"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT A FACT, AND A PROMISE GOD HAS FOR YOU"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT A FACT, AND A PROMISE GOD HAS FOR YOU"

2nd Chronicles 16:9 “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.”

Some explanatory thoughts, application, questions, and a prayer:

This wonderful fact, and promise about what God will do was actually given to King Asa, after he had foolishly trusted in a pagan king to help him deal with a threat against Judah. Asa had previously trusted the Lord against adversaries, but for some reason when this new threat came, rather than trusting in and turning to God for help, he turned to a Syrian King, a pagan. So, this verse was given to re-explain if you will to King Asa what God will do for His people. The verse is a promise given in the context of a reproof and rebuke to King Asa.

1. God has eyes and is searching the whole earth.
2nd Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth....

The Lord is looking each and every day, all through the earth as it were. He is actively doing this.
He is doing this for a reason, which is stated in the next point.
But, for now, it's a blessing to know that this very day, our God is looking throughout the whole earth, and He is looking for a certain kind of heart. And He is looking in order to do something for that person's heart.

2. God is searching the earth in order to strengthen hearts.
2nd Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong.....

So, here we have the explanation as to why God is looking and searching through the earth day by day. It's so that He can show Himself strong. He wants to strengthen the person who has a heart that is a certain way.
That heart is described in the next point.

3. God will strengthen the heart that is loyal or fully committed to Him.
2nd Chronicles 16:9 “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.

The heart God wants to strengthen, is the heart that is loyal to Him, or the heart that is fully committed to Him.
That is, as compared to what King Asa did. Asa could have received strength from God as he had in the past, but in this instance his heart was not loyal to God but he was trusting in a man a king, an earthly pagan king at that.

4. May God help us to not follow King Asa's example of trusting in man rather than in God.
2nd Chronicles 16:9 “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.”

When Asa trusted God, God strengthened him. When we trust God, He will strengthen us also. That's called having faith in God. But if we choose to neglect trusting God then He is unable to help us. Listen to these wise words from Proverbs

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

So on the one hand we can trust the Lord and receive His blessing, strength, and guidance etc. Or on the other we can be like King Asa, and trust in man and reap the consequences. In his case it was war after war after war.
God wants us to trust Him and let Him direct our paths and make the way plain for us.

Some Questions:

1. Isn't this a wonderful promise from God.?

2. And isn't it also a good warning to be careful as to who and what we are trusting in .?

3. Imagine that at this very moment our God is looking all through the earth and He is looking for hearts that are looking to Him as it were. He promises to give us strength.

4. Are you looking to God today. Will You look to God today and will you thank Him in advance for the strength He will give you?.

A prayer:

Father, thank You for giving us these true accounts of men and women in the Bible who we can relate to. You do not hide their faults and we can learn from them. Please help us to take these examples, whether they good one's or bad one's. We want to follow the good examples, and avoid the bad ones. .

Help us Lord to learn how to walk with You, and thank You that today You are looking for loyal or committed hearts to You in order to give them strength. Give us strength Lord, give us strength, we need it. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia