Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord

I was just reading in 2 Chronicles about King Asa, the grandson of Solomon. He relied on the Lord for victorious battles, removed many of the idolatrous practices of the time, and lead Judah and Benjamin in a recommitment to the Lord. Yet even after relying on the Lord for major victories, he still relied on his own flesh and strength at times. At one point, Israel came against Judah and he made a treaty with the King of Syria instead of turning to God. So God sent Hanani the seer to tell him, “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.” (2 Chronicles 16:7-9) Instead of repenting, he threw Hanani into prison. How often do I try to bury the consequence or symptom, instead of repenting of the true problem? 

Later in Asa’s life, he became diseased in his feet, “yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians.” I am guilty of this. After such a grand victory of the Lord’s strength, it’s so easy for my human heart to turn back to my own strength. I grasp for the help of physicians, when I already have the greatest physician of all. It’s a daily choice to rely on the Lord’s strength. Often minute by minute in my mind to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 

“Thus says the Lord:

Cursed is the man who trusts in man

And makes flesh his strength,

Whose heart departs from the Lord. 

For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes,

But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,

And whose hope is in the Lord.

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,

Which spread out its roots by the river,

And will not fear when heat comes;

But its leaf will be green,

And will not be anxious in the year of drought,

Nor will cease from yielding fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:5-8

What a beautiful contrast. Today I pray we can all choose to be the man who relies on the Lord. Lord give us the grace to turn to your strength and wisdom in all things. Love you all!