The Lord shows Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him

2 Chronicles 16:9 (NKJV): For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.

The word 'strong' here is 'khaw-zak' in Hebrew, which means 'sure, powerful', and the word 'loyal' here is 'shalem', meaning 'full, whole, at peace'. You can therefore read it this way: 'For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong, sure, and powerful on behalf of those whose heart is full of Him, wholly for Him, and at peace with Him.

The Lord in all His power and strength could have shown Himself strong directly against the enemy, but He chose to show it through His people, just as He did through Moses, David, or Elijah. Today, He still works the same, and He is looking to and fro throughout the whole earth for hearts that are loyal to Him.

These words in 2 Chronicles 16:9 were actually given by Hanani (a seer) to Asa (a king of Judah), and in the context of our Bible study today, one can also say a loyal heart is a heart that put God first, put His Word first, and is faithful till the very end. You'll find out why as you read on.

To begin with, let's go all the way to 2 Chronicles chapter 14.

2 Chronicles 14:1-4 says, '... Abijah died and rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. Then Asa his son reigned in his place... Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God, for he removed the altars of the foreign gods and the places for pagan worship, and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment'.

2 Chronicles 14:6-7 then says, 'And Asa built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest; he had no war in those years, because the Lord had given him rest. Therefore, he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities and make walls around them, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us, because we have sought the Lord our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side." So they built and prospered'.

The word 'seek' (or 'sought') here is 'darash' in Hebrew, literally meaning 'to follow, to pursue, or to search diligently'. The Bible says those who seek Him shall find Him (2 Chronicles 15:2). Notice the land had rest when God's people sought the Lord their God. Interestingly, the word 'rest' here is 'nuwach' in Hebrew, meaning 'comfort, quiet, settled down', just like Noah (same word 'nuwach' in Hebrew) rested in the ark during the great flood (see Genesis 6:17-18). The 'ark' here is a 'picture' of 'the salvation (Yeshuwah) of the Lord, a place of rest for the people of the Lord'. Today, as believers in the New Covenant, you and I can also find rest in this 'ark', no matter how perilous the world has become.

Asa learned to rely on the Lord
2 Chronicles 14:9-12 continues about Asa, 'Then Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots... So Asa went out against him... And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, "Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!" So the Lord struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled'.

Here, when the enemy came against Judah, Asa learned to rely on the Lord, and not man. The word 'rest' here is "sha'an" in Hebrew, and it means 'to rely on, to lean on'. Asa knew his army was outnumbered by the enemy (who had a million men and three hundred chariots), and he did the right thing by relying on the Lord his God. The enemy was eventually defeated (2 Chronicles 14:13-14), and as a result, there was no war for Judah for a long time, that is until the thirty-fifth year of Asa's reign (2 Chronicles 15:19).

You can see that Asa started off very well, and as long as he continued to rely on the Lord his God, he also continued to be victorious as king in Judah. So, what could possibly go wrong later in his life?

Learning from the mistakes of Asa
In 2 Chronicles 16:1-4, the Scripture says, 'In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and built Ramah (meaning 'a height, a high place, a seat of idolatry'), that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. Then Asa brought silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the Lord and of the king's house, and sent to Ben-Hadad king of Syria... saying, "Let there be a treaty between you and me... See, I have sent you silver and gold; come, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me." So Ben-Hadad heeded King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel'.

In 2 Chronicles 16:7-9, the Scripture says, 'And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: "Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. Were the Ethiopians not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on (i.e. lean on, rest on) the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars (i.e. struggles)."'

And not only did Asa ignore the words of the seer, he became angry with him and threw him into prison! (2 Chronicles 16:10) Everything began to go downhill for Asa from then on.

Proverbs 3:5-6 has this to say, 'Trust in the Lord (lean on the Lord) with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths'. Proverbs 3:7-8 then says, 'Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones'.

In 2 Chronicles 16:12-13, the Scripture says, 'And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians. So Asa died and rested with his fathers; he died in the forty-first year of his reign'.

A tragic and sad ending indeed. As ministers of God, we all have so much to learn from Asa. Not only his victories, but also his mistakes. Through the past centuries, many ministers (or ministries) in the Body of Christ started off so genuine and innocent before the Lord, totally relying on the Lord when they were 'young' and 'small'. But when they have grown 'bigger' and more 'well-known', they stopped relying on the Lord for His wisdom (and His way) and began looking to the worldly ways (or patterns of man) to try to 'make things happen'. This is a mistake that every minister (or ministry) today should avoid.

