Asa: Sufficiency of God's Grace. 1 Kings 15:8-15

1 Kings 15:9 ^NASB “So in the twentieth year of Jeroboam the king of Israel, Asa began to reign as king of Judah.”

In 1 Kings 15-18 we are going to go through seven kings that form the transition from the focal point on the decsendancy of the kingship from Solomon through Rehoboam and Jeroboam to the time of Elijah and Elisha. It is a relatively short period of time, not a lot is said, but we certainly see the trends both good and bad, and in these trends we also see the blessing of God in terms of when there is obedience and the discipline when there is disobedience, all in light of what God has promised within the Mosaic Law. So one of the key doctrines that is shown here is the faithfulness of God to His Word. What God has said He will do, He will do. A second thing that we see here is God’s grace, that He does not discipline them as strongly and harshly as He could, and despite the fact that they reject Him again and again He reaches out in a grace initiative to the nation to give them an opportunity to turn to Him.

The key elements to watch as we go through this are the references that go back to the covenants. Some go back to the Davidic covenant, others go back to the Mosaic, but the key thing that is being traced through Kings is the Davidic line.

Through it all we see that God has been faithful to His promise. We can look at this picture and understand that our history in terms of our own individual spiritual life fits within that same pattern—that God has made promises in His Word to each one of us within the framework of the New Testament, in terms of salvation, that God is faithful and that no matter what happens in history around us God is faithful no matter what we do. God is always faithful to His Word and He is going to fulfil that which He has promised. So we can look at all these episodes within that broader element of the faithfulness of God to His Word, the faithfulness of God to His covenants, and the promises that God makes to people and to individuals.

We have seen that within chapter fifteen especially these kings were: In the south Rehoboam, Abijam, and Asa. Then there are the descendants of Jeroboam in the north, beginning with Nadab who was assassinated by Baasha, and Baasha is going to wipe out all the family in fulfilment of that prophecy that Ahijah the prophet had given in chapter fourteen. Baasha had a son, Elah, who doesn’t last very long because God promises to wipe out his line with the same kind of prophecy that was given to Jeroboam—that they would die in the streets. Then Zimri leads a very short-lived revolt against Elah and there is a period of civil war between Tibni and Omri. Omri rises to the ascendancy in 880 BC. Omri then founds a dynasty and his son is Ahab. That takes us right up to the time of Elijah, but right now we are looking at Asa. What we are watching is the Davidic line, David to Solomon, to Rehoboam, to Abijam, to Asa and to Jehoshaphat, and all of the other lines that go along with that.

The account of Asa whose dates are 910-869 BC. The records ate in 1 Kings 15:9-24 and 2 Chronicles 14-16. To understand Asa we have to go and look at the Chronicles account which gives a lot more detail and information than the account in Kings. Kings was written primarily to give the spiritual evaluation of each of the kings of Judah; Chronicles gives us more of the historical details of what was going on. God’s spiritual evaluation on Asa is recorded in 1 Kings 15:11 ^NASB “Asa did what was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father.” So he gets a high grade, there is only one minor problem that he had, and that is that he doesn’t completely remove the high places. These were what followed really an older pattern of worship that still hung over from the time of the judges where people had their own family altars and their own place of worship where they would sacrifice to and worship Yahweh. They weren’t worshipping a false god or idol, they just were violating the law of the central sanctuary and were not going to Jerusalem as the exclusive place of sacrifice and offering. It is more of a sin of omission than a sin of commission. Every southern king, no matter how good he was, failed at this one point. They just couldn’t bring themselves to come in and say you can’t have your own altar to Yahweh and so they just left that alone. The evaluation of Asa is repeated in 2 Chronicles 14:2 ^NASB “Asa did good and right in the sight of the LORD his God.”

2 Chronicles 14:1 wraps up the end of Abijah’s reign. ^NASB “So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and his son Asa became king in his place. The land was undisturbed for ten years during his days.” We know that he is going to reign for forty-one years so this means we have to understand that the first ten years of his reign is a time of peace, a time of quiet, of stability, a time for him to carry out a foundational reform movement. The verses in 1 Kings 15 summarise what we discover in 2 Chronicles to be two phases of this reform movement. There is the first stage which involves the first ten years, and then 2 Chronicles tells us there was a major war as Judah is invaded by the Pharaoh of Egypt, who is an Ethiopian. Then there is a second phase to his reform and as a result of those reforms God brings peace and stability to Judah and there is tremendous prosperity. Then at the end we see that Asa is going to fail because he fails to exclusively trust in God for the security of the nation. There is also a failure personally but that doesn’t come until the end of his life.

