DB

AS FOR US, THE LORD IS OUR GOD

2Chron. 13:1-22

“As for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him. The priests who serve the Lord are sons of Aaron, and the Levites assist them. (10)

First, God is with us (1-12). There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. Abijah had 400,000 soldiers while Jeroboam had double that. Abijah was hopelessly outnumbered. Humanly, he should not have gone to fight with such a small army. But he was not afraid because he believed that the LORD was with him. He rather rebuked Jeroboam for resisting the advance of the kingdom and for forsaking the LORD by worshiping a golden calf and setting up false priests. Abijah spoke courageously words of faith. He warned the Israelites not to fight against the LORD. He is similar to David speaking up against Goliath and challenging the giant by faith in the name of the LORD.

Like Abijah, Christians must make a stand for Jesus and speak out against what is evil and immoral. But sadly, too often, the church is silent. This silence is also a kind of sin of cowardliness. We must love the sinner but hate the sin. We must not be afraid to speak the truth even when it will make us unpopular. 

Second, God routs Israel on behalf of Judah (13-22). Even as Abijah was speaking, Jeroboam attacked from both the front and the rear. The men of Judah were caught in an ambush. But they cried out to the LORD. The priests blew the trumpets. Then God routed Israel before Abijah. Judah could defeat the stronger enemy even though Israel had double the numbers. It is because the battle is the LORD’s. 

We are praying for God’s victory in Libya and the ME conference. May God grant victory to N.Y. because the battle belongs to the LORD.

Lord, help me to rely on you for victory. I do believe that the battle belongs to you. Bless your servant N. Y. and his family to be able to safely attend the ME conference. Bless this conference abundantly and let all your servants be encouraged. Bless the Ahn mission team and use them preciously. Father, help me to stand up for Jesus at home, in ministry, on campus and wherever I am. Help me to remember that the battle belongs to the LORD. In Jesus' name. Amen.

One Word: The battle is the LORD's!