Exhortation Station

“For the eyes of YHWH move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His…”

This is the first part of 2 Chronicles 16:9.  Although this verse one of my favorites, it was not until a couple weeks ago that I  read it in full context.  When I did, it added a rich and sobering aspect to my understanding of it.  Let’s examine this verse in light of its context and see what we can glean.

2 Chronicles 16 is about king Asa, who was the third king in Judah after the kingdom of Israel was split.  King Asa was, generally speaking, a righteous king, as we read about in chapters 14 and 15.  However, near the end of his reign, he acted in a way that was not pleasing to Yahweh, which we read about in chapter 16…

2 Chronicles 16:1-9 — “In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah. ² Then Asa brought out silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the Lord and the king’s house, and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, saying, ³ ‘Let there be a treaty between you and me, as between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you silver and gold; go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so that he will withdraw from me.’ ⁴ So Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and they conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim and all the store cities of Naphtali. ⁵ When Baasha heard of it, he ceased fortifying Ramah and stopped his work. ⁶ Then King Asa brought all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber with which Baasha had been building, and with them he fortified Geba and Mizpah. ¶ ⁷ At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, ‘Because you have relied on the king of Aram and have not relied on YHWH your Elohim, therefore the army of the king of Aram has escaped out of your hand. ⁸ Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim an immense army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on YHWH, He delivered them into your hand. ⁹ For the eyes of YHWH move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars.'”

In verse 7, Hanani warns Asa of the consequences of Asa’s having put his trust in the king of Aram rather than in Yahweh.  In verse 8, Hanani reminds Asa of a previous incident in which Yahweh delivered a vast army into Asa’s hands (which we’ll get to later).  Then, in verse 9, Hanani speaks a profound truth — that Yahweh strongly supports those whose heart is completely His.  Giving our hearts to Yahweh is about more than simply not worshiping idols.  It’s about more than merely checking off daily “spiritual to-dos.”  It’s about turning over all our battles to Yahweh, trusting Him alone to accomplish His perfect will in our lives. 

Sadly, Asa did not head the warning but instead threw Hanani in prison (v. 10).  In verse 12, we read that Asa later became diseased in his feet, and even then “he did not seek YHWH, but the physicians.”  While I certainly don’t believe it’s wrong to seek medical assistance from doctors in certain situations, this verse is a reminder that Yahweh alone is the One True Healer.  Only He can provide ultimate, perfect healing.

Verse 12 is also a reminder to quickly and earnestly humble ourselves before the Father when we are rebuked.  It seems to me that Asa’s disease was likely a punishment from Yahweh, and it was an opportunity for Asa to return to Him.  Proverbs 17:10 says, “A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.”  How differently things might have turned out if Asa had fallen on his knees before Yahweh and said, “Oh Yahweh, I have acted wrongly, and I repent!”  How much better off we will be if we respond sensitively and immediately to the Father’s firm yet loving reproof.

What is this battle against “the Ethiopians and the Lubim” that Hanani refers to in verse 8?  We find this back in 2 Chronicles 14.  There’s some good stuff here, so pay attention. 😉

2 Chronicles 14:9-13 — “Now Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and he came to Mareshah. ¹⁰ So Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up in battle formation in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. ¹¹ Then Asa called to YHWH his Elohim and said, ‘YHWH, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O YHWH our Elohim, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O YHWH, You are our Elohim; let not man prevail against You.’ ¹² So YHWH routed the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. ¹³ Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar; and so many Ethiopians fell that they could not recover, for they were shattered before YHWH and before His army. And they carried away very much plunder.”

Read verse 11 again.  What a heart of trust!  Asa had it right that time.  How tragic it is that he turned from seeking Yah later in his life.  This is another sobering reminder — a reminder to not think we’re invincible to the schemes of the enemy because of victories in the past.  Trusting in Yahweh is not a one-time thing — it is a habit of daily surrender. 

How tempting it often is to set our hopes on earthly things rather than relying on Him.  It truly is a constant spiritual battle to simply give our earthly battles to Him, but when we win on the spiritual front, the earthly battle is already in the Creator’s hands.  Paul is right — “our struggle is not against flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:12).  Our job is to walk in humble, sold-out obedience to Him, and He’ll take care of the rest.  Let us make diligent search of our hearts to ensure that our trust is wholly and unreservedly in Him.  May our hearts be completely His!

Proverbs 18:10,11 — “The name of YHWH is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe. ¹¹ A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own imagination.”

(All Bible passages NASB; Hebrew transl., emphasis added.)