LORD HELP US!
2 Chronicles 14:1-15
by Cleavon P. Matthews Sr.
February 24, 2003
INTRODUCTION
The shattering saga of God’s people during a divided kingdom presents heartbreak; hope, but most importantly instruction. After the exciting, adventurous, industrious, and thrilling reign of Solomon there was a severing of God’s people. Although he was granted wisdom beyond years and unequalled by any mortal Solomon’s tragic idolatry would haunt the kingdom for many centuries to come!
The Lord would not allow Solomon to witness the division during his lifetime. But the prophetic promise was given. The relevant record is found in 1 Kings 11:28-32. “And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph. And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field: And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: and he said to Jeroboam, take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: But he shall have one tribe for my servant David’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.” Jeroboam a former servant to Solomon would become king to ten of the tribes in the North because they had forsaken the Lord and worshipped idol gods.
But even with this prophecy Jeroboam was forced into Egypt for a time. When Solomon died his son named Rehoboam became king in Judah. Now with Solomon dead and Rehoboam on the throne Jeroboam came out of Egypt and asked for support. But Rehoboam refused to lift the burden of his brethren. The Bible says instead of heeding the counsel of the old men he took the counsel of the young men and threatened to chastise them with scorpions.
All of this was done for the unfolding of God’s prophesy (2 Chron. 10:15). This incident caused Jeroboam and Israel to revolt. Now the kingdom was divided in every meaningful way. Jeroboam would eventually lead Israel into sin and remove the Levites and priests from their functions. But neither would Rehoboam do any better in the South. The scripture says, “and he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord” (2 Chronicles 12:14).
Rehoboam’s son Abijah reigned after him and he renewed the conflict with his father’s enemy Jeroboam. Abijah and Jeroboam meet against each other in war. Before this battle ensued Abijah stood upon a mountain and made a remarkable speech accurately depicting the condition of the times. He scolds Jeroboam for neglecting the revealed word of God and the worship of God. But then he also describes the faith of Judah. He says, ‘the Lord is our God.’ The sons of Aaron offer the sacrifices every morning and every evening. Abijah is able to say, God is our captain and he is with us!
But the truth did not deter Jeroboam. He sent a sudden and swift ambushment before and behind Abijah and Judah (13:13). But when Abijah saw they were surrounded by the enemy, the Bible says, they cried unto the Lord, the priests sounded the alarm, and the men of Judah shouted! Then the book says, ‘it came to pass that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.’ They prevailed because they relied upon the Lord God of their fathers (13:18).
At this point things are great in Judah. Eventually Abijah dies and his son Asa becomes king in Judah. Asa is the fifth generation from David. He has lived as a prince. He has enjoyed a life of privilege. He has received the finest education. He has tasted the delicious delights from the king’s table. He has a historical genealogy of both great faith and great failure. Asa without doubt was groomed to lead great men. Asa was conditioned and trained for military involvement. Asa would eventually end in disappointment. But now in the beginning of his reign Asa is ambitious, determined, and dedicated. Rest characterizes his reigned. The text says, ‘In his days the land was quiet ten years.’ Asa maximized this time of rest as if he knew there would come a day of chaos and testing!
We learn at least one great lesson from Asa’s life. We need the Lord’s help in order to succeed! Whenever Asa relied on God he found victory. But whenever Asa depended on anyone or anything other than the Lord he suffered defeat. Later in his life when he was threatened by Baasha king of Israel, Asa asked Ben-hadad king of Syria for help. In fact, Asa gave Ben-hadad treasures from the house of the Lord as payment. The Lord rebuked Asa and in his old age he was diseased in his feet until it was exceeding great but even then Asa would not seek the Lord but rather the physicians (16:12).
We need the Lord. Revival is a call to renew our faith and commitment to the Lord. In order to convert the corrupt and save the sinner we need the Lord’s help! When we have the Lord’s help we are able to rise from the gutter to glory. When we have the Lord’s help we are able to reach the unreachable and obtain the unobtainable. When we have the Lord’s help we are able to transform the terrible and restore the rebels. When we have the Lord’s help we are able to break barriers and lift loads. When we have the Lord’s help we are able to withstand the winds and wipe away worries. When we have the Lord’s help we able to eliminate egotism and annihilate arrogance. When we have the Lord’s help we are able to achieve the unachievable and perform the unbelievable. When we have the Lord’s help we are able to put aside the past and stand against Satan.
