2 Chronicles 30:18-20

¹⁸ Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone ¹⁹ who sets their heart on seeking God—the Lord, the God of their ancestors—even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.” ²⁰ And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people. 

God looks at the hearts - even if the people are not clean according to the rules, God's favour is on those who's heart seeks for him.

2 Chronicles 29:5

⁵ and said: “Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary.

I must consecrate myself. I must remove the sin in my life. God please help me... 

Isaiah 7:4-9

⁴ Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. ⁵ Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin, saying, ⁶ “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.” ⁷ Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘It will not take place,
    it will not happen,
⁸ for the head of Aram is Damascus,
    and the head of Damascus is only Rezin.
Within sixty-five years
    Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people.
⁹ The head of Ephraim is Samaria,
    and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son.
If you do not stand firm in your faith,
    you will not stand at all.’” 

Do not be afraid of men. It is God's plans that will prevail, not the will of mortal men.

2 Chronicles 28:9-15

⁹ But a prophet of the Lord named Oded was there, and he went out to meet the army when it returned to Samaria. He said to them, “Because the Lord, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand. But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reaches to heaven. ¹⁰ And now you intend to make the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem your slaves. But aren’t you also guilty of sins against the Lord your God? ¹¹ Now listen to me! Send back your fellow Israelites you have taken as prisoners, for the Lord’s fierce anger rests on you. ”
¹² Then some of the leaders in Ephraim—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berekiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—confronted those who were arriving from the war. ¹³ “You must not bring those prisoners here,” they said, “or we will be guilty before the Lord. Do you intend to add to our sin and guilt? For our guilt is already great, and his fierce anger rests on Israel.”
¹⁴ So the soldiers gave up the prisoners and plunder in the presence of the officials and all the assembly. ¹⁵ The men designated by name took the prisoners, and from the plunder they clothed all who were naked. They provided them with clothes and sandals, food and drink, and healing balm. All those who were weak they put on donkeys. So they took them back to their fellow Israelites at Jericho, the City of Palms, and returned to Samaria. 

Do not be so quick to judge others - when i am just as sinful. Show love to all.

Isaiah 5:20

²⁰ Woe to those who call evil good
    and good evil,
who put darkness for light
    and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
    and sweet for bitter. 

There are so many who do that - call evil good and good evil. But God's word reminds me that woe is to such people. I shall not tire of standing up for what is right even if evil men call it wrong.

2 Kings 15:34-35

³⁴ He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Uzziah had done. ³⁵ The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple of the Lord.

It is even possible for me to do what is right before God but still not remove the "high places", causing others to stumble. The "high places" must be removed too.

2 Chronicles 26:16

¹⁶ But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.

With power comes the temptation to be proud. Even great men of God can be overcome with pride. Be warned...

Amos 5:21-24

⁶ “I gave you empty stomachs in every city
    and lack of bread in every town,
    yet you have not returned to me,”
declares the Lord.

⁷ “I also withheld rain from you
    when the harvest was still three months away.
I sent rain on one town,
    but withheld it from another.
One field had rain;
    another had none and dried up.
⁸ People staggered from town to town for water
    but did not get enough to drink,
    yet you have not returned to me,”
declares the Lord.

⁹ “Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards,
    destroying them with blight and mildew.
Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees,
    yet you have not returned to me,”
declares the Lord.

¹⁰ “I sent plagues among you
    as I did to Egypt.
I killed your young men with the sword,
    along with your captured horses.
I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps,
    yet you have not returned to me,”
declares the Lord.

¹¹ “I overthrew some of you
    as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire,
    yet you have not returned to me,”
declares the Lord.

¹² “Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel,
    and because I will do this to you, Israel,
    prepare to meet your God.”

God has given many chances to change, to turn to him. What will await me if i stubbornly refuse to?

²¹ “I hate, I despise your religious festivals;
    your assemblies are a stench to me.
²² Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
    I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
    I will have no regard for them.
²³ Away with the noise of your songs!
    I will not listen to the music of your harps.
²⁴ But let justice roll on like a river,
    righteousness like a never-failing stream! 

God is not interested only in outward expressions which do not reflect what is in the heart. He seeks for justice and righteousness.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Someday... he will be calling me back. Am i encouraged by those words? But i am encouraged as i look forward to seeing the dead in Christ again!