After the summary evaluation in verse 2 we see that he does six things that were related to improving the spiritual condition of the southern kingdom of Judah. First, he removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places. They had been there since Solomon because Rehoboam did not remove them and Abijam did not remove them. Second, he broke down the sacred pillars and, third, cut down the wooden images. These were used in fertility worship. The sacred pillars would represent the various Ashere—the female goddess, the consort of Baal. So the southern kingdom has had a period of apostasy since the time of Solomon. They have been spiritually as bad as the northern kingdom. Fourth, he commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers. This is positive. On the one hand he removes the false religions and takes measures to get rid of the influence of paganism and idolatry in the culture, and on a positive note he then commands Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers. So he is not being generic about God, he is being very specific—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Fifth, they are to observe the Law and the commandments. So they are to implement all of the Mosaic Law. Sixth, he also removed the high places and incense altars from all the cities of Judah. These would be various idols and worship centres that were set up related to each of the cities and the prosperity of those cities. The result, v. 5: “And the kingdom was undisturbed under him.” There is peace.

So what was it that brought peace and tranquillity to the nation? It was the fact that they were obedient to God, and so God is blessing them during this ten-year period as he had promised in the Mosaic Law. The second thing Asa does after he does the spiritual reformation—notice the order: there is a spiritual reformation that is at the foundation of national security, it is not national security first and then concern about the spiritual foundation. They have peace and there isn’t as big a concern for security. God keeps the enemies away. But at that same time because of this orientation to doctrine there is a recognition and understanding that freedom is secured and maintained on the basis of a strong defence and a strong military. So we have a description in v. 7 of his policy to strengthen the military and strengthen the fortifications around the borders in order tohave security. But ultimately he realises their security is not in their military, it is in the Lord. ^NASB “For he said to Judah, ‘Let us build these cities and surround {them} with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.’ So they built and prospered.”

Notice that it is this emphasis on national security that comes out of their orientation to reality through their relationship to God. When we have a relationship to God we understand what truth is. We understand the divine institutions, and the fourth divine institution is national distinctions; and as part of the fourth divine institution we should have a strong military in order to provide for our national security. The trouble is that when there are people who are disoriented to reality and disconnected from truth then they don’t understand the importance of national security.

Asa is strengthening Judah in v. 7, and rightly so because he is going to receive his second test—his first test was a spiritual test which he passed with flying colors—which is going to be a military test. But he recognises the source of his security. The point is that it was because of Israel’s spiritual relationship with God. That was the ultimate causative factor in their stability and in their national security. Verse 8 indicates the size of the military. 2 Chronicles 14:8 ^NASB “Now Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah, bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin, bearing shields and wielding bows; all of them were valiant warriors.” The distinction is that Judah has shields and spears and Benjamin carried shields and drew bows.

The leadership that Asa has demonstrated. He has become the king in a time of apostasy. His views about God and spirituality were contrary to the culture at large which had just slid down spiritually and the vast majority of them are completely oriented to paganism, to their idols and everything that went with them. Asa is going to take a stand and say this is wrong but we are going to do what is right, and he began to initiate policies so that he could change the culture by prohibiting people from doing that which was illegal and promoting that which was legal. Remember that their law code was the Mosaic Law which said that they needed to put God first and that there should be no idolatry. All of this comes out of his own character, his own spiritual condition, and that is true leadership and is oriented to that which is absolutely true. He understands that and it flows out of his understanding of God and he is not afraid to tell people who are pagan that paganism is not going to be allowed because it is destructive to the culture. When you have divine viewpoint you know what truth is.

Then the military challenge. Because they are oriented to Scripture, to truth to begin with, when they are faced with a military threat they are able to respond and that response is ultimately going to be based on their trust in God, not on their technology, their numbers, etc. When you are outnumbered more that two to one then you don’t have very good options, especially when facing a chariot corps that can outmanoeuvre you. 2 Chronicles 14:9 ^NASB “Now Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and he came to Mareshah.” We know from history is that Zerah is very intent on expanding Egyptian power. This is 546 years since the exodus when in the ten plagues God virtually wiped out the Egyptian civilisation for 500 years. We don’t hear about Egypt again during that time. The first time we see Egypt mentioned again after the exodus is when Solomon marries the daughter of Pharaoh. But now they are in a position of ascendancy and that Pharaoh wants to impress people by marrying his daughter to Solomon. They aren’t at the top yet but they are coming up.

2 Chronicles 14:10 ^NASB “So Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up in battle formation in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.” The Zephathah valley is just one valley south of the Elah valley which is where David fought Goliath. It is just to the north-west of Hebron. When Asa defeats them the Egyptians are going to head south Asa is going to take advantage of their flight to take control of that whole area which was under Philistine control. But it is because of their orientation to the Lord and that is the dynamic that we have to focus on here. 2 Chronicloes 14:11 “Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, ‘LORD, there is no one besides You to help {in the battle} between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.’” When they are lined up to do battle the first thing that happens is Asa prays. He has tremendous faith here. His focus there is on the covenant name of God is establishing the Mosaic covenant. By using this phrase, “Yahweh Elohenu”, he is emphasising the fact that God is the God who made certain promises to protect them and he is exercising the faith-rest drill: “We trust [rest] on you.” This is a tremendous passage to go to for the faith-rest drill. The Hebrew word here means that they are leaning or depending on God as the source of their strength. Asa is basically giving a theological rationale to God for entering into human history and giving them victory on the basis of the Mosaic contract. As part of claiming a promise we need to stop and think through the rationale that underlies our appeal to God. Why are we imploring God to intervene on our behalf? What is the Scriptural foundation for that?

