Rely on the Lord of Hosts: He is More Than Able

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles Chapter 16

In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
  Then Asa brought silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the Lord and of the king's house, and sent to Ben-Hadad king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying, "Let there be a treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you silver and gold; come, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me."
  So Beh-Hadad heeded King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel. They attacked Ljon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali.
  Now it happened, when Baasha heard it, that he stopped building Ramah and ceased his work. Then King Asa took all Judah, and they carried away the stones and timber of Ramah which Baasha had used for building, and with them he built Geba and Mizpah.
  And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: "Because you have relied on the king of Syria and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand.
  Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet beacuse you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand.
  For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars."
  Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time.
  Note that the acts of Asa, first and last, are indeed written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet and his malady was severe, yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians.
  So Asa rested with his fathers; he died in the forty-first year of his reign. They buried him in his own tomb which he had made for himself in the City of David; and they laid him in the bed which was filled with spices and various ingredients prepared in a mixture of ointments. They made a very great burning for him.

Exhortation:

Let us trust and keep trusting in the Lord of Hosts. It is God who alone has all power to save and to deliver. There is nothing or no one who is hidden from His sight. Neither is there any force greater than God, for He has made all things. Asa thought he was now secure with the help of the King of Syria. He went ahead and built two cities with the materials he took from Ramah. He did not prosper at all, but became diseased in his feet and died.

May our total reliance be on the Lord! Let us love Him with all our hearts and depart not from His holy presence. Do not despise His correction. Walk humbly before the true and living God. He is more than able!

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen, but we have risen and stand upright.
Psalm 20:7

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