God’s help is key to our success. Our endeavors will only produce significance and success with God’s help!
I.THE PURGING
2 Chronicles 14:1-5
In order to ensure the Lord’s help, we must do some purging. We cannot anticipate God’s help unless we are willing to do some personal purging. The Lord wants to work through some holy vessels. Paul said, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Phil. 3:8). There must be a removing of ruin. There must be a taking off of treachery. There must be a disrobing of unrighteousness. There must be a cleaning out of our closets. There must be a renewing of our minds. There must be a lying down of hindrances before there can be a hand of help!
During these ten years of quiet Asa led the people in a national purging. Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. Asa measured his life decisions under the all-seeing eyes of the Lord his God. Asa realized nothing is hidden from He who sees everything. The wise man said, ‘Behold the eyes of the Lord are every place beholding both the evil and the good’ (Prov. 15:3). The Lord has everyone under divine surveillance. There is no hiding place. There is no concealment. There is no blind spot. Asa was a worshipper of the Lord his God. He had a personal sense of accountability to the Lord his God. Asa had no other God! The first command of the Decalogue was; ‘I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me’ (Ex. 20:2-3). Asa was committed to the Lord. Asa was determined to please the Lord. Asa had no other gods before him. Asa acted like a man who remembered the warnings of Deuteronomy 6:18; “And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the Lord: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers.”
Asa purged the place. “For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves.” These idolatrous practices of heathen worship had become present during the reign of Solomon had continued for the most part without interruption. The longevity of a thing does not necessarily imply its rightness. Just because people have practiced a thing for many years does not automatically stamp it with heaven’s sanction. Just because a person has been giving one to three percent for ten years does mean its right. Just because you have been observing the Lord’s Supper once a month all of your life doesn’t make it right.
Asa further demonstrates his commitment to the Mosaic tradition. In Deuteronomy 7:5-6 the law gave clear instructions. “But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. (In the next verse we have the reason for this command. Unlike us God always gives us a reason. He never calls us to act arbitrarily.) For thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.” Their special relationship with the Lord was the catalyst for taking away the altars of the strange gods, the high places, the images, and the groves.
The Church is the Israel of God (Gal. 6:16). The Church is now the special people of God (1 Peter 2:9). The Church is the holy people of God. The Apostle Peter said, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation” (1 Peter 1:15). Therefore the Church must lay aside all malice, all guile, all hypocrisies, all envies, and all evil speakings (2:1). In a metaphorical way we must take away the altars of the strange gods among us. We must take away the altars of self-centeredness. We must take away the altars of Luke warmness. We must take away the altars of foolishness. We must take away the altars of stubbornness. We must take away the altars of covetousness. We must take away the altars of faithlessness! But we must also take away the high places! A high place is an elevated place. The only one to be lifted up is Jesus! We must decrease in order for Him to increase. Too many saints have high places in their own minds. But Paul said, ‘with lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.’
And we need to break the images and cut down the groves. Images and groves are figures or graven type objects of worship. Asa was so committed to purging the land that he removed his own mother from being queen because she had made an idol in a grove (2 Chron. 15:16). Too many saints are trying to maintain an image. Jesus warned against this in Matthew 23:27-28, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” We need to stop trying to project images that are far from who we really are! Some of us look good on the outside. We are dressed up on the outside but messed up on the inside. Some of us look good on the outside. We have done a great job of decorating the exterior. We have mastered the art of accessorizing. But sister you don’t need make-up as much as you need a spiritual makeover. Brother you don’t a designer suit as much as you need a dedicated heart! We need to break the images and cut down the groves! Break and cut down the useless, unprofitable, wasteful, fruitless, and futile images and groves. An image and a grove is something we make to suit our own desires.