Jonah 1:3

3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish . He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

Am i running away from the Lord regarding anything? It would be as pointless as Jonah's effort, wouldn't it?

Hosea 2:8

⁸ She has not acknowledged that I was the one
    who gave her the grain, the new wine and oil,
who lavished on her the silver and gold –
    which they used for Baal.

I must acknowledge that everything i have is given graciously to me by God - and be thankful for it! And use it for his glory.

2 Chronicles 25:7-10

⁷ But a man of God came to him and said, ‘Your Majesty, these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the Lord is not with Israel – not with any of the people of Ephraim. ⁸ Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow.’
⁹ Amaziah asked the man of God, ‘But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?’
The man of God replied, ‘The Lord can give you much more than that.’
¹⁰ So Amaziah dismissed the troops who had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home. 

Do i fully trust in God? Could he not give me much more money than the amount that i feel i have been cheated of? Of course he can!

2 Chronicles 24:22

²² King Joash did not remember the kindness Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had shown him but killed his son, who said as he lay dying, ‘May the Lord see this and call you to account.’

Eventually, everyone will be held accountable for all the wrong they have done. I can take comfort in this and not try to exact revenge.

2 Kings 12:13-15

¹³ The money brought into the temple was not spent for making silver basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, trumpets or any other articles of gold or silver for the temple of the Lord; ¹⁴ it was paid to the workers, who used it to repair the temple. ¹⁵ They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty. 

They acted with complete honesty - no need to check on them! Can i be entrusted in the same way?

2 Kings 10:28-29

²⁸ So Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel. ²⁹ However, he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit – the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.

People can be actively serving God - with their hearts. But at the same time, they can still be harbouring some sins in their lives which will not make them as effective as they can be. I must deal with the sins and the lies that still remain.

2 Kings 9:22, 11:1-3

²² When Joram saw Jehu he asked, ‘Have you come in peace, Jehu?’
‘How can there be peace,’ Jehu replied, ‘as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?’

As long as there is sin in my life, how can there be peace with God?
 

¹When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. ² But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed. ³ He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

This incident reminded me that in perilous times, God can use brave people who will take fearless actions which will have a positive outcome in the end. But will i be brave enuf to be used in such a way?

2 Kings 6:33-7:2

³³ While he was still talking to them, the messenger came down to him.
The king said, ‘This disaster is from the Lord. Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?’

¹Elisha replied, ‘Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Lord says: about this time tomorrow, a seah of the finest flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.’

² The officer on whose arm the king was leaning said to the man of God, ‘Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?’
‘You will see it with your own eyes,’ answered Elisha, ‘but you will not eat any of it!’

I should not blame the Lord when disaster strikes - but to trust in him. In him time, his will will be done!

2 Kings 5:20-27

²⁰ Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, ‘My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.’
²¹ So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running towards him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. ‘Is everything all right?’ he asked.
²² ‘Everything is all right,’ Gehazi answered. ‘My master sent me to say, “Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent^[d] of silver and two sets of clothing.”’
²³ ‘By all means, take two talents,’ said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. ²⁴ When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left.
²⁵ When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, ‘Where have you been, Gehazi?’
‘Your servant didn’t go anywhere,’ Gehazi answered.
²⁶ But Elisha said to him, ‘Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes – or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? ²⁷ Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants for ever.’ Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous – it had become as white as snow.

It is so sad that Gehazi who has been with Elisha for so long did not seem to grow spiritually. Instead, he was still materialistic - and paid the price for it. After seeing all the miracles of God, people can still be overcome with sin. Being close to spiritual people and being involved in spiritual exercises is no guarantee.

Be careful of the lure of material things!

Acts 16:16-25

¹⁶ Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. ¹⁷ She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.’ ¹⁸ She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned round and said to the spirit, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!’ At that moment the spirit left her.
¹⁹ When her owners realised that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market-place to face the authorities. ²⁰ They brought them before the magistrates and said, ‘These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar ²¹ by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practise.’
²² The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. ²³ After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. ²⁴ When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. ²⁵ About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

When we were doing this together for our devotion, my wife pointed out that sometimes, even when we do what is right, we will get get into trouble.

That was how i was feeling - it is so sad that with the condition of the world we are in - and the kind of lawyers around, even if i did not do anything wrong, there is a possibility that i will have to pay the price.

But i should be like Paul - trust in the Lord, praise him in all circumstances!

