2 Chronicles 20:1-23 English Standard Version Jehoshaphat's Prayer 20 After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). 3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. 5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. 7 Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ 10 And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy-- 11 behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.” 18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. 19 And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. 20 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” 21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.” 22 And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. 23 For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another. We talked about how Jehoshaphat made an alliance with Ahab that nearly ended up in Jehoshaphat's death, but the LORD saved him. Jehoshaphat was confronted by Jehu and repented and brought about reforms drawing the hearts of the people back to the LORD. Now, Jehoshaphat seems to have learned his lesson. When he receives word that a great multitude of people is coming up from Edom (the descendants of Esau) to attack, Jehoshaphat seeks help from the LORD and encouraged others to do the same.
Jehoshaphat's prayer is recorded for us here. Jehoshaphat intercedes for the people by "reminding the LORD" (and therefore reminding the LORD's people) of their history. He chose this people to put His name and covenant on and if He doesn't protect them, it will damage His Name and reputation. The Sprit of the LORD answers through Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite. The LORD tells Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah to not be afraid. They are to go up against Edom in battle the next day, and the LORD tells Judah exactly where to find the Edomites. There will be no need for Judah to fight in the battle, they are just to stand there and see what the LORD will do to save them once again. They then began to worship the LORD for the victory He had promised and therefore had already given to them. They quoted the words of the Psalms of David, "Give thanks to the LORD, for His steadfast love endures forever." Notice that the text says that it was as they worshiped the LORD that the LORD acted to provide the deliverance he had promised. The LORD used the kingdoms of Ammon and Moab to attack the Edomites of Mount Seir (another name for Edom like how Israel was known for Mount Zion). Then, after they had destroyed the Edomite army, they turned on each other and the armies of Ammon and Moab defeated one another. This was the world of the LORD. We'll see more about this deliverance that the LORD provided for His people next time. 2 Chronicles 19 English Standard Version Jehoshaphat's Reforms 19 Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. 2 But Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the LORD. 3 Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.” 4 Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers. 5 He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, 6 and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the LORD. He is with you in giving judgment. 7 Now then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the LORD our God, or partiality or taking bribes.” 8 Moreover, in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed certain Levites and priests and heads of families of Israel, to give judgment for the LORD and to decide disputed cases. They had their seat at Jerusalem. 9 And he charged them: “Thus you shall do in the fear of the LORD, in faithfulness, and with your whole heart: 10 whenever a case comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities, concerning bloodshed, law or commandment, statutes or rules, then you shall warn them, that they may not incur guilt before the LORD and wrath may not come upon you and your brothers. Thus you shall do, and you will not incur guilt. 11 And behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all the king's matters, and the Levites will serve you as officers. Deal courageously, and may the LORD be with the upright!” I think I mentioned at the end of yesterday's blog that Jehoshaphat would be confronted by Jehu and that Jehoshaphat was told that judgement would come upon him because he made an alliance with those that were wicked, like Ahab and Jezebel, and those that hated the LORD. The LORD tempered His anger though because He saw all the good things that Jehoshaphat had done in destroying the Asheroth poles and he sought the LORD in the same way that David did--he just made a mistake in marrying a woman who worshiped idols.
After Ahab's death, Jehoshaphat went out again and brought the people back to the LORD everywhere where he had influence as king of Judah--even into the land of Ephraim, though they were technically part of the northern kingdom of Israel. He also appointed righteous, God-fearing judges for these cities according to the Law who would judge according to the Law of the LORD. He charged these judges saying, "“Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the LORD. He is with you in giving judgment. Now then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the LORD our God, or partiality or taking bribes.” We make our judges and justices take a similar oath of office and hold to similar judicial ethics today. If no oath is taken before the LORD, then what constrains them from abusing their power to make themselves rich or to usurp power that does not belong to them? Levites and tribal leaders were also appointed to assist in making judgments according to the Law of the LORD and to teach the Law of the LORD to the people. If people could be instructed and had their worldview changed before committing acts of evil or they repented of their sin, even after they committed iniquity because they realized they violated the LORD's Law and were in need of His mercy, that is a far better situation than a man who would try to hide his sin and refused to repent even after being caught because his evil actions were in perfect alignment with his evil heart. It was only by this change in the hearts of the people that Jehoshaphat hoped that the people would avoid having the curses of the LORD poured out on them and instead he hoped that the blessings of the LORD would be poured out on the people when they showed that they loved the LORD by their obedience to His commandments (though works don't save us, they are evidence that we have truly been saved). The Levites and priests would also take the guilt of the people upon themselves as they ate of the portions of the offerings assigned to them, so that they would be seen as a substitute for those who were under the death penalty and the people would start to understand the need for substitutionary atonement. Jehoshaphat made sure that the people knew who the high priest in charge of the other priests was and the Levits, and he appointed a governor from the house of Judah to be in charge of all the political affairs (a chief of staff), who the Levites were also supposed to serve in their duties as government officials. Then Jehoshaphat charged the Levites to execute their duties courageously as "The LORD is with the upright." 2 Chronicles 18:28-34 English Standard Version The Defeat and Death of Ahab 28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 29 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” And the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle. 30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, “Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel.” 31 As soon as the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; God drew them away from him. 32 For as soon as the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. 33 But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.” 34 And the battle continued that day, and the king of Israel was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians until evening. Then at sunset he died. Even after hearing what the prophet of the LORD said, Jehoshaphat decided to go into battle with Ahab, and Ahab convinced Jehoshaphat that he should wear his royal robes into battle, but Ahab would be disguised (so that all the enemies would mistake Jehoshaphat for Ahab). The king of Syria was only interested in fighting with King Ahab, and, at first, they did mistake Jehoshaphat for Ahab, but Jehoshaphat cried out to the LORD for help and God drew the Syrians away from him.
