Heralds Digest

  “ Indeed you say that you have defeated the Edomites, and your heart is lifted up to boast. Stay at home now; why should you meddle with trouble, that you should fall—you and Judah with you?” But Amaziah would not heed, for it came from God, that He might give them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought the gods of Edom.” II Chronicles 25 : 19 - 20 NKJV The fall of king Amaziah from grace to grass simply demonstrates the destructive product of pride. Prior to his boastful challenge of Israel, he had listened to the counsel of God against meddling with Israel’s army as the source of help. Unfortunately, the consequent achievement and exploits against Edom intoxicated him, starting with a mindless meddling with the idols of Edom. It just shows that pride blocks human sense of reasoning, and makes anyone see life in the eyes of personal achievements, prosperity, and ingenuity. Whereas, the scriptures admonish believers to “ Let this mind [of humility] be in you which...

  “ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord .” I Corinthians 15 : 58 NKJV Like the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ  is not the reversal of defeat but the manifestation of victory, all righteous engagements of believers at the centre of the will of God are commendable by heaven. Whereas, the world’s reward system is wired after eye-service, self-motivated engagements, and commitments after carnal gains. Obviously, the work of the Lord requires the love of the Lord with absolute commitment of strength, might, and intelligence; and especially without material compensation. In fact, believers are designed to be dead to their carnal demands for compensation on their duty posts. Otherwise, there would be more than enough reasons to quit the service of the Lord on accounts of the people’s ingratitude. Therefore, lively labour is simply satisfied by its commitment to ...

  “O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” ” II Chronicles 20 : 12 NKJV One of the reliable securities against market volatility is the offering of hedge funds to consumers and market operators. Unfortunately, the cost for risk management through the hedge fund derivatives is not cheap. And like almost all of life’s challenges, insecurities, and instabilities, the great multitude comprising Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir that confronted Judah during the reign of king Jehoshaphat required a huge hedge. Today, the list of huge hedges available to many people extends beyond the purchase of financial derivatives, including political or professional godfatherism, secret cults, and unionism. But the opportunity costs for almost all of these huge hedges are unfortunately damnable, including destruction and death. Whereas, heaven hedge costed king Jehoshaphat and ...

  “ And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. 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 have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.” ” II Chronicles 16 : 7 , 9 NKJV By all human standards, over 87% reign of righteousness and loyalty to God of king Asa’s 36 years out of 41 years reign over Judah represents an excellent performance. Unfortunately, in Gods assessment, he failed and was assessed foolishness: “ In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars” . Compared with king David, Asa started very well and reigned longer than David; but even while God chastised him with wars and diseases in the last 5 years of his reign, pride prevented...

  “ And in those times there was no peace to the one who went out, nor to the one who came in, but great turmoil was on all the inhabitants of the lands. But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!” And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought Him with all their soul; and He was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around .” II Chronicles 15 : 5 , 7 , 15 NKJV The resounding rest in the reign of king Asa merely testified that peace is not necessarily the absence of surrounding turmoils, trials, and tribulations, but the presence of the sovereign God. When the heart of man absolutely surrenders to the surrounding presence of the King of kings and the Lord of lords, it experiences a resounding rest even in the surrounding turmoils, trials, and tribulations. The currency of God’s promised rest is never ever devalued by the surrounding turmoils, trials, and tribulations; but rather it gets ...

  “ So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years, because they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years.” II Chronicles 11 : 17 NKJV Having just lost the ten tribes of Israel, everyone would expect the downgrading of king Rehoboam’s military might and physical strength to translate to weakness. However, the report suggested otherwise. Judah and Jerusalem became the favourite Disney land for the Levites and “ those from all the tribes of Israel, such as set their heart to seek the Lord God of Israel ”. And for the first three years of Rehoboam’s delight in the Lord, he remained strengthened and strong. Unfortunately, the ways of the world, self pleasing and the knowledge of evil caught up with the compromising king, leading to the practice of idolatry, unrighteousness, and all forms of wickedness. And the converse definitely became “ So they weakened the kingdom of Judah…” . Even though these ways have always...

  “ But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way…And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” I Corinthians 12 : 31 ; 13:13 NKJV It is not surprising that the most desirable way out of wicked experiences in life is primarily faith, and thereafter hope. Faith prides in its ability to remove the mountains of opposition, oppression, and obstacles to human existence, extension, and enterprise; while hope provides the confidence in the expected relief, no matter how long it takes. Whereas, God often desires an alternative way of setbacks to believers’ expectations because of His nature of love. Intentionally, love suffers long and is kind; does not envy; does not parade nor puff up itself; does not behave rudely; does not seek its own nor get provoked into evil; does not rejoice in iniquities but rejoices in the truth; bears all things; believes all things; hopes all things; and endures all things…because it is the w...