2 Chronicles 15:1-7: a reflection

1The Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded. 2He 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; and if you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 3Now for a long time Israel was without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law. 4But when in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. 5In those times there was no peace to him who went out, nor to him who came in; but great troubles were on all the inhabitants of the lands. 6They were broken in pieces, nation against nation, and city against city; for God troubled them with all adversity. 7But you be strong! Don’t let your hands be slack, for your work will be rewarded.”

The prophet Azariah brings King Asa a word of both promise and encouragement. He assures him that the LORD is with those who are with him, and that if they seek him, he will be found by them. And he closes with a stirring exhortation: But you, be strong, and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded. Do not grow slack or discouraged in doing God's work, Azariah urges; keep at it, for it will not be in vain, but rewarded.

Notice the encouragement to persevere in God's work: do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded. There is a temptation, in doing God's work, to grow weary, to let our hands grow slack, to lose heart and give up, especially when the reward is not immediate. But Azariah urges Asa to be strong, not to let his hands grow weak, assuring him that the work would be rewarded. The work of God is not in vain; those who persevere in it, not growing slack, will find it rewarded in the end.

That encouragement is one we need when we grow weary in doing good. We can lose heart, let our hands grow slack, grow discouraged in the work God has given us, especially when we see little reward. But God's word through Azariah is: be strong, do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded. The work is not in vain, however little immediate reward we see. When you grow weary in doing God's work, and are tempted to let your hands grow slack, hear this encouragement: be strong, do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. Do not lose heart, or let your hands grow weak in the work God has given you; persevere, strengthened by the assurance that it will not be in vain, but rewarded. Keep at the work, not growing slack, trusting God's promise that your labor for him will be rewarded in his time.

Lord, the prophet Azariah encouraged King Asa: if you seek the LORD he will be found by you, and be strong, do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded. Give me that encouragement when I grow weary in doing good. I can lose heart, let my hands grow slack, grow discouraged in the work you have given me, especially when I see little reward. But your word through Azariah is: be strong, do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded. The work is not in vain, however little immediate reward I see. When I grow weary in doing your work, and am tempted to let my hands grow slack, help me hear this encouragement: be strong, do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. Keep me from losing heart, or letting my hands grow weak in the work you have given me; help me persevere, strengthened by the assurance that it will not be in vain, but rewarded. Help me keep at the work, not growing slack, trusting your promise that my labor for you will be rewarded in your time, Lord. Strengthen my hands, and do not let me grow weary in doing good.