Saturday, June 3, 2023
“And [King Asa] commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment” (2 Chronicles 14:4 KJV).
What lawful advice can be gleaned from King Asa’s life?
Let us first notice how Asa was mindful of the LORD’S words to Israel through Moses centuries prior. Deuteronomy 17:14-20: “[14] When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; [15] Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. [16] But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. [17] Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
“[18] And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: [19] And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: [20] That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.”
Asa knew Bible study was important, especially for a monarch. He had a copy of the Scriptures and read it, encouraging his people to do the same (see today’s Scripture), for their obedience to the Law meant the difference between a blessing and a curse….
333 Words of Grace 