Historical Books 2 Chronicles

God Fights for Us

Discover Jesus as: Royal Throne 2 Chronicles 13-14 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 308 of 730
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INTRO

This is our 308th day together studying the Word of God. So far in 2 Chronicles, we’ve been studying the kings: David, Solomon, Rehoboam of Judah, and Jeroboam of Israel. Rehoboam was unfaithful to the Lord, which led to the divided kingdom. Judah lost ten of the tribes from its land, and those ten tribes became the kingdom of Israel. Chapter 13 covers King Abijah. In verses 2-22, Abijah fought Jeroboam, and Abijah died in verse 1 of chapter 14. Today’s study from chapter 14 will cover the reign of King Asa. Both Abijah and Asa were kings over Judah.

TEACHING

2 Chronicles 14:1-7: Asa was king for 41 years, and for a period of ten years, there was peace in the land, because Asa did what was right in God’s sight (vv. 1-2). Beginning in verse 3, the chronicler recorded the things Asa did that were right: King Asa removed the pagan altars and high places that probably dated back to Solomon and his foreign wives, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles (v. 3).1Either Asa had not eliminated all the pagan worship sites, or more were built in the years to come (Deuteronomy 12:2-3; 1 Kings 15:14; 2 Chronicles 15:17). Asa then instructed the people of Judah to seek God and to follow His instructions, just like we have read in 2 Chronicles 7:14 (v. 4). Asa continued with cleansing Judah of pagan worship by removing the incense altars (v. 5).

This cleansing brought peace to the land, giving Asa time to build new fortified cities in Judah. Without war, Judah experienced rest, also understood as blessing (vv. 6-7a). They built and succeeded in what they did (v. 7b). Asa sought the Lord, then followed God’s leading and entered a new covenant with Him (2 Chronicles 15:12). However, in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a disease in his feet that cause him tremendous pain. In this case, he didn’t seek the Lord but only went to physicians (2 Chronicles 16:12).

2 Chronicles 14:8-15: In verse 8, the peace ended. Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah and 280,000 from Benjamin, all brave warriors with shields and spears or bows. Zerah brought the Cushite army of one million men and 300 chariots against Asa. The Cushite army marched as far north as Maresha, one of the fortified cities Asa built. Asa led his men to line up for battle. Zerah lined up his men opposite Asa’s army in battle formation (vv. 9-10). Asa’s army was facing a much greater force for battle, but Asa cried out to the Lord, acknowledging God’s omnipotence and reputation (v. 11).

Asa demonstrated his great faith in what God would do. The Lord led Asa’s army to route the Cushites, who fled for their lives (v. 12). Asa and his army pursued the Cushites and killed all the soldiers and carried off a great supply of loot (v. 13). Asa had so much faith that he put his men in battle lines, expecting God’s help in battle. Asa’s army also attacked the cities around Gerar and plundered those cities (v. 14) and the tents of the herdsmen and returned to Jerusalem with their sheep and camels (v. 15).

Asa testified in front of his soldiers that he knew no mere mortals could stand against God. In his prayer (v. 11), Asa declared his confidence in the supremacy of God and asked God to help them in their weakness, emphasizing that they relied upon Him. Finally, Asa pointed out that God should help him instead of letting men prevail against him (v. 14).

CLOSING

Asa expected God to fight for the army of Judah. Debbie McDaniel gives nine reminders that God fights for us:

  • Deuteronomy 20:4: The Lord goes with us.
  • Romans 8:31: If God is with us, who can possibly be against us?
  • Joshua 1:9: Always be strong and courageous.

Psalms 44:5: 23: Do not fear.

John 10:10: God comes to give us life.

Deuteronomy 3:22: Don’t be afraid, because God fights for you.

Isaiah 40:31: We are to wait for the Lord to give us strength.

Joshua 23:10: God fights for us.2

God is our advocate refuge and strength. He will be with us in the battle:

1 Corinthians 15:57: “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”

Romans 8:37: “No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us.”

We have already won the battle; walk like we walk in victory. This was Asa's mindset that God is the one who does the work and wins the battle. In a new covenant mentality, it is what Jesus Christ did on the cross that won the battle and we need to walk in this victory.

  1. John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2005), p. 503.

  2. Debbie McDaniel, “When Life Is Hard: 9 Reminders that God fights for Us”; available at https://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/debbie-mcdaniel/when-life-is-hard-9-reminders-that-god-fights-for-us.html.

Questions

  1. In 2 Chronicles 13:5, King Abijah reminded King Jeroboam that David’s throne was eternal. What was Abijah’s purpose?
  2. In 2 Chronicles 13:9, Jeroboam was reminded that he drove out the priests of the Lord and became like the people of the other lands. What had the Lord foretold would happen if the Israelites became like the nations they were to drive out? (Deuteronomy 18:9; 28:14-68; Joshua 23:15-16)
  3. Why were King Abijah and his men victorious against Israel? How can you ensure victory in your battles against our common foe? (2 Chronicles 13:18; Proverbs 3:5; Isaiah 12:2; Jeremiah 17:7)
  4. Asa was a great grandson of Solomon. How do you see Asa walking in wisdom? Where does wisdom come from? (2 Chronicles 9:23; Job 28—31; Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 2:6; Colossians 2:2b-3)
  5. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in 2 Chronicles 13—14 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin 2 Chronicles 14:11

“Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: ‘LORD, there is no one besides You to help the mighty and those without strength. Help us, LORD our God, for we depend on You, and in Your name we have come against this large army. Yahweh, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal hinder You.’”

King Asa of Judah did what was good and right in the sight of the Lord. Even when the Cushite army, which was double the size of King Asa’s army, came against Judah, Asa remained confident in the Lord. Asa walked in faith, marching out against his enemy and lining up in battle formation. At that moment, he cried out to the Lord: “There is no one besides You to help the mighty and those without strength. Help us, Lord, for we depend on You.” The Lord brought King Asa’s army complete victory in the battle, plus a bonus of provision for the people’s needs!

What battle do you need the Lord to fight for you today? Do you feel weak or unsure about how today will turn out? Take a moment and intentionally depend upon the Lord. Humble yourself, submit to His ways, and turn from evil. Believe that even in your weakness, the Lord is strong with you. He will fight your battle. It may require you to walk out in faith and step up to the battle line—but believe the Lord will show up. In God, you have victory. In God, you are a conqueror. In God, you are not alone. God will even trample your enemies and bring you life in abundance. Today, do not be afraid of the battle before you. Walk it out in faith, for the Lord is mighty within you!

“Then Asa cried out to the Lord his God: ‘Lord, there is no one besides You to help the mighty and those without strength. Help us, Lord our God, for we depend on You, and in Your name we have come against this large army. Yahweh, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal hinder You.’”

—2 Chronicles 14:11

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Deuteronomy 20:4 — “For the Lordyour God is the One who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.’”
  • Psalm 44:5 — “Through You we drive back our foes; through Your name we trample our enemies.”
  • 1 Corinthians 15:57 — “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”