Wholehearted Trust in God (2 Chronicles 25:8–9)

But go, act, be strong for the battle. Why should you suppose that God will cast you down before the enemy? For God has power to help or to cast down.” And Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?” The man of God answered, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this.”
—2 Chronicles 25:8–9

So there’s so much in this story, and really in the story of Amaziah’s life and leadership. Earlier in 2 Chronicles 25, we read that he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart. And so we see this picture in Amaziah of a temptation to go partway, to do some of what God is saying to do, but not all that God’s saying to do, or not with a whole heart. And later on in 2 Chronicles 25, the Lord is angry with Amaziah because he’s seeking other gods, foreign gods instead of God alone.

2 Chronicles 25:8–9 reveals God’s power to provide beyond our expectations.

But here in this passage that I just read in verses 8 and 9, he’s asking questions like, “Can God really provide for us as we go into battle?” And the man of God here is saying, “Go, act, be strong for the battle, trust in God.” And I love the language here when Amaziah says, “Well, what do we do about the hundred talents that I’ve given to the army of Israel?” And the man of God says, “The Lord’s able to give you so much more than this.”

And in this picture of Amaziah, I just want to encourage you, in light of the whole picture, one, not to go with God part of the way, or most of the way, or to trust in God some, while you let questions linger about how much he can really provide for you. Instead, look up and see: there is only one God who’s worthy of all your worship today, all your heart, and you can trust him with your whole heart. You can trust him with everything, without hesitation or reservation. You can trust that he’s able to give you so much more than you even know to ask for. So first and foremost, give him your heart. Worship him with your heart. And out of the overflow of that, trust him.

2 Chronicles 25:8–9 teaches us to trust God’s power and generosity.

What does Proverbs 3:5 say? Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Don’t lean on your own understanding, and in all your ways acknowledge him. He will make your path straight. So we pray, oh God, help us not to be like Amaziah in these ways. God, we pray that you’d help us to love you with all our heart, our whole heart, to follow you with all our hearts, to do all that you’re calling us to do today, not to live in any way with half-hearted, three-quarters-hearted, anything like that kind of devotion to you. Help us to worship you wholeheartedly and to trust you wholeheartedly, to trust that you are able to give us more than we could ever even ask for or think about wanting.

God, forgive us for the ways we so often doubt your generosity or your ability. God, when you have made clear all throughout your Word, you are generous to your people. You give them more than they could ever deserve, and you are able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think. Oh, God, we pray in light of that, both in our lives as we think about situations in others’ lives. God, we pray. Show your power. Lord, show your generosity. Show your ability. We trust you in you. Oh, God, help us to trust in you.

A Prayer for the Banmanus People

And we pray this, God, over the nations, over the Banmanus people of India today, for 27,000 in this Hindu people group where so many different gods are being worshiped.

Show your glory, your love, your mercy, your majesty, your beauty as the one true God among the Banmanus people of India, that they might trust you with all their hearts, that they might experience a love relationship with you with all their hearts through faith in Jesus. God, we pray this over the Banmanus people of India, even as we pray you would help us to live in what you’ve told us is the greatest commandment, O God, to love you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to trust you with all our hearts. May that be true of our lives in ever-increasing measure, we pray. In Jesus’ name, amen.