Acts 16:6-10

⁶ Paul and his companions travelled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. ⁷ When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. ⁸ So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. ⁹ During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ ¹⁰ After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

I must be sensitive to the prompting and guidance of the Holy Spirit - and have the strength and courage to heed what he has to say.

2 Chronicles 20:15

¹⁵ He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.

A timely reminder that the battle belongs to God. Sometimes, it seems so tough and people we depend on fail us. But at the end of the day, all that matters is that God is on my side - for if he is, who can stand against me?

1 Kings 22:7-38

⁷ But Jehoshaphat asked, ‘Is there no longer a prophet of the Lord here whom we can enquire of?’
⁸ The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, ‘There is still one prophet through whom we can enquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.’
‘The king should not say such a thing,’ Jehoshaphat replied.
⁹ So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, ‘Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.’
¹⁰ Dressed in their royal robes, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing-floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them. ¹¹ Now Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made iron horns and he declared, ‘This is what the Lord says: “With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.”’
¹² All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. ‘Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious,’ they said, ‘for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.’
¹³ The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, ‘Look, the other prophets without exception are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favourably.’
¹⁴ But Micaiah said, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.’
¹⁵ When he arrived, the king asked him, ‘Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or not?’
‘Attack and be victorious,’ he answered, ‘for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.’
¹⁶ The king said to him, ‘How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?’
¹⁷ Then Micaiah answered, ‘I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the Lord said, “These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.”’
¹⁸ The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘Didn’t I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?’
¹⁹ Micaiah continued, ‘Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing round him on his right and on his left. ²⁰ And the Lord said, “Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?”
‘One suggested this, and another that. ²¹ Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, “I will entice him.”
²² ‘“By what means?” the Lord asked.
‘“I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,” he said.
‘“You will succeed in enticing him,” said the Lord. “Go and do it.”
²³ ‘So now the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster for you.’
²⁴ Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah went up and slapped Micaiah in the face. ‘Which way did the spirit from the Lord go when he went from me to speak to you?’ he asked.
²⁵ Micaiah replied, ‘You will find out on the day you go to hide in an inner room.’
²⁶ The king of Israel then ordered, ‘Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon the ruler of the city and to Joash the king’s son ²⁷ and say, “This is what the king says: put this fellow in prison and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.”’
²⁸ Micaiah declared, ‘If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me.’ Then he added, ‘Mark my words, all you people!’
²⁹ So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. ³⁰ The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘I will enter the battle in disguise, but you wear your royal robes.’ So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.
³¹ Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, ‘Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.’ ³² When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, ‘Surely this is the king of Israel.’ So they turned to attack him, but when Jehoshaphat cried out, ³³ the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel and stopped pursuing him.
³⁴ But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armour. The king told his chariot driver, ‘Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I’ve been wounded.’ ³⁵ All day long the battle raged, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. The blood from his wound ran onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died. ³⁶ As the sun was setting, a cry spread through the army: ‘Every man to his town. Every man to his land!’
³⁷ So the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried him there. ³⁸ They washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria (where the prostitutes bathed), and the dogs licked up his blood, as the word of the Lord had declared.

Sometimes God's words are hard to accept. It may not be what we want to hear. It may even seem bad (v8, 18).

But if it is God's word, i really shud pay attention to it. Not doing so can and will surely lead to dire consequences - like for Ahab (vv34-38)

1 Kings 21:27-29

²⁷ When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.

²⁸ Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: ²⁹ ‘Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.’

I'm impressed by God's forgiveness. No matter how 'bad' Ahab had been, God was still willing to forgive him as long as he truly repented and humbled himself before the Lord.

The challenge also to me is how willing am i to forgive? God says to forgive as we have been forgiven.

1 Kings 19:3-18

³ Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, ⁴ while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.’ ⁵ Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.’ ⁶ He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
⁷ The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.’ ⁸ So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he travelled for forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. ⁹ There he went into a cave and spent the night.

And the word of the Lord came to him: ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’
¹⁰ He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’
¹¹ The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’
¹⁴ He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’
¹⁵ The Lord said to him, ‘Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. ¹⁶ Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. ¹⁷ Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. ¹⁸ Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.’

After doing so many things for God, even someone like Elijah can feel discouraged. And all alone.

I've not been thru a fraction of what he did - and yet at times i feel like giving up in discouragement and frustration.