The fatal blow to King Ahab came from an arrow that was shot randomly into the air and fell just right to strike Ahab between his scale armor and his breastplate. The is no "random chance" with the LORD as the book of Proverbs tells us, and since the Israelites believed that all random outcomes were determined by the LORD, then this is a way of saying that the LORD caused the arrow to fall and hit Ahab in just the right place and the LORD was the one responsible for Ahab's death. Ahab orders his chariot to turn around and take out of the battle as soon as he realizes he is wounded. The text tells us that the battle continued all day with Ahab propped up in his chariot, but as evening came, Ahab died at sunset. We'll have a little more to the story of the reign of Jehoshaphat, but this was a turning point where Judah went from being at peace to being at war. Jehoshaphat had no business marrying into Ahab's family to make an alliance with them--Israel never should have been attacking Judah if they obeyed the Law of the LORD. All that marriage did was make Jehoshaphat a pawn on Ahab's chessboard that Ahab could manipulate (much like he thought he could manipulate the LORD by paying "prophets" to say what he wanted). The LORD was going to use the Syrians to take care of Ahab, and Jehoshaphat nearly got caught up in the judgment that was meant for Ahab. Let us learn from this that we are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. 2 Chronicles 18:1-27 English Standard Version Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab 18 Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor, and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab. 2 After some years he went down to Ahab in Samaria. And Ahab killed an abundance of sheep and oxen for him and for the people who were with him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead. 3 Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” He answered him, “I am as you are, my people as your people. We will be with you in the war.” 4 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the LORD.” 5 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king.” 6 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the LORD of whom we may inquire?” 7 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, Micaiah the son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.” 8 Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.” 9 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes. And they were sitting at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron and said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.’” 11 And all the prophets prophesied so and said, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph. The LORD will give it into the hand of the king.” 12 And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” 13 But Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, what my God says, that I will speak.” 14 And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” And he answered, “Go up and triumph; they will be given into your hand.” 15 But the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?” 16 And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’” 17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” 18 And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. 19 And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab the king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. 20 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ And the LORD said to him, ‘By what means?’ 21 And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’ 22 Now therefore behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets. The LORD has declared disaster concerning you.” 23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go from me to speak to you?” 24 And Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.” 25 And the king of Israel said, “Seize Micaiah and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son, 26 and say, ‘Thus says the king, Put this fellow in prison and feed him with meager rations of bread and water until I return in peace.’” 27 And Micaiah said, “If you return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, all you peoples!” Jehoshaphat makes a grave mistake in marrying into the family of King Ahab of Israel (Ahab is the husband of Jezebel and is probably one of the names that people most associate with evil--right up there with Judas Iscariot). Jehoshaphat thinks that by marrying into his family that it will make peace between Israel and Judah, but all that happened was that Israel demanded that Judah ally with them in all their wars. This time the war was in Gilead across the Jordan in a place called Ramoth-gilead.