As a matter of fact, it's easier to rely on the Lord when you have nothing (or when you have nothing to lose). But how about when you already have much, and life has become 'comfortable' with many options to choose from? Will you still rely on Him and only Him?

"Will your heart still be loyal and faithful to Me till the very end?" That's exactly what the Lord asked me in a personal time of worship and prayer recently. Now I know why He asked. Because He wants to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9), till the very end - till the Day when He comes in all His glory. Will you also allow Him to do so in your life, in ministry, and in every other area of your life?

He is stronger!

2 Chronicles 20:6 (NKJV): And (Jehoshaphat) said, "O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?"

Jehoshaphat and all of Judah were looking to God for help at a time when a great multitude was coming against them (see 2 Chronicles 20:1-2, 2 Chronicles 20:12). And the Lord gave them this assurance (through Jahaziel), "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's." (2 Chronicles 20:15) He (through Jahaziel) then continued, "You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation ('yeshuwah') of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!" (2 Chronicles 20:17) The word 'salvation' ('yeshuwah') here can also mean 'victory, deliverance, aid, help, welfare, health (healing), prosperity'.

So (the next day), they rose early in the morning and went out into Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: "Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established..." (2 Chronicles 20:20) The word 'Tekoa' here means 'the blast of the trumpet' (where victory is at hand), and 'be established' here means 'be strengthened, be strong, be assured, be firmed (or affirmed), be built up, be supported'. And what came after was an amazing victory for God's people (read 2 Chronicles 20:21-30). Praise God!

Let's go back now to the word 'stand' in 2 Chronicles 20:17. In cross reference, Ephesians 6:10-11 says, 'Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (schemings) of the devil'. See the word 'stand' again? Here, it is 'histemi' in Greek, which, interestingly, means 'be established'! So, the apostle Paul was actually saying, "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may 'be established' against the wiles (schemings) of the devil."

Now, the big question many may ask: "How to be strong in the Lord?"

Not by your own self-effort (to fight the battle yourself) or by forcing yourself to be strong, but by 'putting on' the 'whole armor' of God! (see Ephesians 6:11-17) To 'put on' here is 'enduo' in Greek, which means 'endue with, clothe with, be filled with, fill your thoughts with, or be conscious of'. And who is this 'whole armor' of God? His name is Jesus! The 'whole armor' here also speaks of the 'wholeness, completeness, and fullness of God'! In other words, you become strong in the Lord by 'putting on' the 'whole armor' of God, i.e. by 'filling your thoughts with, or be conscious of' Jesus, who is your 'whole armor'!
Note: Of course, apart from 'putting on' the 'whole armor' of God, the apostle Paul also wrote, 'praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit' (Ephesians 6:18).

The next question: "And you mean Jesus is my 'whole armor'?"

Exactly! Just an illustration here: Imagine yourself now in a bullet-proof armored car, or a military tank (armored vehicle carrying guns), knowing that nothing on earth can come against you (or hit you), and the feeling that you are safe in it! As a matter of fact, this whole armored car is stronger than you are (in the inside). So it is (the same) with you being 'clothed with' the 'whole armor' of God! To be in the 'whole armor' therefore means to be in Christ!

In Ephesians 6:14-17, the belt, the breastplate, the shoe, the shield, the helmet, and the sword are all 'pictures' representing the Person of  Jesus Christ! So, it's not a question of what you do, or what is the 'whole armor' here, but knowing who you have, and who is your 'whole armor'! He is the Truth, He is your Righteousness, He is the Good News (Gospel) and the Prince of Peace, He is the Beginner (& Completor) of your faith, He is your Salvation (Yeshuwah), and of course, He is the Word of God! In short, He is your 'Whole Armor'!

People of God, the truth remains today that the 'enemy' can never withstand Him and His Word, whatsoever. Your God is stronger! In fact, He is stronger than any force of darkness on earth, or even all the forces of darkness in the spiritual realm put together! He is also stronger than any man's plan (or conspiracy) on earth, and infinitely stronger than all your challenges and problems (including health problems) on earth today. He is the same God yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8) - in Jehoshaphat's time, in the apostle Paul's time when he wrote about the 'whole armor', now in your time, and even forever more. Know that victory is already yours. He has already won it for you at the cross. Believing, and you shall be established. Amen!