TOPIC: AND HE LOOKED UP
Read 2 Chronicles 14:1-15
1 So Abijah rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. Then Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land was quiet for ten years.
2 Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God,
3 for he removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places, and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images.
4 He commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment.
5 He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom was quiet under him.
6 And he built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest; he had no war in those years, because the LORD had given him rest.
7 Therefore he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and make walls around them, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us, because we have sought the LORD our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.
8 And Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah who carried shields and spears, and from Benjamin two hundred and eighty thousand men who carried shields and drew bows; all these were mighty men of valor.
9 Then Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah.
10 So Asa went out against him, and they set the troops in battle array in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
11 And Asa cried out to the LORD his God, and said, “LORD, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!”
12 So the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.
13 And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar. So the Ethiopians were overthrown, and they could not recover, for they were broken before the LORD and His army. And they carried away very much spoil.
14 Then they defeated all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the LORD came upon them; and they plundered all the cities, for there was exceedingly much spoil in them.
15 They also attacked the livestock enclosures, and carried off sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.
MEMORISE:
And Asa cried out to the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing for You to help whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O LORD our God for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against these multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You’ (2 Chronicles 14:11)
EXPOSITION
Until you look up, you will not see what God has provided. The Scripture says every good gift or thing comes from above. The best is always from above-God. Until Abraham looked up, he was unable to see God’s provision of ram in exchange for his son. He would have killed Isaac as against what God provided.
Do you need help? Then, look up unto the hill-God where help comes. Look up unto Him for all things. There is nothing you need or desire that are not in Him. Stop looking unto man who does not have the best of your needs.
Man is mortal. Help only comes from above not from abroad. Until the Israelites looked up in the wilderness, help did not come. Look up now and your help will come.
Asa, the son of Abijah, succeeded his father as king of Judah.
Despite his good deeds and dedication to the God of Israel, Zerah, an Ethiopian attacked Judah with a vast army that by far outnumbered the army of Judah. In the face of this terrible experience by King Asa, he looked up. He did not look around, left or right into unholy alliance, but unto the hill – God where help comes. He called on the name of the Lord and he received help in time of need.
Meditate on the memory verse. Asa’s action teaches us not to give up whenever we are faced with problems and challenges that are far bigger than us. Our God is bigger than all things including situations and events. You are to be the next one to give testimonies of God’s unfailing power.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Father, I look up unto You for my help, please attend to me speedily today in Jesus’ name.
2. Pray that God will arise for your sake and silence the enemies that are militating against the plan of God for your life and family.
3. Lord, You who rescue King Asa in those days, rescue our nation from the hands of the enemies (bandits, Boko Haram, Ritualist, Terrorists, Kidnappers, etc) surrounding her, let them not prevalil in Jesus Name.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
2 Chr. 6:19 – 8:17; Acts 4:17 – 5:1
HAVE A REFRESHING TIME IN HIS PRESENCE…………..SHALOM