Jehoshaphat wouldn't go to war without first inquiring of a prophet of the LORD (of course all the false prophets that were on Ahab's payroll agreed with whatever Ahab wanted to do). Ahab only knew of one true prophet of the LORD left in Israel named Micaiah, and Ahab hated him, for he always spoke the opposite of the false prophets of Ahab and said things that Ahab didn't want to hear--for Micaiah would speak the word of the LORD and the false prophets spoke the words that the demons put in their mouths and hearts. A messenger went to Michaiah and explained that the 400 prophets of Ahab had already all prophesied in agreement one way and all Michaiah had to do was join in their "prophesy," (remember that the king and his officials think that "prophesy" is something you pay a bribe to get the prophet to say to make the gods do what you want them to do), but Michaiah said he can only speak the words that the LORD puts in his mouth. Yet, when he first came, he spoke words in agreement with the prophets of Ahab, probably out of fear and because he knew that's what Ahab wanted to hear. However, Ahab knew this wasn't the message the LORD had given him and said, "How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?" Strange words coming from Ahab who seems to know that the words coming out of the mouths of his prophets are lies, and that the LORD speaks truth, even though he hates the truth that the LORD speaks because it doesn't agree with what he wants to do, since his heart is set on evil. Michaiah then tells of a vision he had of the LORD holding court and the various spirits (including evil spirits) were there. The LORD asks the spirits who will entice King Ahab to go to war at Ramoth-gilead that he may fall in battle and die there (for Ahab was very evil and the LORD intended for Ahab to die in battle that day). One of the spirits offered to help by saying that he would put a false prophesy in the mouths of the prophets of Ahab and that Ahab would believe them (which is exactly what happened). The chief of these prophets then struck Micaiah and asked how the Holy Spirit left him to enter Michaiah so that Michaiah would speak the word of the LORD--the answer is simple, the Holy Spirit was never in Zedekiah the false prophet because he prophesied by the power of demons. Michaiah only answered him that he would know the answer to his question on the day that he would go into an inner chamber to hide himself (prophesying about the day that Zedekiah would be killed). Ahab had heard enough and thought that he could change things by arresting Michaiah and holding him in prison until he returned from battle (which Michaiah just said wasn't going to happen). This was intended to put God to the test to save His prophet or to save the life of Ahab, but Michaiah was ready to die as he knew Ahab was not coming back from the battle that day. We'll look at the fulfillment of this prophesy and the death of King Ahab next time. 2 Chronicles 17 English Standard Version Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah 17 Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place and strengthened himself against Israel. 2 He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim that Asa his father had captured. 3 The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, 4 but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel. 5 Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. 6 His heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah. 7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; 8 and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; and with these Levites, the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 And they taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the LORD with them. They went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people. 10 And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, and they made no war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute, and the Arabians also brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats. 12 And Jehoshaphat grew steadily greater. He built in Judah fortresses and store cities, 13 and he had large supplies in the cities of Judah. He had soldiers, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem. 14 This was the muster of them by fathers' houses: Of Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, with 300,000 mighty men of valor; 15 and next to him Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000; 16 and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, a volunteer for the service of the LORD, with 200,000 mighty men of valor. 17 Of Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, with 200,000 men armed with bow and shield; 18 and next to him Jehozabad with 180,000 armed for war. 19 These were in the service of the king, besides those whom the king had placed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah. We're just about at the halfway point of the book of 2 Chronicles (it has 36 chapters, not all the same length). We're going to have a few chapters that focus in on Jehoshaphat now. He was the son of Asa who ruled in Asa's place when Asa died. He was also a good king that walked in the ways of David. He did not run after the Baals but sought the LORD and sought to obey His commandments with his whole heart, so the LORD blessed Him and the kingdom of Judah during the time of his reign. He fortified the cities with armed guards, set garrisons in place to station the army near possible points they would need to respond to and destroyed the high places and Asherim in Judah. Those that wanted to worship other gods and goddesses would have to go outside of Judah to do so.
He sent out his officials with the Levites and to the towns to teach the Law of the LORD to the people in his third year. He realized early on in his reign that the people needed the Word of the LORD more than they needed anything else. So, the government officials and the Levites went through every town teaching the people. Like Solomon, the LORD made the surrounding nations fearful of Jehoshaphat so that no one attacked him, and they instead paid him tribute (that is they paid him to be at peace with them). They made payment in the form of silver, gold, rams and goats--even the cities were full of the animals that were brought as tribute (which is hard to think of as rams and goats were animals used for sacrifices, but when 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats are given for tribute, I guess they will be running wild for a while and there will be no lack of clean animals for sacrifices). A muster of the fighting men is also given here. There were 780,000 fighting men of Judah that are broken into three units with their commanders listed. There were also 380,000 fighting men of Benjamin split into two divisions with their commanders given. These were the men stationed in the towns and garrisons throughout the Land, yet the war they prepared for never came because the LORD blessed Jehoshaphat with peace during his time until the events of the next chapter when we see he makes the mistake of allying himself with the evil king of the north, Ahab. 2 Chronicles 16 English Standard Version Asa's Last Years 16 In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might permit no one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 2 Then Asa took silver and gold from the treasures of the house of the LORD and the king's house and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, saying, 3 “There is a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending to you silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me.” 4 And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and they conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. 5 And when Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah and let his work cease. 6 Then King Asa took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had been building, and with them he built Geba and Mizpah. 7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. 8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, he gave them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.” 10 Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in the stocks in prison, for he was in a rage with him because of this. And Asa inflicted cruelties upon some of the people at the same time. 11 The acts of Asa, from first to last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but sought help from physicians. 13 And Asa slept with his fathers, dying in the forty-first year of his reign. 14 They buried him in the tomb that he had cut for himself in the city of David. They laid him on a bier that had been filled with various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumer's art, and they made a very great fire in his honor. We're now going to skip to the last years of King Asa's reign, and we notice that there is a new king in the northern kingdom of Israel--King Baasha. Baasha builds up the border town of Ramah so that no one could go out or come in from Judah (I think he's more concerned that his people would leave and defect to Judah because things aren't going so well in Israel and God is blessing Judah). Asa suspects that war is on the horizon and takes silver and gold from the LORD's treasury to bribe Ben-hadad, king of Syria, to break his treaty with Baasha and to not attack Judah.
