Day 45 – Be Strong and Courageous (again)
1 Chronicles 28:20 Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.
Story: David’s final public act as king includes this charge to Solomon. In front of the entire nation of Israel, David reviews God’s plan for the Temple (28:2-8), encourages Solomon (28:9-21), asks Israel to give offerings to the Temple (29:1-9) and then praises God for His work and prays for His blessing (29:10-20). What David first charged Solomon in private, he now repeats publicly before all the nation. Just as Solomon is to obey God’s Word and so be strong and without fear, so also all of Israel.
My Prayer Response: Father, these are powerful words from David – a man who was victorious over giants, who dove deep into sin, who was a man after Your own heart. He’s not just saying these because it sounds good in public. These are words David has lived out and knows to be true and worthy. I want to be faithful all of my days – to obey Your Word; to be strong, courageous, and act; to not be afraid or dismayed; to know and love that You are always with me! You will not fail or forsake me or any of Your people!
May the LORD bless you to be strong, courageous, and act!
Day 46 – Let the fear of the LORD be upon you.
2 Chronicles 19:7-9 7 “Now then let the fear of the Lord be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the Lord our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe.” … Then he charged them saying, “Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and wholeheartedly.
Story: As a new king, Jehoshaphat both destroyed places of idolatry, and sent out Levites to teach God’s Word (17:6, 9). Now, he wants to continue bringing the people of Judah back to the LORD (19:4). So he sets up a judicial system that not only makes decisions based on God’s Word, but teaches the people how to make decisions based on God’s Word. First is judges in every city of Judah, and the key quality: let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Next, Jerusalem will have like a supreme court of Levites and priests to handle big or tough decisions. The key quality again is: do this in the fear of the LORD.
My Prayer Response: Father, let the fear of the LORD be upon me today. So that in big or small decisions, my focus isn’t on what I want to do, or how I feel. Instead, my focus is on Your will and Your Word. Let me fear the LORD faithfully and wholeheartedly this day!
May the Fear of the LORD be upon you today!
Day 47 – From Surprised To Singing
2 Chronicles 20:15, 17 and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s. … ‘You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.”
Story: The surprise attack by three armies threatened death to Judah and Jerusalem. Now, all the reforms of Jehoshaphat to turn Judah back to God are tested. In this crucial moment, will they look to the LORD? Will they truth and obey Him?
Everyone comes together for a massive prayer meeting. Jehoshaphat, as king, starts with a prayer for an answer (v. 6-12): ‘we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.’ And then I imagine silence. All standing, waiting, silently praying. Suddenly, Jahaziel speaks. He’s not a prophet; he’s part of the worship team. But the Spirit of the LORD comes upon him and he speaks of God’s protection, presence, and plan. Included is the same message as what Moses said to Israel at the Red Sea when the Egyptian army threatened death to Israel, ‘Stand and see the salvation of the LORD.’
God does indeed deliver. The surprise attack become self-destructive, as the three armies kill each other; no one survives! In the order of battle for Judah, the front lines are not filled with soldiers, but singers. They march to battle with the defenseless choir in front, singing praises to the LORD and trusting Him for the victory.
My Prayer Response: Father, I love this story! Going from surprise and ‘we don’t know what to do’ to total victory and songs of praise and faith. Father, I want to live out this faith and relationship with You. I don’t face armies, but I am often surprised and uncertain what to do. Teach me how to let You fight, and how I ‘fight’ by standing and singing. Because I confess that even at my very best, I cannot win a single one of these battles. Only You can!
May the LORD be with you as you stand and sing!
Day 48 – The LORD fights your battles
2 Chronicles 32:7-8 “Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
Story: A different king, a different time, but again, an enemy threatening death. Much like Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah invested in spiritual reforms to bring Judah back to God (chps 29-31). And so now is the test. Will Judah trust the LORD as conquering Sennacherib and his massive army of Assyria invade? No prayer meeting is recorded, but Hezekiah takes action to secure water for his city (v. 3-4). And he speaks words of encouragement and faith to the people of Jerusalem.
God does indeed deliver. Without the army of Jerusalem doing any battle, an angel of God kills the warriors, commanders, and officers of Assyria. Overnight, a huge army is gone!
My Prayer Response: Father, transform my perspective on life. I confess that I rely too much on my own understanding – what I see, who I can talk to, and what ideas I can create. It’s never about my resources; it’s first and foremost about You! That You are with me/us. That You are greater than what is opposing me/us. I’m seeing a similar lesson in these stories – with Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, Jehoshaphat, and Hezekiah. Because we really need to know this. and I want to be knowing, practicing, living this out. Deepen my fellowship and intimacy with you. Prepare me today for the battles to come.
May you trust the LORD to be with you today!
Day 49– Remember the great and awesome Lord
Nehemiah 4:14 When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.”
Story: the enemies threatened loss, pain, death. Enemies who for the longest time exerted great power over God’s people. But now a man who feared God, Nehemiah, was leading the people of Jerusalem to rebuild the walls. And he wasn’t afraid of the enemies. His focus was on who God is, and what He has promised His people. So the people fight back by building the wall. As the threats increased, the precautions of the builders increased – but the building of the wall did not decrease.
My Prayer Response: Father, there are so many explanations and excuses as to why I can disobey You; that my service to You can decrease. But really, all of these are because I fail to remember You, LORD God, are mighty and awesome. Help me to remember this truth today: You are mighty and awesome! What will my obedience be like with that truth ever before me?
May you remember the Lord is great and awesome today!