Lessons on Asa (4)â€”Maintaining Dedication Using Rules? - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

The LORD is near - Monday, October 19, 2021
by Jacob Redekop, Brian Reynolds, John van Dijk, Eugene P. Vedder Jr

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Lessons on Asa (4)â€”Maintaining Dedication Using Rules?

All Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought Him with all their soul; and He was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around.
2 Chronicles 15:15

Lessons on Asa (4)â€”Maintaining Dedication Using Rules?
There was great joy and encouragement after the victory against Zerah the Ethiopian, and when Asa and the people heard the words from the Lord given by Azariah. Asa removed the idols from all the land, restored the altar of the Lord, removed the title of queen mother from Maachah because of her idolatry, and brought into the house of God things he and his father had dedicated. Because of that, God blessed them and many came over to him from Israel when .

Asa and the people also made an oath to seek the Lord with all their heart and soul, and put to death anyone that would not do so. This is where things get trickier. There was great joy and zeal, but was it necessary to make such an oath, or simply to persevere in doing what was right before God and to seek Him?

Have we not the same tendency? When we experience great deliverance, or enjoy blessed times of refreshment to our souls, we tend to identify what brought such blessings and make rules around that in order to keep such gracious workings of God continuing. The intention is good, but it is impossible to maintain fellowship with God by following a set of rules. This is what Asa and the people did, but what happened when Baasha the king of Israel came up against Judah? Did Asa seek the Lord as he had sworn? No, he asked the help of the king of Syria! His oath gave him no spiritual strengthâ€”only the appearance of it.

Experiencing the blessing and help of God always brings joy, thanksgiving to the Lord, and zeal. But maintaining this freshness of heart and soul cannot be done through rules or vows. What we need is, "with purpose of heart to abide with the Lord" (Acts 11:23 jnd), and look to Him for His help and blessing.

Alexandre Leclerc

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