Today's Bible Reading: 1 KINGS 15:16-17:7; 2 CHRONICLES 16:1-17:19
2 Chronicles 16:9
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. . . .
This section of our chronological readings begins what is called the divided kingdom. This period in Biblical History begins with the death of Solomon and the struggle for control of the kingdom of Israel between Solomon’s son, Rehoboam and Solomon’s servant, Jeroboam. Neither of them could take decisive control of the nation of Israel. So, the once United Kingdom under King David and his son Solomon now became divided in 922BC (1Kgs 14:21, June 9th reading).
Jeroboam gained control of the northern section of the former Kingdom which came to be known as “Israel” (this is not to be confused with the usage of the term “Israel” to describe all of the Jews). Ten of the twelve tribes of Israel sided with Jeroboam and declared him their king. The southern portion including the holy city of Jerusalem and the temple remained under the control of Solomon’s son Rehoboam. It became known as the nation of “Judah” (not to be confused with the usage of the term to describe the “tribe of Judah”). The remaining two tribes of Judah and Benjamin were loyal to Rehoboam and made him their king.
This division remained for 200 years until the Assyrians took the Northern kingdom of Israel captive in 722 BC (2 Kgs 18:10-12, June 28th reading). The Southern kingdom of Judah fared better than their rivals in the north by remaining intact until they were defeated and deported into captivity by the Babylonians in 597 BC (2 Kgs 25:22, Aug 26th reading). This led to all the Jews being held in captivity for about 70 years.
All of this historical background gives you insight as you read these events. This is so you can better understand the situations, sins, and struggles of God’s people and help you to apply the lessons that you learn from their lives to yours. As you read this section, place yourself in their position and perceive insights into how to face your own predicaments and problems.
One event detailed in today’s text is a war between Asa, the third king of the Southern kingdom and Baasha, the second king of the Northern kingdom. Baasha had built the city of Ramah on the border between the two kingdoms. It was designed to dissuade the people of the north from going to the south to worship in Jerusalem. Baasha feared that if they were allowed to go worship in the temple at the prescribed time, they would defect and remain in Judah. So he built Ramah to prevent his people from going south (2 Chron 16:1).
Asa saw this as an incursion into their affairs. He perceived that since Ramah was only 5 miles north of Jerusalem it could become a fortified stronghold for staging raids and attacks on the south. So, Asa enlisted the army of Syria to help him defeat Bassha and destroy Ramah. To pay tribute for his help, Asa completely depleted “all the silver and gold that was left in the treasury of the house of the Lord” and delivered it to the Syrian king. (1Kgs 15:18). Two things resulted. First, Baasha was defeated and Ramah destroyed. Second, God brought judgement upon Asa for his defiance and distrust of the Lord to work in and through this crisis.
Here is where we find today’s lesson. You see Asa had previously defeated a “huge army with very many chariots and horsemen” ( 2 Chron 14:12). He won this great victory over the Ethiopians and the Lubim, not because of his power but because he prayed (2 Chron 14:11). He succeeded not because of his military tactics, but because he trusted God. This is in contrast to his struggle with Baasha where he sought his own means to gain victory and acted in defiance to the Lord by using the resources designated for the temple as a tribute. His actions displeased the Lord and brought divine judgement upon Asa.
God was ready and willing to aid him in his struggle. God’s prophet told Asa, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him” If only Asa would have done as before and turned to and trusted the Lord in his trouble things would have been different.
Oh but we are just like Asa, we trust God one minute and then turn to our own resources and resolve the next. We must see what Asa missed. That is that the Lord perceives our peril and positions Himself to “give strong support” that will help us persevere through our most difficult problems. Our ever-seeing God stands ready to provide “strong support” to those who seek and serve Him. His aid is readily accessible. His eyes are constantly surveying our situation. His strong arm is read to support our struggle. Ours is to turn to Him and trust Him in the midst of our trouble.
Today, thank the Lord for His word. Thank Him that if we study it, even the historical aspects, we will find truth to help is in our daily trials. Thank Him that He sees our struggles and stands ready to provide strong support to help us through them.
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