Pray for POTUS. Pray for Q.

 

In this crisis Asa did not

put his trust in the “fenced cities in Judah” that he had built, with

“walls, and towers, gates, and bars,” nor in the “mighty men of valor”

in his carefully trained army. Verses 6-8. The king’s trust was in

Jehovah of hosts, in whose name marvelous deliverances had been

wrought in behalf of Israel of old. Setting his forces in battle array,

he sought the help of God.

 

The opposing armies now stood face to face. It was a time of

test and trial to those who served the Lord. Had every sin been

confessed? Had the men of Judah full confidence in God’s power

to deliver? Such thoughts as these were in the minds of the leaders.

From every human viewpoint the vast host from Egypt would sweep

everything before it. But in time of peace Asa had not been giving

himself to amusement and pleasure; he had been preparing for any

emergency. He had an army trained for conflict; he had endeavored

to lead his people to make their peace with God. And now, although

his forces were fewer in number than the enemy, his faith in the One

whom he had made his trust did not weaken.

 

Having sought the Lord in the days of prosperity, the king could

now rely upon Him in the day of adversity. His petitions showed

that he was not a stranger to God’s wonderful power. “It is nothing

with Thee to help,” he pleaded, “whether with many, or with them

that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on Thee,

and in Thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, Thou art our

God; let not man prevail against Thee.” Verse 11.

 

The prayer of Asa is one that every Christian believer may fittingly

offer. We fight in a warfare, not against flesh and blood, but

against principalities and powers, and against spiritual wickedness

in high places. See Ephesians 6:12. In life’s conflict we must meet

evil agencies that have arrayed themselves against the right. Our

hope is not in man, but in the living God. With full assurance of

faith we may expect that He will unite His omnipotence with the

efforts of human instrumentalities, for the glory of His name. Clad

with the armor of His righteousness, we may gain the victory over

every foe.

 

King Asa’s faith was signally rewarded. “The Lord smote the

Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto

Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not

recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the Lord, and

before His host.” 2 Chronicles 14:12, 13.