But God knows our limits. He provides for our physical needs vv5-8, takes us away v8, approaches us with a gentle whisper v12, listens to our complains and rants vv10 & 14, encourages us by showing he is in control and we are not alone v15-18 - and even relief us v16.

1 Kings 17:2-6

² Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: ³ ‘Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. ⁴ You will drink from the brook, and I have instructed the ravens to supply you with food there.’
⁵ So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. ⁶ The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.

Elijah did not have anything at all! It would appear that he had no possessions. He definitely had no house. But yet, God provided for Elijah - and fed him regularly and sufficiently.

God can surely provide for all my needs. People may cheat me of my money - but thankfully, i still have money. But even if i dun, i gotta trust that he will still provide for all my needs!

2 Chronicles 16:7-9

⁷ At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: ‘Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. ⁸ Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand. ⁹ For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.’

Such a sad end to Asa - one who started off so well. But in the end, he decided to rely on the help of man rather than to turn to God.

And if i rely on the Lord, he will surely strengthen my heart and hear my prayers.

2 Chronicles 13:13-18; 14:9-13

¹³ Now Jeroboam had sent troops round to the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah the ambush was behind them. ¹⁴ Judah turned and saw that they were being attacked at both front and rear. Then they cried out to the Lord. The priests blew their trumpets ¹⁵ and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. At the sound of their battle cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. ¹⁶ The Israelites fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hands. ¹⁷ Abijah and his troops inflicted heavy losses on them, so that there were five hundred thousand casualties among Israel’s able men. ¹⁸ The Israelites were subdued on that occasion, and the people of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

⁹ Zerah the Cushite marched out against them with an army of thousands upon thousands and three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. ¹⁰ Asa went out to meet him, and they took up battle positions in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.
¹¹ Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, ‘Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.’
¹² The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, ¹³ and Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. Such a great number of Cushites fell that they could not recover; they were crushed before the Lord and his forces. 

These 2 incidents show clearly that the battle indeed belongs to the Lord! And even when the foes seemed overwhelmingly powerful and all hope is gone (Abijah's troops were surrounded), it does not matter. If God is on our side, we shall surely have the victory. 

In my situation now, it certainly feels like i'm powerless - and no one can help. But how wonderful it is to know that i need to rely on God's strength!

2 Chronicles 12:14

¹⁴ He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord.

When one stops seeking after God, he will surely turn to sin. What does it mean to seek God? The Amplified Bible explains it as to enquire of the Lord or to yearn for the Lord with all one's desire.

I Kings 12:12-16

¹² Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” ¹³ The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, ¹⁴ he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” ¹⁵ So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.
¹⁶ When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king:

“What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse’s son?
To your tents, Israel! Look after your own house, David!”

So the Israelites went home. 

Thru this passage, God reminded me of the importance to listen to the advice given by older people. They have after all walked with God much more and i have much to learn from their experience. 

Hebrews 11:24-26

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. ²⁵ He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. ²⁶ He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 

What a great example Moses is. Thank God for this humble faithful man. He chose to suffer affliction with God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin – which is passing and temporal.

As God’s child, I have to do what is right – even if it means that those who do not “follow the rules” will gain more and even take advantage of those who do what is right. This is something I should choose to do – rather than enjoy the temporal pleasures of this world.

Like Moses too – he considered suffering for Christ far better than the treasures in Egypt! Can imagine how rich Egypt must have been back then – but that was nothing to Moses. He had something better – a reward in God. God himself should be my reward.

Hebrews 11:1, 13-16

¹Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.  

I've been talking a lot about trusting in God and believing that he is in control of everything. I need to have the faith to be confident and assured of what i have been saying - to trust and believe not just in my mind but in my heart.

¹³ All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. ¹⁴ People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

I was encouraged by the heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 - and how they did not receive the things promised! But they were looking for something far better! I'm looking for a house but all along, God has a city prepared for me! =)

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Luke 12:34

 Ecclesiastes 12

¹³ Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
    for this is the duty of all mankind.
¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment,
    including every hidden thing,
    whether it is good or evil.

A reminder that God will eventually deal with all those people who are trying to cheat me and take advantage of me. Also, i too should be careful myself regarding what i do.