The LORD had intended to give Baasha and Ben-hadad into the hands of Asa, but now that Asa had robbed the LORD's treasuries to bribe Ben-hadad and make a peace treaty with him, Syria would continue to be a thorn in the side of Judah, and Asa would now continue to be at war until he died instead of having peace on every side like he had had in the past. Asa was mad at the prophet of the LORD that brought this news to him and put the seer (the prophet) in stocks to punish him, as if the seer was responsible for the message the LORD gave him. It was really the king who should be punished for the sinful and foolish choice that he made to put his trust in riches instead of in the LORD when the LORD had already proven Himself that He could take care of enemy armies of any size. In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa got a disease in his feet, but he would not seek the LORD for healing or advice for treatment. Instead, he sought advice from physicians far and wide who were probably happy to take his money but provided no relief. He had to deal with this disease until the forty-first year of his reign when he died and was buried with the other kings in Jerusalem, making a bier (coffin) for him that was filled with all kinds of perfumes and spices (I would assume this is because the disease that he had made him stink more than normal). All the other deeds of Asa can be found in the book of Kings that we've already studied. He's an example of someone who started well but did not stay the course. He's still in the list of "good" kings, but it's a warning to us that it's about running our race in such a way where we bring honor to the LORD in all that we do, and when we do mess up, we need to repent and get our relationship with the LORD right as soon as possible. We shouldn't break our fellowship with Him and stay angry with Him. 2 Chronicles 15 English Standard Version Asa's Religious Reforms 15 The Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded, 2 and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The LORD is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 3 For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest and without law, 4 but when in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. 5 In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands. 6 They were broken in pieces. Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress. 7 But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” 8 As soon as Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded, he took courage and put away the detestable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities that he had taken in the hill country of Ephraim, and he repaired the altar of the LORD that was in front of the vestibule of the house of the LORD. 9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were residing with them, for great numbers had deserted to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him. 10 They were gathered at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. 11 They sacrificed to the LORD on that day from the spoil that they had brought 700 oxen and 7,000 sheep. 12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul, 13 but that whoever would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman. 14 They swore an oath to the LORD with a loud voice and with shouting and with trumpets and with horns. 15 And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around. 16 Even Maacah, his mother, King Asa removed from being queen mother because she had made a detestable image for Asherah. Asa cut down her image, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron. 17 But the high places were not taken out of Israel. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true all his days. 18 And he brought into the house of God the sacred gifts of his father and his own sacred gifts, silver, and gold, and vessels. 19 And there was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa. King Asa was truly a good king of Judah. In one administration, he reversed nearly all the wrong that the previous administrations had done by listening to the Spirit of the LORD when he was called to repentance and obedience--not only for himself, but for the whole nation. He took it upon himself to destroy all the idols and places of false worship that were in the land of Judah where he reigned, and he led the people in worshiping the LORD--including the people from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who followed him.
He even deposed his mother (the queen mother) because she made an idol to worship the goddess of Asherah. He cut down the image of Asherah and burned it and crushed it and spread its ashes in the Kidron Valley (where the garbage and refuse and everything unclean went). While he didn't destroy the high places, his heart was wholly dedicated to the LORD. He gave to the LORD all that his father had refused to give and everything that he was supposed to give, and the LORD gave Asa peace on every side until the 35th year of his reign. We'll read about what happened then next time. |
Daniel WestfallI will mostly use this space for recording my "journal" from my daily devotions as I hope to encourage others to read the Bible along with me and to leave a legacy for others. Archives
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