Seek Him

To many, 1 & 2 Chronicles would seems to be a boring book in the Bible as it mainly talks about the kings of Israel and Judah and their life events, and I myself was not spared from this "dull mentality" towards those books initially. However, when I re-read these books during my quiet time, something struck me hard.

The verse that struck me most is this:-

2 Chronicles 12:14, NKJV (Scenario 1) 

And he (King Rehoboam) did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD.

It is appalling to note that if we failed to seek Him, it is as if we have been doing wicked things in the sight of the Lord. What a contrast, when you compare the above with the verse below:-

2 Chronicles 15, NKJV (Scenario 2) 

And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.

But when in their trouble they turned to the Lord God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found by them. 

Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; and whoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. 

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.

God’s promise is so sure that if we diligently seek Him, He will be found by us (2 Chron 15:4 and Matt 7:7). However, there is also a warning for those of us who forsake Him and He will not continue to dwell in us. Just like the Israelite, sometimes we would be busy running our own life and put Him aside. Because of His great mercies, He would still be found by us, whenever we call out to Him.

During the reign of King Asa, I infer that the people of Judah were serious with God and willing to take an oath with God. King Asa was also very zealous for the Lord that those who would not seek the Lord were to be put to death, regardless of their social class / gender etc. 

Moreover, the people of Judah rejoices over their pledge to their Lover as they did it sincerely and wholeheartedly. As a result from that, the Lord granted them peace and rest from wars.

During the recent Church camp, the speaker Rev. Dr. Lim Kar Yong also mentioned that scholars from other religions know our Bible inside out. What about us? Do we know our faith well that we would not be swept away by all kinds of teaching under the sun? According to one article that I have read, it says that the whole of Europe is having a drastic movement of a religious movement, and by the end of the century, it would be have been identified with a brand new religion from what it's used to be known for.

Isn’t it an irony that the West which is once-called Christendom would no longer be known as so? What about us here in Malaysia? Would we exemplify Scenario 1 or 2? Would you & I want to give your live back to the Saviour at this juncture of your life?

2 Chronicles 7:14, NKJV
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

In Christ,

Yit Mun (aka IP Man)

p.s.

1) words in italic denote that it was from me.

2) The above examples of “seeking the Lord God” or “sought after the Lord” sharing are not exhaustive. For your own reading, you may read from 2 Chronicles 12-20.

Images taken from:http://www.jewishtreats.org/2012_11_01_archive.htmlhttp://www.daily-manna.com/read-bible-in-a-year/day-86-king-of-israel/attachment/king-david