2 Chronicles 14 ~ Valor

2 Chronicles 14

14 Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David.

And Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land had rest for ten years. 2 And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. 3 He took away the foreign altars and the high places and broke down the pillars and cut down the Asherim 4 and commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment.

5 He also took out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the incense altars. And the kingdom had rest under him. 6 He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, for the Lord gave him peace.

7 And he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God. We have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side.” So they built and prospered. 8 And Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah, armed with large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin that carried shields and drew bows. All these were mighty men of valor.



9 Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and came as far as Mareshah.

10 And Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up their lines of battle in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

11 And Asa cried to the Lord his God, “O Lord, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O Lord, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.”

12 So the Lord defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.

13 Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar, and the Ethiopians fell until none remained alive, for they were broken before the Lord and his army. The men of Judah carried away very much spoil. 14 And they attacked all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the Lord was upon them. They plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them. 15 And they struck down the tents of those who had livestock and carried away sheep in abundance and camels. 

Then they returned to Jerusalem.

When we look at the Story of the Kings of Judah and Israel - we find our own stories. When Israel has peace, Israel believes the Promises of God. Be it 910-869 B.C. or 1967 A.D. Israel.

So a million warriors in the Bible, huh? Yes. Miraculous God does Amazing Wonders.

God has graciously given us the Archaeological Evidence of Asa and the war. Tel Dan Steele.


Psalm 81

1 Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob!

2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. 3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon,
on our feast day.

4 For it is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob. 5 He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a language I had not known: 6 "I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket. 7 In distress you called, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder;

I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah

8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me!

9 There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god. 10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11 "But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.

12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. 13 Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! 14 I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. 15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever.

16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."


Isn't it wonderful to celebrate the Glories of God?

God who saw His Creation as Good 10 times in Genesis 1 and 2. God, our Almighty God speaks of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

God who raised up David out of so many terrible times. David's  22 years of endurance to believe with awe and wonder of the Love, Mercy and Tender Compassion of God.

Abijah's success against every effort by Israeli Jeroboam to defeat him. "Judah prevailed because they relied upon the Lord God of their fathers." (2 Chr. 13:18) God gave the Kingdom to David and his descendants (1 Chr. 17:14) by a covenant of salt, meaning, of permanence. (Leviticus 2:13)

Isaiah worked so diligently and in his 3rd King, found Hezekiah to be like Asa - rejecting even his own father's idea to reject the Temple of God (to break down the gold and be a puppet state of Assyria) - Hezekiah Gloried in the Temple of God. Hezekiah Gloried in the Word of God. And in this faith - built up - what we can even see in Israel today of the Glories of this faith. Hezekiah probably came close to surpassing the amazing reign of Solomon.

We see the Old Testament with so many battles blending together, we forget to see - The Glory. The Victory of Faith. The call to be community believing the Word of God. Jesus Manifest.

The Glory of Josiah and the wonder of attaining a Book of the Old Testament.

The wonder of David to be considered by the Almighty God.

The Glories of Faith are in Chapters and Chapters of the Bible - never to forget - Faith is Life. Way, Truth and Life.

Good News. The Real Glories of God are Incredible and God is for you.

Father God, our Abba,

We pray for safe travel as our family will gather this week.

Thanksgiving for all the mighty works of the Scriptures with all the threads God pulls together in answered prayer. All these threads becoming the Hem of His Robe - filling our heart, mind and soul with His Glory - in our wonder.

May The Blessing of OUr Father God, Himself, Alpha and Omega, Ancient of Days, Merciful and Mighty God of All be your blessing and for those you love. For His Mighty Love to warm this Nation each day.

For all the Nations who Trust in Him to have His own Peace. And the Comfort of our Helper to be int he hearts and prayers of those asking in God's favor for more Heaven on earth.

Blessed Be our Jesus Christ - Savior. Amen!!!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Galatians 3:26 ~ You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus

Angels found painted in the Cathedral of Seville, Spain

Shepherds in the Field, painted by Nicolaes Berchem. Detail of the angels.

Jesus with the Angels, Artist Unknown. Beautiful.

Shepherds in the Field, painted by Nicolaes Berchem.

The Nativity, painted by Gerard van Honthorst

Luke 2

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.


Colossians 2:6 

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him

Galatians 3:26

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus


Colossians 1:10

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God


Yesterday we thought of the angelic ways people can behave to one another. And some seasons, this seems to be lacking in our lives.

The truth is God provides for us all in incredibly sufficient ways.

We strive not to follow what is comfortable to us and, instead, in the reality of Life, to shine the Light of Jesus Christ in all seasons.

Stained glass is bits and pieces of sand, pummelled, stripped, heated and cut to the perfection of the Plan.  Our Blessings of God can arrive - not in whole symphonies and instead in the aspect of  God's daily provision. We find God ties all things together interweaving to find all things work together for Good for those who work according to the Purpose of God.

Amen and Amen for the People of God. His favor is to save the world in Jesus Christ.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Luke 8:19-25 ~ Desiring to see You +

In 2015, Waverly Films decided to do a movie about St. Augustine. Instead of going the typical route of St. Augustine's conversion and his mother's prayer life, Waverly approached the life of St. Augustine in his wisdom.

What Biblical Passage will we relate to this movie?

Luke 8:19-25

19 Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. 

20 And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” 

21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. 

And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. 24 And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” 

And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. 

25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” 

And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

19 Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. 

20 And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” 

St. Augustine has been called to help the local employer. Just as Jesus was called to help Jairus' daughter. This woman is so busy her husband, child and mother have limited access to her time. This is St. Augustine's first day - he is eager to help her.


Psalm 5:3
In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.
Saint Augustine

21 But he answered them, 

“My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

St. Augustine recognizes the family is Zacchaeus asking Jesus to come home with him.

Luke 19:5
When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. "Zacchaeus!" he said. "Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today."

What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.
Saint Augustine

22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” 

So they set out, 

23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. 

John 9:4
I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

John 14:10
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.


O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there Thy cheerful beams. 
Saint Augustine

Luke 11:5-13

5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 



9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 

10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish


Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.
Saint Augustine

Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special attention to those who, by the accidents of time, or place, or circumstances, are brought into closer connection with you.
Saint Augustine

And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. 24 And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” 

Romans 12:10-20
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be lacking in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Give honor.  Praise effort. Never lack for zeal. Contribute to the needs of the Saints.

Mourn with those who mourn. Rejoice with those who rejoice.

Go green with mercy. See what is pure. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering.
Saint Augustine

And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. 

25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” 

Isaiah 66:10-14
Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:

Luke 1:58
And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

Luke 15:5-10
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

The words printed here are concepts. You must go through the experiences. 

Saint Augustine

Abba,

A Scottish Prayer

I will be veery busy today. I might forget Thee. Please do not forget me.

Abba, we see examples every day where mankind and man and me have fallen. It is the beauty and wonder of seeing where You are there. We have fallen. We need Jesus.

We have marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him!”

Only Jesus.

We ask Your Willing and Pouring Blessings for ourselves, the ones we Love. This Nation. The Nations trusting You. For the Children of God calling upon Jesus for more Heaven on earth.

Help us to love Thee more clearly, see Thee more dearly. Help us whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

In Jesus Christ, we will remain in You. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †