Pursuing peace God's way

Posted on October 12th, 2024 by Redeemed

2 Chronicles 15: 5 - 7

5 - And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries.
6 - And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity.
7 - Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.

History repeats itself over and over again, and Scriptures testify to this truth also for there is nothing happening on the earth that hasn't happened before.
The trend currently unfolding all over the nations is such that many are in despair and wondering if the world will ever be thesame again.

The above scriptures vividly paint the pictures of a world once in tumult.
Rumours of wars spreading, violence of all kind, wickedness not imagined before being witnessed in diverse places, but just as the picture painted is gory, there is also a window of hope opened on how peace can be born in the midst of the chaos.

When a solution to the numerous challenges seems impossible, the sane thing to do is to turn to the one who can turn things around in a moment.
This was exactly what a wise king once did, as recorded in God's word. The nations were in distress and fighting against one another because God was angry with their deeds.

Jeremiah was sent to warn the rulers in his time that if they don't act in fairness, they would experience God's wrath like never before, but unfortunately, the warnings were not heeded and trouble started such that the whole land was in great turmoil, the like that they had not experienced before.

Jeremiah 22
3 - Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.
4 - For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people.
5 - But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.

The LORD sent the prophet Jeremiah before hand to warn the leaders that the land would enjoy peace if they would render truth and justice in their dealings, but of course, no one paid any attention to him.
Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet because he could see God's judgement hanging over the land and tried as much as he could to warn the people and their rulers, but they could careless about what he said. They went about their businesses as usual, unaware of the travail they were soon to be plunged into.
And so, Jeremiah did all he could interceeding on the behalf of his fellow country men until a time came when the anger of God could no longer be prolonged.

God demands justice and fairness in our dealings with others. He particularly care that the oppressed be set free, strangers and foreigners be treated fairly, and the right of the poor and widows be restored them. God warned them about the shedding of innocent blood, so that the land could enjoy peace, but alas, Jeremiah could just as well be speaking to himself, for no-one paid any attention to him. Instead, he was persecuted and harshly treated, until the day came when the land fell into the hands of those that meant them no good. (Jeremiah 25).

God always addresses the leaders through his prophets because they are the ones who have received power and authority to rule and govern, and by virtue of their positions, they are also accountable.

The LORD is interested in the well being of people and is the reason why He commands that justice and fairness be rendered to all men.

The land of Isreal according to 2 Chronicles 15: 5 - 6 was in great distress because God was angry with them and so her leaders set to work to restore peace by seeking the help of the LORD. The steps they took to restore order in the land were very drastic because the situation at their hand needed a corresponding serious actions.
The king, Asa, set out to work by removing the things that brought them to where they were.
God sent a prophet named Oded to speak to Asa about the reforms he had started, and he was encouraged to carry on with the task he had embarked on.

2 Chronicles.15.
8 - And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD.
9 - And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.
11 - And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.
12 - And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;
19 - And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.

King Asa reforms includes, genuine repentance and bringing the people back to their convenant relationship with God. He gathered the people and offered offerings to God and then entered a covenant relationship to serve God.
His reforms includes restoring even his own household back to God by dealing with his own mother whom he removed from been queen as recorded in Scriptures.(2Chr.15.16).
God honoured his sincerity by bringing peace back into the land; something that was impossible for them to do before now.
For 35 years, the Bible tells us that Asa enjoyed peace in the whole of the land and people came from far and wide to join them because they could tell that God was with them.

When all has failed, doing it God's way is sure to bring the desired result.

God bless.
Peace.

Pursuing peace God's way

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