Asa commanded the people to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. As a preacher of the Gospel of my Lord Jesus Christ I want to command you today! And it’s consistent with New Testament teaching. Paul told Timothy, “These things command and teach” (1 Tim. 4:11). He told Titus, “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Titus 2:15). I want to command you to seek the Lord. Jesus said seek Him first! The Hebrew term is darash (daw-rash’) and it means to tread or frequent, to follow for pursuit or search! We need a search ministry! We need to seek the Lord everyday. We need to seek the Lord in life and prayer. We need to seek the Lord in His word. Paul said the Lord is not far from every one of us (Acts 17:27). Yeah, I want to command you to seek the Lord God of our fathers. Seek the Lord that brought Daniel out of a den of lions. Seek the Lord that revealed himself to Moses. Seek the Lord that gives living water. Seek the Lord who is able to rescue the perishing and strengthen the weak. Seek the Lord that fed Elijah with the ravens. Seek the Lord that gave sight to the blind and life to the dead.
But I also must command you to do the law and the commandment. Not the Law of Moses. But the law and commandment of Christ! I must command you to walk worthy of your vocation. I must command you to love your neighbor as yourself. I must command you to offer your bodies a living sacrifice. I must command you to submit to one another. I must command you to defend the faith. I must command you to put the new man. I must command mothers to love their children. I must command Fathers to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I must command children to obey their parents. I must command deacons to serve. I must command elders to shepherd the flock. I must command straying sheep to come home. I must command weary warriors to stand still. But I only command by the authority of the word of God! Yeah, by the authority of God’s word I want to command you to stop murmuring and start moving. I want to command you to stop bickering and start building. I want to command you to stop procrastinating and start participating. I want to command you to stop grumbling and to start giving! I want to command you to stop complaining and start cooperating.
Asa also cleaned up all of the surrounding areas. The text says, he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. Asa purged all the cities of Judah because he wanted the kingdom to be pure. The Church is now God’s kingdom on earth. We need to purge every area of God’s kingdom! We need to purge the worship in the kingdom. We need to purge the nursery. We need to purge the ministries and meetings. We need to purge the membership rolls. We need to purge our hearts and minds from the past!
II.THE PREPARATION
2 Chronicles 14:6-8
Whenever there is peace there can be prosperity! Asa’s reign is recognized for the quiet, peace and rest. James said, “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace” (3:18). Asa could build and prosper because there was peace. Asa took complete advantage of this peace to build! He prepared for the storm before there was a storm!
Asa said, ‘let us build these cities.’ It was a group effort. Asa was concerned about the potential dangers of the future therefore he sought to fortify cities in Judah. Asa said to the people let us build these cities. Let us make some walls around them, and towers, gates, and bars while the land is yet before us! In other words, lets redeem the times before the days of evil come. Let’s make the most of our present opportunity. Asa was not only concerned with the king’s house! Asa was concerned about every citizen residing in the cities of Judah. Asa was concerned about the widows and the orphans. Asa was concerned about those who were weak and defenseless!
Asa was able to lead the people in building walls of protection to keep others out; towers to watch for the enemy; gates to grant access to those who are welcome; and bars to strengthen the gates. The prerequisite to their building and prosperity was the peace given to them because they had sought the Lord! Church we need to do some building but before we do any building there must be some peace. We need to build some walls of protection for our people. We need to set some watchtowers to look out for dangers. We need to build some gates to grant access to the sinner. And we need to build some bars to prevent the enemy from breaking through!
Asa also had an army of men. He had three hundred thousand shield and spear carrying men out of Judah. He had two hundred and eighty thousand shield and bow carrying men out of Benjamin. These were mighty men of valor. The Hebrew for mighty men is gibbowr (ghib-bore’) and it means warrior! It is sometimes translated champion, chief, excel, giant, strong man, or valiant man! The Church needs an army of men! I thank God for the men I have the privilege of working with! But I believe there is much more in us than we have realized! I believe there are some mighty men among us who have not yet stepped out of the shadows. I believe there are some warriors, some champions, some spiritual giants, and some strong men among us! We need some prayer warriors. We need some men outfitted in the spiritual armour. We need some spiritual champions. We need some men who are not afraid to touch people. We need some men who are not afraid to shed a tear with the hurting. We need some men who are go-getters. We need some men who are not afraid to love and respect other men. We need some men who will show up for worship and worship when they show up! We need some men who aren’t afraid to charge a hill. The Lord can use a good man!
