Asa, son of Abijah, was one of the few good kings that ruled over ancient Judah. His story is recorded in II Chronicles 14 -16. Take a few minutes and read those three chapters. There are many lessons in this passage. Here are a few that stood out to me.
1) Obedience leads to peace.
The first thing Asa does as king is address the widespread problem of idolatry. The countryside is littered with foreign alters, pagan shrines, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles. Asa destroys these detestable symbols of false gods, and then he commands the people of Judah to: seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to obey His law and His commands (II Chronicles 14:4).
As a result, his kingdom enjoys a period of peace. God blesses King Asa, and gives him rest from his enemies (II Chronicles 14:5-6).
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If you want to be at peace, put God first in your life, and obey His commandments.
“Obey God and be at peace with Him.“
Job 22:21
Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:9 – The Apostle Paul speaking.
2) No problem is too big for God.
After a time, Asa faces a major challenge. A powerful army mobilizes against Judah. A million soldiers and three hundred chariots advance on the town of Mareshah. Asa prepares for war, but he is greatly outnumbered, and knows he cannot win.
In the face of certain disaster, he cries out to God: “O LORD, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O LORD, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!” (II Chronicles 14:11).
Asa calls out to God in his time of need, and God answers. God Himself fights the battle, and defeats the army that is too much for Asa.
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We sometimes face challenges that seem impossible. In those times we can choose to despair, or we can call out to God, and trust that He is able to handle our situation.
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Luke 1:37
Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
Psalm 55:22
3) God rewards those who remain faithful.
After God miraculously delivers Judah from their enemies, the prophet Azariah seeks out King Asa as he’s returning from the battle. Azariah tells Asa, and the people, that as long as they follow God’s commands, God will be with them. He also warns them not to turn away from God.
Then Azariah encourages the people with these words: “be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded.” (II Chronicles 15:7).
Asa wastes no time. He sweeps through the kingdom and lays waste to any remaining idols. He repairs the altar in front of the LORD’s temple. Then Asa and his people offers sacrifices, and enter into a sacred covenant with God.
God rewards the people for their faithfulness: “All in Judah were happy about this covenant, for they had entered into it with all their heart. They earnestly sought after God, and they found him. And the Lord gave them rest from their enemies on every side.” (II Chronicles 15:15).
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There are blessings for those who obey the LORD. God delights in working wonders for those who love Him.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12
…[God] is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6b
4) Even the righteous can fall.
Asa and his kingdom enjoy a long period of peace and prosperity, but somewhere along the way Asa becomes prideful and complacent.
In the 36th year of Asa’s reign, King Baasha invades Judah, and instead of asking God what he should do, Asa acts according to his own wisdom.
Hanani the seer confronts Asa with his error, but Asa is unrepentant, and throws Hanani in prison!
Asa continues to sin, and even begins to oppresses his own people. When he contracts a serious disease, he is still too proud to seek God’s help. King Asa’s final years are marked by war, pain, and suffering.
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Asa’s sad ending is a sobering reminder to be spiritually vigilant. When times are good, it’s easy to put God on the backburner. It’s easy to get lazy with things like Bible study and church attendance. Often times we drift away from God so slowly that we don’t realize it’s happening until something dramatic happens to get our attention.
If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.
I Corinthians 10:12
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
I Peter 5:8
We can learn a lot from King Asa. If we remain faithful and obedient to God, He will reward us and give us peace. No problem is too big for God, and we should always seek Him first in times of trouble. Lastly, if we’re not careful, we can easily drift away from God. We need to renew our hearts and minds daily, and remember to put God first in our lives.
