Asa called out to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, only you can help weak people against strong people! Help us, Lord our God! We depend on you. We fight against this large army in your name. Lord, you are our God! Don’t let anyone win against you!”
But, I will be patient.\par I will do this for myself.\par People will praise me for not getting\par angry and destroying you.\par You will praise me for waiting.\par
Lord, for the good of your name,\par don’t push us away.\par Don’t take away the honor\par from your glorious throne.\par Remember your Agreement {\cf2\super [126]} with us.\par Don’t break that Agreement.\par
“We know that those things are our fault.\par We are now suffering because of our sins.\par Lord, do something to help us for the good of your name.\par We admit that we left you many times.\par We have sinned against you.\par
But I did not destroy them. The other nations saw me bring Israel out of Egypt. I did not want to ruin my good name, so I did not destroy Israel in front of those other people.
Family of Israel, you did many bad things. And you should be destroyed because of those bad things. But to protect my good name, I won’t give you the punishment you really deserve. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” The Lord my Master said these things.
But I did not destroy them. I had already told the people where they were living that I would bring my people out of Egypt. I did not want to ruin my good name, so I did not destroy Israel in front of those other people.
Lord, listen to me! Lord, forgive us! Lord, pay attention, and then do something! Don’t wait! Do something now! Do it for your own good! My God, do something now, for your city and your people that are called by your name.”
If you don’t respect my name, then bad things will happen to you. You will say blessings, {\cf2\super [9]} but they will become curses. {\cf2\super [10]} I will make bad things happen because you don’t show respect for my name!” The Lord All-Powerful said these things.
And this brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace (kindness). God gave that grace to us freely. He gave us that grace in \{Christ,\} the One he loves.
The Canaanite people and all the other people in this country will hear about what happened. Then they will attack us and kill all of us! Then what will you do to protect your great name?”