Daily Devotions
January 22nd, 2010 by Pastor Solley2 Chron 14:1-5
14:1 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years.
2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:
3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:
4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.When Asa became king the land was at once set in peace before him. This no doubt because he did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord. So what did Asa do in this time of peace in Israel? We see later in the chapter he began to build up his defenses. 2 Chron 14:7-8
7 Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, 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 hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
8 And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valour.
Why would he do this when there was peace. Because he needed to make himself ready to stand in the day of battle. And what if the day of battle never came? It would not be wasted time or effort to be made strong. That in itself would help preserve peace in Israel. And then when or if trouble came they would be ready. Later on trouble did come and because they had made themselves ready God fought for them and they had a great victory. Let us learn from Asa. Be strong in the Lord, be prepared for battle, be standing in and walking with the Lord. It is never wasted time or effort.