Oded, to instruct His people in the way they should behave toward Him.
2. People who want the LORD to act on their behalf need to stay close to Him and seek Him. Then they will find Him. If they abandon Him, He will abandon them.
2 Chronicles 16
1. God expects people to trust and rely on Him, not try to find solutions for their problems on their own.
2. People, like King Asa, face consequences for trusting in human problem solving rather than trusting completely in the Lord God of Israel.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding 1 Kings 15 and 2 Chronicles 13-16?
Dear LORD God, thank You for being the wonderful, loving Father God that You are. Thank You for laying out in scripture the behavior You expect of Your people and their leaders. Holy Spirit, enable me to seek to do what is right in the sight of the LORD. Help me to trust and obey You rather than to rebel against You and Your ways. Show me specific actions I need to take in order to bring my own life (and the lives of those I care about) back in line with Your plans and purposes. I need Your help to stay close to You and seek You. Then I will find You. On my own, I am powerless against this enemy of my soul. But You are Almighty and have already conquered it by the blood of Jesus. Nothing can prevail against You! Raise up leaders to instruct Your people in the way we should behave toward You and other people. When we do this, we will bring You glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to 1 Kings 15 and 2 Chronicles 13-16? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will ask myself, “Are my actions and attitudes acceptable to the LORD or not?”
- I will ask the LORD, “Are my actions and attitudes acceptable to You or not?”
- I will cry out to the LORD, “O LORD, no one but You can help the powerless against the mighty! Please help me, O LORD my God, for I trust in You alone. It is in Your name that I live my life. O LORD, You are my God; do not let mere men prevail against You!”
- I will trust and rely on the LORD, not try to find solutions for my problems on my own.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.