2 Chronicles 14 Devotional

Help for the Powerless

“Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD, there is no one besides 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 multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.””2 Chronicles 14:11 (BSB)

Asa begins his reign by tearing down foreign altars and commanding Judah to seek the LORD (14:3-4). The land has rest, and Asa says plainly where it came from. They sought the LORD, and he gave them rest on every side (14:7).

Then Zerah the Cushite marches in with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots (14:9). Asa's army is large, but nowhere near that size. He confesses that only the LORD can help the weak against the strong. He says they are relying on him and have come out in his name, and he asks God not to let a mere mortal win against him (14:11). He does not pretend to be strong. He names his weakness, ties his cause to God's name, and leaves the outcome with God. And the LORD strikes down the Cushites before Judah (14:12). God's help does not depend on how much strength you bring. The prayer that honors him often begins by admitting you have none.

To think about: What situation have you been trying to face by appearing strong, and what would it look like to name your weakness before God?