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Speaker 1: I'm John Stanghy, and today we're in Second Chronicles, chapter fourteen,
Speaker 1: and we'll be reading from the English Standard version. Abijah
Speaker 1: slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the
Speaker 1: city of David, and Asa, his son, reigned in his
Speaker 1: place in his days. The land had rest for ten years.
Speaker 1: And Asa did what was good and right in the
Speaker 1: eyes of the Lord his God. He took away the
Speaker 1: foreign altars and the high places, and broke down the pillars,
Speaker 1: and cut down the Ashiram, and commanded Judah to seek
Speaker 1: the Lord, the God of their fathers, and to keep
Speaker 1: the law and the commandment. He also took out of
Speaker 1: all the city of Judah the high places and the
Speaker 1: incense altars, and the kingdom had rest under him. He
Speaker 1: built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest.
Speaker 1: He had no war in those years, for the Lord
Speaker 1: gave him peace. And he said to Judah, let us
Speaker 1: build these cities and surround them with walls and towers,
Speaker 1: gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we
Speaker 1: have sought the Lord, our God. We have sought him,
Speaker 1: and he has given us peace on every side. So
Speaker 1: they built and prospered, and Aesa had an army of
Speaker 1: three hundred thousand from Judah, armed with large shields and spears,
Speaker 1: and two hundred eighty thousand men from Benjamin that carried
Speaker 1: shields and drew bows. All these were mighty men of valor. Zara.
Speaker 1: The Ethiopian came out against them with an army of
Speaker 1: a million men and three hundred chariots and came as
Speaker 1: far as Marishah. And Asa went out to meet him,
Speaker 1: and they drew up their lines of battle in the
Speaker 1: valley of Zephatha at Merishah, and Asa cried to the
Speaker 1: Lord his God, Oh Lord, there is none like you
Speaker 1: to help between the mighty and the weak. Help us, o, Lord,
Speaker 1: our God, for we rely on you, and in your
Speaker 1: name we have come against this multitude. Oh Lord, you
Speaker 1: are our God. Let not man prevail against you. So
Speaker 1: the Lord defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah,
Speaker 1: and the Ethiopians fled. Asa and the people who were
Speaker 1: with him pursued them as far as Gharar, and the
Speaker 1: Ethiopians fell until none remained alive, for they were broken
Speaker 1: before the Lord and his army. The men of Judah
Speaker 1: carried away very much spoil, and they attacked all the
Speaker 1: cities around Gharar, for the fear of the Lord was
Speaker 1: upon them. They plundered all the cities, for there was
Speaker 1: much plunder in them, and they struck down the tents
Speaker 1: of those who had livestock and carried away sheep in
Speaker 1: abundance and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem. Let's pray, Lord,
Speaker 1: we thank you for your word and for the privilege
Speaker 1: of being able to look at it today. And Lord,
Speaker 1: we're grateful for the example that we see in this
Speaker 1: portion of Scripture of people who called out to you,
Speaker 1: of people who trusted that you could ultimately be the
Speaker 1: one who fought their battles for them. And Lord, even
Speaker 1: in the midst of insurmountable odds, you delivered your people,
Speaker 1: and you helped them when it seemed like there was
Speaker 1: no natural or human way that they could be rescued. Lord,
Speaker 1: we're grateful for your miraculous deliverance, and we're grateful that
Speaker 1: you have done the same for us. Lord, the odds
Speaker 1: of us naturally speaking, coming to our senses and reaching
Speaker 1: out to you were insurmountable odds. But in the midst
Speaker 1: of all that we we wrestle with, and even in
Speaker 1: the midst of the fact that we were deliberately defiant
Speaker 1: against you, you reached into our lives. You opened our eyes,
Speaker 1: you softened our hearts, and you gave us the privilege
Speaker 1: to trust in your son, Jesus Christ and to receive
Speaker 1: your free gift of salvation through faith in your son. Lord.
Speaker 1: We're grateful for that fact. We're grateful for that reality,
Speaker 1: and we're grateful that you fight battles for us, just
Speaker 1: as you did for the people mentioned in this portion
Speaker 1: of your word. Lord, we pray that whatever we're struggling
Speaker 1: with right now, in the midst of this season of life,
Speaker 1: that we would entrust all that we deal with, and
Speaker 1: all that weighs our minds down and all that weighs
Speaker 1: our hearts down to you, and to rejoice in the
Speaker 1: fact that you're the one who secures victory for your children.
Speaker 1: We're grateful that you've accomplished this on our behalf, Lord,
Speaker 1: and we seek to worship you today. We pray Lord,
Speaker 1: that in all aspects of today, that we bring honor
Speaker 1: and glory to your name. We thank you for your
Speaker 1: presence with us, and we pray this all in Jesus name, Amen, mhm.