历代志下16：信仰的失脚 
 
GK611晨祷生命读经
24.10.2025
主讲：陈炎明牧师


引言：人最怕“晚节不保”！

一、依靠人的政治谋略（16:1-6）

1.人为手段拦阻人敬拜神（V1）
当年以色列王巴沙“修筑拉玛”，这是一堵又高又长的围墙，目的是为了堵住犹大王的出路。其实围墙也是控制人们通往神殿敬拜的道路。从属灵上而言，这就像仇敌试图筑起属灵的墙，让信徒无法自由地亲近神、敬拜神。今日我们的“拉玛”可能是：恐惧、自我、骄傲、忙碌、苦毒——这些都成为拦阻我们与神交通的障碍。

2.靠人而非信靠神的行动（V2-4）
王有权利从圣殿的俯库把金银拿出来，可是这些属于神的金银，却不是用在与神的殿有关的事情上，而是去巴结外邦王，依靠人而不是依靠神。这是何等失败的举措啊！放弃最大的祝福源头，去投靠祸患的根源。就像今天有许多没有信仰根基的人，只懂得依靠人而不知道寻求神。

3.表面成功但是实为失败（V5-6）
亚兰从北方攻击以色列，巴沙被迫撤兵；亚撒拆毁拉玛的工事，用材料修筑迦巴与米斯巴以作防线。外表看来“成功”，但属灵上却是失败。靠人得一时的胜利，却失去神的同在。信徒若只用世俗策略解决问题，结果可能短暂成功却长期亏损灵命。我们面对压力时，先想到的是祷告，还是找“人脉资源”？

二、先知责备显明神意（16:7-9）

神差先知哈拿尼提醒亚撒：你以前靠神胜过古实人与吕比人，如今为何转而靠人？这是对信心持续性的考验——不是一次信靠就够。

神的眼目遍察全地，寻找愿意“心存诚实”的人。神不是要看人的能力，而是看人的依靠对象。过去的信心不能保证今日的顺服。神要我们在每一次危机中重新学习“倚靠祂”。关键不是环境的大小，而是“心是否仍诚实向神”。

三、拒绝提醒属灵蒙蔽（16:10-14）

1.冒犯神人非无事（V10-11）
王虽然是有权有势，但是在神眼中先知是神的代言人，不听先知也就是变相的“不听从神”！他们既然是神的代言人，也就是被神所罩住的。因此，当亚撒不肯听劝，甚至还恶代先知，也虐待百姓，神是不会坐视不理的。因此我们也要留心不要不经意冒犯神仆人，免得自遭麻烦！

2.被警戒仍不觉醒（V12-14）
当说完犹大王亚撒因恶待先知之后，后来出现脚部患了严重疾病问题，显然这和得罪先知有关。这是神管教的警讯，但是王依然不求问耶和华，这才是更严重的问题。神借先知说话王不听、神借疾病警戒，他还是不知寻求神。于是神就沉默，让他失去医治的机会。他不单失去生命，甚至还失去对永生神的敬畏啊！

总结：要学会听劝而自省

亚撒王的结局警惕我们：若心刚硬，不听劝诫，即使有好的开端，也会失脚。信徒一生最危险的，不是失败，而是骄傲与自恃。“病中不求耶和华”，显示他已完全失去属灵敏感。神期望我们无论在顺境或逆境，都回转向祂。



    
  

2 Chronicles 16：The Fall from Faith 
GK611 Morning Devotion
24 October 2025
Speaker: Rev David Tan 

 Introduction: The greatest fear of man is ‘failing in his old age’!

I. Relying on Human Political Strategies (16:1-6) 

1. Human Measures Hinder Worship of God (v1)
In those days, King Baasha of Israel ‘built Ramah’—a tall, lengthy wall intended to block the king of Judah's escape route. In truth, this wall also served to regulate the paths by which people approached the temple for worship. Spiritually speaking, this resembles the enemy erecting spiritual walls to prevent believers from freely drawing near to God and worshipping Him. Today, our ‘Ramah’ may manifest as fear, self-centredness, pride, busyness, or bitterness—all becoming obstacles hindering our communion with God.

2. Actions Relying on Man Rather Than Trusting God (v2-4)
The king had the authority to take silver and gold from the temple treasuries. Yet this silver and gold, which belonged to God, was not used for matters concerning God's house, but rather to curry favour with a foreign king—relying on man instead of God. What a disastrous course of action! Abandoning the greatest source of blessing to seek refuge in the very root of calamity. It is like many today who lack a foundation of faith, trusting in people instead of seeking God.

3. Apparent Success, Yet Actual Failure (v5-6)
When Aram attacked Israel from the north, Baasha was forced to withdraw his troops. Asa then dismantled the fortifications at Ramah, using the materials to build defences at Geba and Mizpah. Outwardly, this appeared ‘successful,’ yet spiritually it was a failure. Relying on man may bring temporary victory but results in losing God’s presence. If believers solve problems solely through worldly strategies, the result may be fleeting success but long-term spiritual loss. When facing pressure, do we first turn to prayer, or seek out ‘human connections and resources’?

II. The Prophet's Rebuke Reveals God's Will (16:7-9) 

God sent the prophet Hanani to remind Asa: ‘You previously relied on God to overcome the Cushites and Libyans; why now turn to human reliance?’ This tested the continuity of faith—a single act of trust is insufficient.

God's eyes search the whole earth seeking those who are ‘true in heart.’ God does not look at human ability, but at whom we choose to depend upon. Past faith does not guarantee present obedience. God requires us to relearn ‘relying upon Him’ in every crisis. The key is not the magnitude of the situation, but whether ‘our heart remains honest before God.’

III. Rejecting Correction Brings Spiritual Blindness (16:10-14) 

1. Offending God's servants does not go unpunished (v10-11)
Though the king wielded power and authority, in God’s sight, the prophet represents His voice.  Disregarding the prophets was tantamount to ‘disobeying God’! As God's spokesmen, they stood under His protection. Thus when Asa refused counsel, persecuted the prophets, and oppressed the people, God would not ignore and stand idly by. Thus we too must guard against inadvertently offending God's servants, lest we invite trouble upon ourselves!

2. Warned Yet Unheeding (v12-14)
Following the account of King Asa of Judah's mistreatment of the prophets, a severe ailment afflicted his feet – clearly linked to his transgression against the prophets. This was a warning sign of divine discipline, yet the king still did not seek the Lord—this was the more serious issue. The king disregarded God’s message through the prophet and ignored the warning of illness. Consequently, God remained silent, depriving him of the opportunity for healing. Not only did he lose his life, but he also lost his reverence for the eternal God!

Conclusion: Learn to Heed Counsel and Examine Ourself

The end of King Asa’s life warns us: when the heart grows hardened and resists correction, even a promising beginning may lead to stumbling. The greatest peril for believers throughout life is not failure, but pride and self-reliance. His failure to seek the Lord in sickness revealed a complete loss of spiritual sensitivity. God expects us to turn to Him in both prosperity and adversity.