Luke 12

  ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

 

In my devotion with my wife, we were brought to read the Parable of the Rich Fool - and the devotion material was talking about buying houses!!! It's amazing how God uses our devotion to speak to us directly on what is on our hearts. Another wonderful reminder that our hearts shall not be on earthly material temporal things. While we can enjoy them, it should not cloud our view on what is eternal.

1 Kings 3:11-14

¹¹ So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, ¹² I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. ¹³ Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor —so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. ¹⁴ And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”

2 thoughts - first, in verse 13, it was a reminder that God gives lovingly and freely - and sometimes even when we do not ask for it!!! God's grace is shown when he gives to me even tho i do not deserve it.

Second, in verse 14, i note that Solomon did not live a particularly long life. The reason is obvious (see previous post here. I am reminded how important it is to obey the Lord. And alotho i may fail at times and sin, i can pray that he will reveal it to me so that i may confess them to him and receive forgiveness.

Ecclesiastes 2:4-11, Hebrews 13:5

Ecclesiastes 2
 ⁴ I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. ⁵ I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. ⁶ I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. ⁷ I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. ⁸ I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. ⁹ I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. ¹⁰ I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. ¹¹ Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

Hebrews 13

⁵ Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

These 2 passages spoke to me reminding me that contentment in God is more important than whatever material things we can have in this world - which are just temporal. Like houses.

1 Kings 11:1-4, 14, 23

¹King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. ² They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. ³ He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. ⁴ As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.

The wisest man who ever lived!!! I was wondering how could he have been soooo stupid? Perhaps this could be attributed to lies he told himself? That it was alright? Still, how could he have justified such actions? A direct disregard of God's clear command.

I better take note of this - that if the wisest man who ever lived could fall for sin like this, how much more someone like me? I must continue to pull out tempatation triggers and put in holiness habits to avoid this. 

¹⁴ Then the Lord raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom.

 ²³ And God raised up against Solomon another adversary, Rezon son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah.

What struck me about these 2 verses is that it was God who raised up adversaries against Solomon!!! Why? As a punishment? Perhaps it was more as an act to discipline him. In my life, I can think of "adversaries" whom God raised up against me - and while it was not pleasant, it was used to make me into a better person. 

Proverbs 24:19-20

¹⁹ Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked,
²⁰ for the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out. 

This was a timely reminder from God that although some people may seem to get away with their wrong-doing, they will not escape God's righteous judgement. They will get their just-deserts in the end.

Proverbs 21:31

³¹ The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord. 

This reminded me a little of the camp message - God has a role and so do we. God' role is to do the work of God. Man's role is to do the work of man. Man cannot do the work of God. God will not do the work of man.

I must prepare myself - but at the same time realise that it is God who will give me the result.

Proverbs 18: 22, 19:14, 21

Proverbs 18  

²² He who finds a wife finds what is good
    and receives favor from the Lord.  

Proverbs 19

 ¹⁴ Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,
    but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

Thank you Lord for your blessing on me! =) Help me to appreciate her more and more each day.

 Proverbs 19

²¹ Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Lord, let your will be done in my current situation - and help me to have the strength to accept it.

Hebrews 12:7-11; Proverbs 15:5, 10, 31, 32

Hebrews 12

⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline —then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Discipline does not necessarily mean punishment. God disciplines ALL his children - obedient ones and otherwise - because he loves us all.

When I face whatever hardship, I should remember that God is allowing me to go thru it - it is not by accident or coincidence. Discipline is never pleasant but it will in the end make me a much better child of God. 

Proverbs 15

⁵ A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
    but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. 

 ¹⁰ Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
    the one who hates correction will die. 

 ³¹ Whoever heeds life-giving correction
    will be at home among the wise.

 ³² Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,
    but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.

These Proverbs also reminded me the inportance of having the humility to accept correction - that I am far from perfect, and God can use other people to correct me.  I pray that I may be able to swallow my pride and allow myself to be corrected - for his glory.

Hebrews 11:39-40

³⁹ These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, ⁴⁰ since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. 

God has a plan for me - not the temporal material things, but something that will last forever and is worth so much more than what this world can give.

I need to have faith in God - and set my mind on things above, not things of this world.

Hebrews 11:5-6

⁵ By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. ⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

I've always been impressed by Enoch - he walked soooo close to God that God decided to just take him away. His faith was so strong that he is one of the 2 people up to this stage who have never tasted death.

I really hope to build up my faith and walk close to God in the same way. Yes, without faith, I can never please God. That's impossible.