III.THE PRAYER
2 Chronicles 14:9-15
Asa’s wisdom and initiative paid off because no sooner than they had prepared the city and strengthen the army there arose a problem. The text says, “And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with a host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah. Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.” I want you to understand the magnitude of this problem. Asa has an army of five hundred and eighty-thousand men. The new king James says Zerah has a million men and three hundred chariots. Asa is outnumbered almost two to one. Furthermore three hundred chariots would almost be like having an armored tank division!
No matter how well you prepare there will be some things you are not prepared to handle! Asa is in an impossible situation. There is no way he can win this battle. Asa has done his best. Asa has purged the place. Asa has fortified the cities. Asa has strengthened the army. Asa has sought the Lord and commanded the people to seek him and to do the law and the commandment! But Asa now has a problem he can’t solve. Asa has a situation he can’t handle. Asa has an enemy he can’t defeat. Asa has an enemy he can’t succor. Asa has an obstacle he can’t overcome. Asa has a mountain he can’t climb! But what should Asa do? Should he panic? Should he surrender? Should he retreat into the fortified cities?
Notice what Asa did, “And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.” Asa prayed for the Lord’s help. He took his eye from his enemy and he looked towards the hills from whence cometh his help! He realized God is a present help in the time of trouble therefore he prayed to the Lord his God.
Asa’s theological understanding erupts in this prayer. Asa says, ‘Lord it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many or with them that have no power.’ Don’t miss this! Asa is saying there is nothing too hard for the Lord. Asa believes with God all things are possible! Asa recognizes his weakness but more importantly he recognizes God’s strength! Asa believes there is nothing to big or small for the Lord! Therefore whether his problem is a teenage son on drugs or a broke down car there is nothing too big or too small for the Lord. The Lord is able to help us in the big things as well as the small things. Most of us at least have enough sense to turn toward God for the big things. But our problem is the small things! What are small things? Small things are things we are deceived into thinking we have the sufficiency to handle ourselves without relying on the Lord. But tell me what thing big or small can you do without the Lord?
Based on Asa’s theological understanding of God he makes a request. Asa prays, ‘help us, O Lord our God.’ Asa believes God is active in his world and in the universe. Asa makes a divine emergency call. Asa calls heaven’s 911. Asa asks the Lord to help us. In Hebrew it means to surround, to protect, or to aid! Asa is asking God to surround them with a shield of protection. But notice Asa does not suggest to the Lord on how to help! Don’t concern yourself with how God helps you!
At this point Asa says, ‘for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude.’ In other words we are not resting on our spears. We are not resting on our fortified cities. We are not resting on our shields. We are not resting on our bows. Lord we are resting on you. We have gone out against this multitude in your name because we don’t want them to take the land you gave us. We don’t want them to ruin your land with idolatry. Next Asa says, ‘O Lord, thou art our God; let no man prevail against thee.’ Lord you are our victory. Lord you are our master. Don’t let any man prevail against you. Lord this is your battle. Lord this is your war. Lord don’t let man win.
CLOSING
The Lord answered Asa’s fifty-word prayer!
And the Lord smote the Ethiopians so they began to flee.
Asa and the people pursued them and overthrew them to the point of no recovery.
They smote this host and took much spoil and returned to Jerusalem.
I don’t know about you but I want victory in this life.
I can’t speak for you but I need the Lord’s help.
John said, ‘and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.’
Paul said, ‘but thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’
I need His help in the time of heartache
I need His help in the time of disappointment
I need His help in the time of trouble
I believe God is in the helping business.
He helped a woman with an issue of blood for twelve years
He helped a man at the pool of Bethsaida
He helped ten lepers
He helped Blind Bartimeus
He helped Jairus’ daughter
He helped the Syrophencian’s daughter
He helped an infirmed woman
He helped the Roman Centurion’s servant
He helped the Nobleman’s son
He helped the hungry
He helped the thirsty
He helped the broken-hearted
He helped the weary
He helped Elijah on Mt. Carmel
He helped the indebted widow
He helped David defeat Goliath
He helped Hezekiah live for fifteen more years
He helped Joshua bring down Jericho
He helped Abraham become a might nation
He helped Paul and Silas while in prison
He helped Peter preach
He helped Thomas unbelief
He helped Daniel in the lion’s den
But I am here to tell you that he helps me too!