The result is that God intervenes through the intermediary power of the army. 2 Chronicles 14:12 ^NASB “So the LORD routed the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.” He doesn’t just come down and destroy the army as he does later on with the Assyrians outside of Jerusalem, He is going to do it by means of the southern army. Sometimes when we pray for something there is often an element on our side of responsibility that we have to engage in. We don’t just sit in the house and continue to pray day after day that God is going to get the grass cut or the leaves raked. There is an area of our responsibility that extends to a certain level, then after that it is all in the Lord’s hands.

2 Chronlicles 14:13 ^NASB “Asa and the people who {were} with him pursued them as far as Gerar; and so many Ethiopians fell that they could not recover, for they were shattered before the LORD and before His army. And they [Israelites] carried away very much plunder. [14] They [Israelites] destroyed all the cities around Gerar, for the dread of the LORD had fallen on them; and they [the army] despoiled all the cities, for there was much plunder in them. [15] They also struck down those who owned livestock, and they carried away large numbers of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.” They are assaulting those in the Philistine area. All of this was designed to secure their south-western border.

Chapter 15 goes into phase two of the reforms of Asa and these are motivated by a prophet who comes on the scene. 2 Chronicles 15:1 ^NASB “Now the Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded, [2] and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, ‘Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the LORD is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.” In other words, as long as they are obedient to the Law God is going to bless them, but there is this warning not to become arrogant and desert God. There is a historical reminder [3] “For many days Israel was without the true God and without a teaching priest and without law.” This is extended from near the end of Solomon’s reign, through the reign of Rehoboam, and so this has been going on for about 25 years—no law, no teaching of the Word, and they have been completely without divine blessing. Now God in His grace is offering blessing and reminding them that He can continue to protect them.

2 Chronicles 15:4 ^NASB “But in their distress they turned to the LORD God of Israel, and they sought Him, and He let them find Him.” In those time as in previous times there was no peace, but what we have seen twice already is the reference that there was quiet, there was peace in Israel under Asa in these first ten years. All around there had been all these problems. [5] “In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for many disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands. [6] Nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God troubled them with every kind of distress.”

2 Chronicles 15:7 ^NASB “But you, be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work.” God is telling Asa that if he continues his reform then He would continue to protect the nation and to bless them. [8] “Now when Asa heard these words and the prophecy which Azariah the son of Oded the prophet spoke, he took courage and removed the abominable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities which he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. He then restored the altar of the LORD which was in front of the porch of the LORD.” So now he is going to continue to carry out these reforms, going around the country and getting rid of these false religious and idolatrous sites.

The he has a great celebration. 2 Chronicles 15:9 ^NASB “He gathered all Judah and Benjamin and those from Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon who resided with them, for many defected to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him. [10] So they assembled at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign.” In the ceremonial calendar the first month is roughly March, so this is more than likely Pentecost. There is another five years of cleansing and now they are going to be able to re-establish the purity of the temple and temple worship. [11] “They sacrificed to the LORD that day 700 oxen and 7,000 sheep from the spoil they had brought.” There is a rededication of the temple here. [12] “They entered into the covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and soul.” The people are positive to God. [13] “and whoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman.” That was the penalty under the Mosaic Law, so they are talking the Law seriously for those who are traitors to it. [14] “Moreover, they made an oath to the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets and with horns. [15] All Judah rejoiced concerning the oath, for they had sworn with their whole heart and had sought Him earnestly, and He let them find Him. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.” So for 21 years there is going to be peace and prosperity in the land.

2 Chronicles 15:16 ^NASB “He also removed Maacah, the mother [grandmother] of King Asa, from the {position of} queen mother, because she had made a horrid image as an Asherah, and Asa cut down her horrid image, crushed {it} and burned {it} at the brook Kidron.” Then we see the one exception. [17] “But the high places were not removed from Israel; nevertheless Asa’s heart was blameless all his days.” These would be private individual places where people would worship Yahweh. They were not idolaters but they were not part of the Mosaic Law. [18] “He brought into the house of God the dedicated things of his father and his own dedicated things: silver and gold and utensils.” Remember that Rehoboam had to basically strip the temple of gold and silver to pay off Shishak, so this represents economic prosperity under Asa. But just as he gets to the point where he has restored the economy and everything is going well another military threat occurs and he is going to strip the temple. He is going to forget about God and is going to use all of that resource for the temple to buy off in bribe the Syrians.

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