The Lord is With You!

July 10, 2022

“It is a day that the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Remembering

our Lord and his work is our only source of security, peace, and happiness.

Knowing who is the provider, maintainer, and keeper of our souls makes us able to

accomplish what some think impossible. In Second Chronicles, Asa, the king, is

told by Azariah, the prophet, that the Lord is with him, will continue with him, as

long as they “seek him he will be found by them”. However, they are also warned,

“If you forsake him, he will forsake you”. Israel had ignored God for a long time,

but now Asa had come to know God and reject the idols and false gods of his

mother. He removed her as queen and also destroyed those gods. Israel had been

plagued by the nations around them to the extent that they could not travel. There

was no peace in the land, war was everywhere because they had deserted God and

so God deserted them. As sad as it was, the prophet gives Asa hope and encourages

him to “strengthen his hand because his work would be rewarded”. Asa rebuilt the

alter of the Lord and was joined by everyone who saw that the “Lord was with

him”. When he began to worship, so did they; and Israel was strengthened while

making a covenant with the Lord. They promised to seek the Lord God with all

their heart and with all their soul. Then made a decree that anyone who would not

seek the Lord should be put to death. This decree was accepted by all and sworn to

enthusiastically (2 Chronicles 15:14). After this pledge the Lord gave them peace

round about and peace within. At this time Asa brought into the house of God all

the things that had been dedicated to the worship of God and there was no more war

for 35 years. We might conclude therefore that when the Lord is with you good

things begin to happen and as long as we obey His will our reward of peace within

and peace without will come. We will never be short-changed by the Lord even if

we give a cup of cold water in his name.

Dr. Kenneth E. Morrison