4th June 2 Chron 13-15, John 14

The books of Chronicles and Kings are full of battles, which make for a good read, but what do they teach us Christians today? In the passage from 2 Chronicles, the good king Asa cries out to God:

“LORD, there is no-one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this great army. O LORD, you are are God; do not let man prevail against you.” (2 Chron 14:11)

This sounds like the kind of prayer we might pray – but what is the equivalent situation of coming up against “this great army”?

1. These enemies of God’s people are those who prevent them from enjoying rest in the land – in the kingdom of God. The enemies that threaten our rest in the kingdom of God are not physical armies, but Satan and his demons. These were defeated by Jesus at the cross (Col 2:15, Heb 2:14-15) – and so the ‘army’ we come up against is one that has already been defeated!

2. Satan does however still have power and influence in this world, even though he does not hold the power of death over believers. We do still have a fight to be fought – and so we are to put on the full armour of God (Eph 6:10-18). This prayer of Asa’s would be a good one to pray when facing temptation, when feeling guilt, or doubt, all of which can be used by Satan to undermine our faith.

3. Perhaps there is a more mundane parallel to the ‘army’ that was against Judah. In those days, kings went out to war  (usually in the spring! – 1 Chron 20:1.) So in some sense, as well as this battle having a spiritual aspect to it – “let not man prevail aginst you” (i.e. God) – it might also be paralleled with the ‘normal’ frustrations of life that we face. An unfair employment situation, family illness or bereavement, relationship breakdown. Asa prayed, remembering God’s power, and put his trust in God not in his own strength. We are not promised miraculous deliverances in all these situations – but we can be confident that in them God works for our good, and will not ultimately let us perish or fall away from faith.

We need to remember that the God we pray to and trust in is the ‘Lord of armies’ (often translated ‘Lord of hosts’ or ‘Lord almighty’ in our translations.) He is the one who fought the battles for his people in the Old Testament, he is one who is sovereign even over the most wicked and powerful forces in the world, he is the Lord of legions of angels who do his bidding.

When faced with circumstances beyond his control, Asa didn’t look to himself, but to the Lord, who was mighty and powerful to save. We should do the same, remembering that the God who can defeat vast armies of thousands, and has defeated Satan once and for all at the cross, is more than powerful to keep us safe and sustain us through whatever we are facing. If we are God’s people, then for our enemies ultimately to prevail against us, they would “prevail against you [God]” (2 Chron 14:11). And we can be confident that this will never, ever happen!

June 2nd 2 Chron 7-9, John 13:1-17

Think how wonderful it must have been to be in the court of King Solomon. Such opulence, such splendour and such riches. But also such wisdom, such justice, and such peace. At this moment in time, Israel is firmly on the map internationally, as proved by the visit of the Queen of Sheba.

This picture of life under Solomon is given to us as a picture of life under the true and greater Solomon, the true and greater prince of peace: Jesus.

Think what the Queen of Sheba said of Solomon’s wisdom:

“The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true.  But I did not believe what they said until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half the greatness of your wisdom was told me; you have far exceeded the report I heard.  How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the LORD your God. Because of the love of your God for Israel and his desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king over them, to maintain justice and righteousness.” (2 Chron 9:5-8)

How much more do these words apply to Jesus! How much more happy are we, Jesus’ people, who continually stand before him and hear his wisdom! How much greater God’s love for us in giving us not just a good king like Solomon, but the greatest ever king: Jesus!

Think of the opulence of Solomon’s reign:

 “Then the king made a great throne inlaid with ivory and overlaid with pure gold.  The throne had six steps, and a footstool of gold was attached to it. On both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them.  Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom.  All King Solomon's goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon's day.  The king had a fleet of trading ships manned by Hiram's men. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.” (2 Chron 9:17-21)

Splendour, abundance, riches, beauty, finery, exotic treasures from afar; this is no small, functional and miserly kingdom. This is a kingdom of riches beyond imagining. “Silver was considered of little value in Solomon’s day.” Imagine that – a precious metal like silver, in such abundance that it is not considered anything special. This truly is a remarkable kingdom being described. Picture being there, picture the finery, picture what is must have been like. How much more rich, and abundant is the coming kingdom of King Jesus! 

So often we can think that to become a Christian – that is to become a member of Christ’s kingdom – is to leave all that is good and wonderful and rich and exotic (the world) and to settle for what is dull and boring and stingy. Far from it! We need to read the Old Testament and see such passages as this. This passage, in all its richness, is just a pale shadow of the reality that is found in Christ. He is enthroned, not merely on a throne that is overlaid with gold, but a throne of sapphire (Ezek 1:26); he is surrounded not merely by 12 statues of lions, but by the 4 terrifying living creatures of Ezek 1 and Revelation 4; he is not merely visited by the Queen of Sheba, but the kings of the nations present him gifts!

How magnificent, how powerful, how wise, how just, how good, how – and there is no other word for it – exotic is this king. Solomon was a great king, but Jesus is the true and greater Solomon, the King of all Kings, and the Lord of all Lords! He is the beginning and end, the purpose and goal of all history, the one who holds the stars in his hands, whose eyes are like blazing fire, whose feet are like bronze in a furnace, whose voice is like the sound of a mighty waterfall. He is more glorious and alive and splendid and wise and majestic and powerful than we can begin to imagine.

And it is this King, this Jesus who washed his disciples' feet.

He washed his disciples' feet.

HE WASHED HIS DISCIPLES' FEET!

He washed our feet too.

He washed not only our feet, but our whole lives when he died on the cross.

A king like this, doing a thing like that. We would never dare to believe this if the Bible didn’t tell us so. But it does, and our only response can be to fall on our knees in worship of him:

   May his name endure forever;

       may it continue as long as the sun.

   All nations will be blessed through him,

       and they will call him blessed.

   Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel,

       who alone does marvelous deeds.

   Praise be to his glorious name forever;

       may the whole earth be filled with his glory.

            Amen and Amen.   (Psalm 72:17-19)