2 Chronicles 15:19
“And there was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.”
This is God’s blessing on His obedient servant. While not perfect God was pleased with king Asa. The king restored worship of God and reestablished His Word. He removed the queen mother, as she was an idolaterer. He left the high places. Yet, God was pleased with him and blessed him with peace.
God blesses His children. Even though we aren’t perfect, He blesses us. David may have been the most beloved of God, yet he had his faults. He committed adultery and murdered the husband to cover it up. Later, he took a census of his fighting men when he was told not to. Those are the big sins of his life. A big fault of his was being a poor father. There was a vacuum of leadership that led to one sibling molesting another. More leadership void led to one brother killing the molesting brother. Even more leadership lack led to the murdering brother staging a coup against David. In all of this David was a man after God’s heart.
God calls all of us. Some respond. He makes us white as snow. He sees us as perfect in Christ. Then begins the life of sanctification. Philippians 2:12 describes it, “Therefore my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” God sees us as perfect. The sanctification process takes that perfection and works it out. Our outside improves more each day. We will never be perfect, but better and better.
This was king Asa. One who feared God and brought the nation back to Him, except for the high places. God blessed him with peace. He does that with us. Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.” This is amazing. We first feel God’s peace in our hearts. Then He works that out in our relationships. It spills over onto our enemies.
A similar concept is the honor He gives. Psalm 23 says, “He prepareth a table for me in the presence of mine enemies.” I wasn’t aware of this until I saw it. Our lives become an honor banquet. We’re not taking God’s glory, He chooses to share it. This is probably included with king Asa and Israel. The nations feared them. God did that.
Just to look at peace and conflict from a different perspective. Peace is a blessing, however some times God wants us to have conflict. It doesn’t mean we are being punished for disobedience. Proverbs 3:11 says, “My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke”. It’s the discipline of a father. Both peace and conflict can come from God, even though He is completely pleased with us.
I had a work conflict years ago that was such a lesson. My boss went from liking me to the opposite. I was used to trials that lasted days or a couple of weeks. This one lsted months and never changed for the better. God wanted to show me not to fear man, but Him. Up till that point I had favor with all my bosses. That was my experience. It was a blessing. I had grown dependent on it. God wanted me to fear Him over man. To finish the story God ended up putting a leash on my boss. One of the persons in our bible study was his boss. She shared that with him and he was stunned. God put a wall in between him and me.
God gives favor and peace to His children. If He doesn’t it’s because He’s doing something better. Philippians 4:11,12 says, “I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need.” Whatever situation we are in we are blessed of God.
Thank You God for Your blessings. Thank You for the peace You give. Thank You for the difficulties, as they have taught us to trust. In all You have blessed us beyond what we deserve or understand. Thank You.