My family and I have been reading through the book of 2 Chronicles and the life of king Asa presents a strong case of our need to keep seeking and trusting God all our days. Our good God does not change, but we do and not always for the better. The finest wines can turn to vinegar in poor conditions, and when our hearts drift from reliance in the LORD the wisest can become fools. King Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, yet in his latter days he was a hollow shell of his former self who more resembled king Saul than king David his father. This teaches us men, regardless of their divinely inspired wisdom, all have their flaws: none is good like God, not one.
Because king Asa trusted in the LORD God gave him astonishing victories in battle. He took courage at the exhortation of godly prophets to put away idols from the land and even removed his mother from being queen because of idolatry. People throughout Israel flocked to him because he set his heart to seek the LORD. Asa had been king 36 years in Jerusalem when Basha king of Israel came against him. Instead of relying upon the LORD as on previous occasions, king Asa sent a present to Benhadad king of Syria to make an alliance with him and help him. Benhadad agreed to the arrangement which ended the threat of Basha and all seemed to be well--that is, until a prophet of God came to Asa with a sobering message.
2 Chronicles 16:7-9 tells us, "And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: "Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. 8 Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars." When David was confronted with his sin with Bathsheba and Urijah the Hittite he publicly confessed and repented. Sadly, king Asa responded in a very different way because he was filled with rage. He was angry with the messenger and did not receive God's gracious message. It proved to be the beginning of his end.
2 Chronicles 16:10-13 says, "Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time. 11 Note that the acts of Asa, first and last, are indeed written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12 And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians. 13 So Asa rested with his fathers; he died in the forty-first year of his reign." Instead of humbling himself in repentance before God, Asa became angry; he put Hanani the prophet in prison and oppressed God's people. And when he was stricken with a disease he relied on the doctors rather than seeking God who had the power to help and make him whole. Before the LORD all the motives and intent of our hearts is laid bare, and God continues to look to show Himself strong on behalf of people whose hearts are loyal to Him. This loyalty to God ought to continue even when we are rightly (or even wrongly!) rebuked for our foolishness.
How we receive correction and handle depressing news says something about us: do we seek the LORD or lash out? Are we filled with rage or allow our hearts to be broken in repentance? Do we rely on assistance or help from men or return to the LORD in faith, relying upon Him? King Asa's days as king are spent, but there is hope for us in God. Praise the LORD we don't need to be kings or queens to learn and personally apply timeless truth from the lessons God has provided through him. Let us call to mind Psalm 46:1 in times of peace or when we are overwhelmed: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
Because king Asa trusted in the LORD God gave him astonishing victories in battle. He took courage at the exhortation of godly prophets to put away idols from the land and even removed his mother from being queen because of idolatry. People throughout Israel flocked to him because he set his heart to seek the LORD. Asa had been king 36 years in Jerusalem when Basha king of Israel came against him. Instead of relying upon the LORD as on previous occasions, king Asa sent a present to Benhadad king of Syria to make an alliance with him and help him. Benhadad agreed to the arrangement which ended the threat of Basha and all seemed to be well--that is, until a prophet of God came to Asa with a sobering message.
2 Chronicles 16:7-9 tells us, "And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: "Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. 8 Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars." When David was confronted with his sin with Bathsheba and Urijah the Hittite he publicly confessed and repented. Sadly, king Asa responded in a very different way because he was filled with rage. He was angry with the messenger and did not receive God's gracious message. It proved to be the beginning of his end.
2 Chronicles 16:10-13 says, "Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time. 11 Note that the acts of Asa, first and last, are indeed written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12 And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians. 13 So Asa rested with his fathers; he died in the forty-first year of his reign." Instead of humbling himself in repentance before God, Asa became angry; he put Hanani the prophet in prison and oppressed God's people. And when he was stricken with a disease he relied on the doctors rather than seeking God who had the power to help and make him whole. Before the LORD all the motives and intent of our hearts is laid bare, and God continues to look to show Himself strong on behalf of people whose hearts are loyal to Him. This loyalty to God ought to continue even when we are rightly (or even wrongly!) rebuked for our foolishness.
How we receive correction and handle depressing news says something about us: do we seek the LORD or lash out? Are we filled with rage or allow our hearts to be broken in repentance? Do we rely on assistance or help from men or return to the LORD in faith, relying upon Him? King Asa's days as king are spent, but there is hope for us in God. Praise the LORD we don't need to be kings or queens to learn and personally apply timeless truth from the lessons God has provided through him. Let us call to mind Psalm 46:1 in times of peace or when we are overwhelmed: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
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