Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Our watchword for today is taken from the Second Book of Chronicles, Chapter 14 verse 11, “O Lord, you are our God; let no mortal prevail against you,” (NRSVB). King Asa was a godly king who reigned after King Abijah over the Kingdom of Judah. He started to rebuild Jerusalem and called the people to have undivided hearts in their commitment to the God of Israel, the God of the forefathers. In his time he had peace in the land and was able to build the cities up and fortify them against future enemy attacks. The Ethiopian army rose up and came to battle the Judeans and set up the enemy-lines in the Valley of Zephathah. The Ethiopian army was so vast, it is said to have numbered more than a million soldiers, and the Judean army had 300 000 men and the men of the tribe of Benjamin had 280 000 soldiers. Asa prayed to the Lord and said that none besides God can help them. He asked God that the enemy would not drive them out of their land and win against them, even though the Judean army had less than half the soldiers of the Ethiopian army. Courageously they fought, but God drove the invading army away and gave Asa victory. When Asa and his victorious army returned home, the prophet Azariah came to deliver a message from the Lord, “Be strong, therefore, and let not your hands be weak and slack, for your work shall be rewarded!” Asa took great courage and continued to repair the walls of the cities in Judah and building altars for the Lord.
The profound hymn, “Let all mortal flesh keep silent and with fear and trembling stand,” captures this amazing silence and awe that befall on human beings when God works something that is utterly impossible for mortals to imagine. Like King Asa and his army, we feel overwhelmed at the happenings in the world. We are fearful, for it seems as if our plans and purposes are frustrated, despite our work being in obedience to the Word of the Lord. When we are at our weakest point and fear sure failure, then God comes through and saves mightily and turns situations around, rewarding the faithful by strengthening their faith and showing them the positive outcome of their prayers. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,” Zechariah 4 verse 6, (Amplified Bible). Our battles are fought first in the Spirit, studying the Word of the Lord and praying for his guidance, “Our Father, let your will be done.”
The Apostle Paul was concerned when he received reports of the rivalry that started in certain groups of believers, boasting of their gifting and works for the Kingdom of God on Earth. He was specifically concerned because congregations pitted various ministries of the Apostles against each other, in a sort of popularity contest, and demanded to see the credentials of the Apostles, despite the hardships they suffered in bringing the Gospel of Christ to Jews and Gentiles. We read in his Second Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter 12 verse 9, “So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me,” (NRSVB). Paul explained that God’s grace is sufficient against any danger and trouble. The weaker you know that you are, the more you will be filled with his grace and power. It has been shown through history that when people boast and have grown accustomed to their own power and skills, they become prone to error, think of the Giant Goliath. God uses the weaknesses of his children and turns them into assets. Paul said that instead of boasting about his gifts, he would rather tell the congregations of his flaws, so that they can see it is not he who works, but God who works in him.
Father, you choose mortals and make your power visible through them! Work in us, o Lord, this we ask in the Name of Jesus, who became weak and died for us, Amen.