Thursday, June 8, 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?
The Holy Spirit came upon Azariah son of Oded, empowering him as a prophet or spokesman for God. Azariah addresses King Asa in chapter 15, verses 1-7 (which read). Take notice of verse 3: “Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.” Azariah heartens Asa to take additional steps to reform Judah and Jerusalem, for idolatry has crept back into (or never entirely left) the hearts and minds of the Jewish people. “And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD” (verse 8). Asa’s reforms continue into chapter 16.
Asa was aware of his place on the Bible timeline. He knew Moses, the Law of Moses, was the standard operating system for his people: it was God’s revelation to them. However, toward the end of his reign, Asa began drifting from the LORD. Baasha, King of Israel (Northern Kingdom), came up against Judah (Southern Kingdom)—for some of the northern tribes had moved south to align with Asa (see 2 Chronicles 15:9). Asa sought military help from, and bribed, Benhadad King of Syria (see 2 Chronicles 16:1-6), which displeased the LORD because Asa did not rely on Him for victory (verses 7-10). Furthermore, angry Asa went so far as to imprison the prophet who told them this grim news from the LORD! In his last years, his foot disease plagued him severely, but he requested help from doctors instead of the LORD (verses 11,12) and finally died (verses 13,14).
Provided we know our place in God’s dealings with man, and not be seduced from it, we will learn valuable lessons from Asa….
333 Words of Grace 