“. . . But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!” 2 Chronicles 15: 7, NKJV.
Our Father in heaven, please speak to our hearts as we seek You today. This we ask in the holy name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Words of hope and comfort: “Your work shall be rewarded.” How many today need to hear these words. How many have become weak and their hands failed to be productive because it seems that they have worked in vain. This is how they perceive their efforts, as futile; of no value, worthless. And oftentimes there is no one to encourage them, to tell them that the best is yet to come. No one to tell them that their efforts have been seen, appreciated and will be rewarded.
What is the context of our text for today? When and why was it written? Why did God allow it to become a part of the Holy Scriptures? Let us take a look and try to answer each of these questions.
The context. A time of Reformation. King Asa had broken down the altars that were dedicated to idol worship, and destroyed the images that the children of Israel had made. He encouraged the people to seek the Lord their God with all their heart. So the land had rest from war. He encouraged the children of Judah to take advantage of the time of peace and build fortified cities.. He also rallied an army of five hundred and eighty thousand “mighty men of valor.”
The when and why. All was prosperous and peaceful in the land when suddenly Zerah the Ethiopian with his powerful army of “a million men and three hundred chariots” (14: 9) declared war against king Asa. Then Asa cried unto the Lord and claimed the promise of the covenant. His was not a long prayer, but what it lacked in length it exceeded in power. Listen to this prayer of perfect faith:
“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” ‘ ” (11)! Notice the way the prayer is worded: “It is nothing for You to help”. “Neither plurality nor power make a difference with you. . . Because You are our God, fight and win the battle for us!
After such an outstanding manifestation of faith the Spirit of God descended upon Azariah, who under divine inspiration spoke to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. He reminded them of the results of their lawlessness and then encouraged them to be faithful to the LORD. It was at that time that the words of our promise for today were spoken. This was the result:
“And when Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded (Azariah the son of Oded) the prophet, he took courage, and removed the abominable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities which he had taken in the mountains of Ephraim; and he restored the altar of the Lord that was before the vestibule of the Lord” (15: 8). Notice the words “he took courage.”
The reason it was included in Holy Scriptures. I truly believe that this verse was included in Holy Scripture not by coincidence, but by Divine Providence for people like you and me. When hope seems to fade it is time for us to take courage, and in God’s name do something for His glory!