2 Chronicles 15:1-19   Click here for Bible Verses

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Chronicles 15:1-19.

2 Chronicles 15:4 (NIV) 
 But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them.

On verses 1-19:  In this passage God sends Azariah with a message to King Asa of Judah at a time when Asa fears going to war (v1).  He reminds Asa of how God worked in the past – how there was a time in Israel’s history when the Israelites did not know God personally (v3-4). At that time there was lots of unrest and turmoil from wars and threats of war (v5-6).  But when the Israelites turned to God and sought God, they found Him and experienced Him personally (v2-6).  With this in mind, Azariah tells King Asa to be strong and to keep going with the work Asa started in removing idolatry from the land of Judah (v7).  Encouraged by Azariah’s message, Asa removes idols from the lands of Judah and Benjamin (v8).  He repairs the altar at the front of the temple (v8).  He also assembles all his people at Jerusalem for a worship service (v9-10).  At the worship service Asa and the people offer plentiful sacrifices to God (v11) and covenant to seek God together (v12-14), all with great rejoicing (v15a).   As further evidence of how committed and eager Asa’s heart was to seeking the Lord (v17), he deposes his grandmother Maacah as queen mother and burns up the Asherah pole she had erected (v16).  He also brings the silver, gold and articles of his father Abijah into the temple (v18).   As a result, Asa and the nation of Judah enjoyed ten years of peace (v19; see also 2 Chronicles 14:1).

This chapter is best summed by verse 15b where it says “They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.”   In fact, the pattern of “they sought God, and He was found by them” shows up three times in this chapter (v2, 4, 15)

What can we learn from this?    When you seek God eagerly, you will find Him.  God is not in the business of constantly hiding from You.  He longs to be close to You.  He longs for You to seek Him. 

What is the biggest reason people don’t find God or experience Him?  It’s because they’re not seeking eagerly for Him.    But 2 Chronicles 14-15 are here to show us that if we seek God eagerly, we will find Him.  As Jesus says in Matthew 7:7 and Luke 11:9, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Jesus our Lord also says in Matthew 11:28-30:

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) 
28  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

So don’t be lazy or complacent.  Seek the Lord eagerly today.  He’s waiting to be found by You.  And when you find Him, He will give you rest on every side, rest that the world cannot give.

Heavenly Father, thank You that You invite me to seek You eagerly, and when I do, I will find You.  Thank You that when I come to You eagerly, You will give me rest.  May this day be a day of seeking You and resting in You.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!