2 Chronicles 16:9: “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 [King Asa] have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”

October 3rd, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

In chapter 14, when the massive Ethiopian army came against King Asa, he cried out to the Lord. But here in chapter 16 when King Baasha of Israel came against him, he acted foolishly by buying a protection treaty with the king of Syria instead of relying upon the Lord to intervene. As a result, God declared that from that point on Asa would always be at war.

Our heavenly Father’s eyes are continually searching every nation, city, village, and home throughout every corner of the earth for a person whose heart is blameless (loyal, whole, undivided toward Himself). The prophet Zechariah said something similar: “the eyes of the LORD . . . scan to and fro throughout the whole earth (Zech. 4:10).” Blameless does not mean sinless, but rather that we keep short accounts with God. When we are convicted of our sin, we respond quickly with confession and repentance. And 2 Chronicles 16:9 tells us that the Lord will “show Himself strong on behalf” of those people. What an amazing promise! God is always watching over us. He never misses a single opportunity at any time or place to demonstrate His power on behalf of weak people who are relying and trusting in Him and not man. He is waiting to respond with acts of grace and blessing when we seek Him in humility.

There is an old story from the world of classical piano that illustrates this idea of seeking. Andor Foldes was a highly skilled, 16-year-old Hungarian pianist when Emil von Sauer, one of the most renowned pianists of the day came to Budapest. He was famous not only for his abilities, but also for being the last surviving pupil of the great Franz Liszt. When Foldes played for him, von Sauer walked over and kissed him on the forehead. “My son,” he said, “when I was your age I became a student of Liszt. He kissed me on the forehead after my first lesson, saying, ‘Take good care of this kiss—it comes from Beethoven, who gave it to me after hearing me play.’ I have waited for years to pass on this sacred heritage, but now I feel you deserve it.”

Thankfully, to receive the kiss of approval from our heavenly Father, we do not need to possess any profound talent, just a heart that is turned toward the Lord. If we will remain blameless (not sinless but blameless) then some day soon we will all hear God say, “Well done.”

“LORD, we want to be blameless this day so You can use us to reach others.”

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2 Chronicles 16 KJV

¹ In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. ² Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,  ³ There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. ⁴ And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.  ⁵ And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it , that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease. ⁶Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah. ⁷ And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. ⁸Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.  ⁹ For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. ¹⁰ Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing . And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time. ¹¹ And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they arewritten in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. ¹² And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians. ¹³ And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign. ¹⁴ And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries’ art: and they made a very great burning for him.