電影《洛奇》（Rocky）講述了一個寂寂無名的拳擊手的故事，他以永不言敗的決心為動力，克服重重困難，成為重量級拳王。在《洛奇3》中，當時已成為拳王的洛奇對自己的成就洋洋得意。有人找他拍電視廣告，擾亂了他在健身房訓練的時間，以致這位拳王的體力大不如前，甚至被一名挑戰者擊敗。這部電影的後半段，便是講述洛奇如何重獲他的戰鬥優勢。

從屬靈層面來看，猶大王亞撒也失去了戰鬥的優勢。他在位初期，面對令人畏懼的挑戰時，都會倚靠上帝。當強大的古實人預備侵略他們時，亞撒禱告說：「耶和華我們的上帝啊，求祢幫助我們。因為我們倚靠祢，奉祢的名去對抗這大軍」（歷代志下14章11節，新譯本）。上帝應允他的禱告，猶大國就擊敗並驅散他們的仇敵（12-15節）。

多年後，猶大國再次受到威脅。但這次亞撒變得自滿，不再倚靠上帝，反而向亞蘭王尋求幫助（16章2-3節），結果似乎奏效，但卻令上帝不悅。先知哈拿尼指出亞撒已不再信靠上帝（7-8節）。為何那時亞撒不再像過去那樣倚靠上帝呢？

我們的上帝永遠信實可靠，祂的眼目「遍察全地，要顯大能幫助向祂心存誠實的人」（9節）。當我們保持屬靈的優勢，即全然倚靠上帝，就能經歷祂的大能。

The Rocky movies tell the story of a raw boxer, fueled by never-say-die determination, who overcomes improbable odds to become heavyweight champion. In Rocky III, a now successful Rocky becomes impressed with his own achievements. Television commercials disrupt his time in the gym. The champ grows soft, and he’s knocked out by a challenger. The rest of the movie is Rocky’s attempt to regain his fighting edge.

In a spiritual sense, King Asa of Judah lost his fighting edge. Early in his reign, he relied on God in the face of daunting odds. As the mighty Cushites prepared to attack, Asa prayed, “Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army” (2 Chronicles 14:11). God answered his prayer, and Judah struck down and scattered their enemies (vv. 12-15).

Years later, Judah was threatened again. This time a complacent Asa ignored God and instead asked the king of Aram for help (16:2-3). It seemed to work. But God wasn’t pleased. The prophet Hanani told Asa that he’d stopped trusting God (vv. 7-8). Why hadn’t he relied on God now as he had then?

Our God is unfailingly reliable. His eyes “range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (v. 9). When we keep our spiritual edge—fully depending on God—we’ll experience His power.