Deus Misereatur

In 2 Chronicles 14, King Asa had just experienced a rousing, surprising victory. His army was outnumbered almost 2 to 1, but the LORD wrought a great victory, in response to Asa‘s prayer. His prayer of confident humility in verse 11 is instructive for God’s people in any age, especially as they confront far superior foes. After the victory, Asa and his army were returning to Jerusalem. The Spirit of God came on a priest, Azariah, who prophesied (to declare & announce God’s standard) a strong, firm promise. “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.” Very simple, firm, and covenantal. Asa and God’s people took the Word to heart. They gathered in the liturgical, public framework of the Temple and there renewed their part of God’s covenant (12-14): “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 wholehearted practice of keeping the Lord’s Day sacred is an adventurous enterprise! But it requires practice and some plodding. Besides getting to bed early enough on Saturday that Sunday becomes a pleasure, there is another piece to the puzzle, especially if you find yourself rushed and flushed on Sunday. Prepare your clothes on Saturday. Getting them laid out in advanced, and having the ironing done, means Sunday morning you can rise without frantically rummaging through your closet, growling at everyone to get out of your way as you scramble to the ironing board. Instead, you will find that having been prepared the night before, makes the Lord’s Day morning set the tempo of the day at “Comfy”. Also, it aids you to a clearheaded charitableness with the rest of the family - which means, there’s one less sin to unload at the Sunday Morning Confession of Sin. Finally, it will make getting to Sunday School, and arriving on time a far more likely affair. The day will feel far mor...