2Chronicles 11, Armed with the WORD!

2Ch 11:1, Now when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled from the house of Judah and Benjamin ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THOUSAND CHOSEN MEN WHO WERE WARRIORS, to fight against Israel, that he might RESTORE THE KINGDOM to Rehoboam. 

Rehoboam was preparing for a civil war

2Ch 11:2,4, BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO SHEMAIAH THE MAN OF GOD, saying, … ‘THUS SAYS THE LORD: “YOU SHALL NOT GO UP OR FIGHT AGAINST YOUR BRETHREN! Let every man return to his house, FOR THIS THING IS FROM ME.” ‘ ” Therefore they obeyed the words of the LORD, and turned back from attacking Jeroboam.

One man armed with the Word of GOD stopped an army of 180,000 men from going to war! We are also armed with the powerful WORD of GOD to do HIS work and proclaim HIS Name!

Heb 4:12, FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND POWERFUL, AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD, …

The king of the North, Jeroboam was scared that his people would worship in Jerusalem; so he setup his own idols in the high places saying 1KINGS 12:28, “HERE ARE YOUR GODS, O ISRAEL, WHICH BROUGHT YOU UP FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT”!

2Ch 11:15, Then he appointed for himself priests for the high places, for the demons, and the calf idols which he had made. 

When someone worships an image or idol they are actually worshipping demons!

1Co 10:20, Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice THEY SACRIFICE TO DEMONS AND NOT TO GOD…

ONE MAN ARMED WITH THE WORD OF GOD CAN CHANGE A NATION, BUT A FOOL WOULD WORSHIP THE WORK OF MEN’S HANDS! PSALM 115:4-8!

1Chronicles 18, David’s Strength!

1Ch 18:4, David took from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. ALSO DAVID HAMSTRUNG ALL THE CHARIOT HORSES, EXCEPT THAT HE SPARED ENOUGH OF THEM FOR ONE HUNDRED CHARIOTS. 

Pro 21:31, The horse is prepared for the day of battle, BUT DELIVERANCE IS OF THE LORD. 

Psa 33:16-17, No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A HORSE IS A VAIN HOPE FOR SAFETY; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.

Horses were always used in battle, yet David didn’t rely on them, but relied on GOD Himself! Where do you put your trust in? Your job, your money, this economy? BUILD ON THE ROCK WHICH IS A FIRM FOUNDATION!

1Ch 18:5-6, When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians. Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. SO THE LORD PRESERVED DAVID WHEREVER HE WENT.

David honored GOD in all his ways and the LORD blessed him and preserved him from all his enemies! David knew that it’s not because of his strength, but because of the LORD’s! David wrote the following Psalm!

Psa 28:7-8, THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him. THE LORD IS THEIR STRENGTH, And He is the saving refuge of His anointed.

God was David’s strength and also our strength! Trust in the LORD!