II Chronicles

One of the key verses (15:2) in this book seems to be the condition of God’s presence, even for the believer today. The lack of a feeling of God’s presence does not necessarily mean that one does not have salvation, but when the presence of God is not full because of sin, then like David having lost the joy of God’s salvation, we are of all creatures most miserable. Sin and the presence of God will not mix. So then, for God to be for us, and for God to be with us, we need to stay in fellowship with Him.

Behold, God Himself is with us.
So said Abijah of Judah, when he and his army went out to war against Jeroboam, and in the strength of this they conquered. Christians, the Lord will not only give His angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways, but He Himself is with us. Never lose sight of this precious truth, for it is at once most holy and comforting. If God Himself is with us, then every sin is committed in His presence, and under his eye. Now this aggravates the guilt of all our sins. We think, we speak, we act just as though God were at an infinite distance from us, and that He pays little or no regard to what we say or do. Instead of this, no one is so near to us as God; no one is so attentive to us as He. If God Himself is with us, how unwise, how inconsistent are our fears! If God Himself is with us, will He allow us to want, or permit us to be injured? Can any enemy be too subtle, or too powerful for Him? Impossible! Behold, then, God Himself is with us! He will certainly be with us this day in every place during every moment. He will hear every word we speak, witness every sin we commit, and listen to every prayer we utter.