A Life Worth Living

As a child, I memorized 1 Chron 16:9 In the KJV. ‘For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.’

I had not paid attention to the context of the verse carefully. Therefore, the perfect heart translated to the heart that always does the right thing. However, the context of the verse demonstrates a different picture of the ‘perfect heart toward God.’ Other versions translate the word for ‘perfect’ as blameless, wholeheartedly devoted, and loyal. So what exactly is this kind of heart?

1 Chronicles 16 records a failure by King Asa of Judah. The narrative is sad because a reversal happens in the life of a King who had started out well. Historically, the events occurred during the divided monarchy in Israel. The Kingdom is divided into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Asa is King of Judah during this period.

Two events during Asa’s reign inform our passage; 

• The first is an assault against Judah from Zerah the Cushite, who came against Asa with a million-man army, including 300 chariots (1 Chron 14:9-10). Judah was outnumbered almost two to one and in weaponry. The odds were stacked against Asa. Asa, recognizing the odds, turns to God for help and prays ..      Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.’ (2 Chron 14:11-14, italicized words are for emphasis) In Asa’s prayer, you see a recognition of his powerlessness and God’s unrivaled uniqueness in helping the weak against the strong. God answers Asa’s prayer, and Asa’s army overpowers the enemy so handily that the enemy does not recover.
• The second event is in the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign when King Baasha of Israel lays siege against Judah. An unprovoked assault. This time, rather than praying to God for His intervention, King Asa relies on His cunning and treaty-making to strengthen his position. His plan works, but the success is short-lived and brings on its heels the following proclamation from Prophet Hanani to King Asa;

‘Because you relied on the king of Syria and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, he gave them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.’ (2 Chronicles 16:8-9, ESV. Italics added for emphasis)

So according to the context, who is the one whose heart is perfect toward the Lord? I think the answer to that question is found in Asa’s prayer and in the prophet’s assessment. 

•  In the first instance, Asa recognizes his weakness and turns to the Lord. We see this in His words, ‘Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army.’ 
•  The prophet says there is a direct correlation between Asa’s reliance on God and the resulting success. ‘Because you relied on the LORD, he gave them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him (2 Chron 16:8-9)

In this context, the heart that is perfect toward God is not one that never doubts. Neither is it the one that never does wrong. Instead, it is the heart that recognizes its weakness and, in weakness, trusts in God’s unrivaled ability to act on behalf of the weak. That kind of heart is perfect (blameless, wholeheartedly devoted). And the one with that heart is the one toward whom the Lord seeks to show Himself strong. 

God actively seeks the weak not because strength is bad but so that He can be their strength. It is to the weak that God says, ‘here, let me be your strength.’ And isn’t limitless strength (His strength) more to be desired than limited strength (our own)? Wouldn’t we much rather have God’s strength than our own?

Regarding dependence on God, Isaac Newton writes, ‘ We are never more safe, never have more reason to expect the Lord’s help, than when we are most sensible that we can do nothing without Him …  When we think ourselves so utterly helpless and worthless, we are too ready to fear that the Lord will therefore reject us; whereas, in truth, such a poverty of spirit is the best mark we can have of an interest in His promises and care‘

Does this mean everything will go our way because we have trusted? No. That would be the wrong lesson to draw. But it does mean that God will prove Himself faithful to that one because trust in God never goes unrewarded. (Heb 11:6). 

Where do you feel weak today? Where are the odds stacked against you? God desires to show Himself strong on your behalf.

God actively seeks the weak not because strength is bad but so that He can be their strength. It is to the weak that God says, “here, let me be your strength.”