Chapters 15 and 16 continues with King Asa.
Chapter 15
Verses 1-7 The spirit of God came to Azariah son of Oded, and he went to Asa to tell Asa what God had told him. The Lord is with Judah because Asa follows the Lord. Israel spent many years turning their back from God, but eventually returned to God. But they were not safe, there were still many dangers because of their past sins. The spirit of God wanted Asa to know to be courageous and God will bring peace and no more fear to Judah.
Verses 8-15 So Asa took courage, and removed all idols and idol worship from all of the land of Judah. He assembled tribes from Benjamin and Judah and also Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon (tribes) who had also settled in Judah because they had knew God was with them. This occurred during the 15th year of Asa's reign. They made sacrafices to God, made a covenant with God. Anyone who wouldn't make a covenant to God, even children, were put to death. They took an oath to God, and rejoiced. God was with them, and gave them rest from all their enemies.
Verses 16-19 Asa's grandmother Maacah - was desposed of her position as queen and her idols were torn down and burned. Asa was fully committed to God. He placed in the temple gold and silver that his father had to worship God. There was no war until the 35th year of Asa's reign.
I added this map because it tells where the 12 tribes of Israel lived. The 12 tribes are listed in green lettering.
Ramah is just above Jerusalem on the map.
Chapter 16 Ramah is on the main road 5 miles north of Jerusalem - and this the location where all the trouble happens in chapter 16.
Verses 1-3. The king of Israel, Baasha, fortifies Ramah so no one from Judah can pass through Ramah. So, Asa goes to Ben-Hadad King of Aram and proposes to make a treaty with him so Ben-Hadad will break the treaty he has with Baasha. Asa sends the gold and silver from the temple as part of the treaty. Ben-Hadad agrees to the treaty.
Verses 4-6 Ben-Hadad attacks several cities in Israel, and when Baasha hears of this, he stops fortifying Ramah. Asa takes the building materials away from Ramah.
Verses 7-9 Hanani the seer goes to Asa and tells him he has done a foolish thing by going to Ben-Hadad - a man - instead of going to God to protect the nation of Judah. So from now on Judah will be at war for not depending upon God.
Verse 10 Asa flies into a rage and has Hanani put in prison, and he begins to oppress some of his people, probably the people who could see that he did wrong making a treaty with another country.
Verses 11-14 In the 39th year Asa develops a foot disease but refuses to go to God with it. He uses his physicians for help instead. There is nothing wrong with using a physician - however he wouldn't ask for God's help for healing his foot. Now THAT is wrong! He dies in his 41st year of reign. His people give him a royal funeral. This is a sad ending to a king who did mostly good in God's eyes, but in the end when he is told he has done something foolish he turns his back to God.
Father God, today we read about Asa who was mostly a good King but he falls when he foolishly makes a treaty with a neighboring king instead of relying on you Lord to protect his country. You saved the nation from Zerah the Cushite, so it is baffling why he didn't know you would be there for him again. God, let us remember when we encounter a problem, we come to you first and ask for guidance who to go to. Even doctors. And lastly we ask that we do not harbor anger for being show the errors of our ways. Its embarrassing, but we can treat the situation as a learning experience. We ask this in Jesus name, Amen.
2 comments:
NO! Don't study weekly and post daily. You need to be in God's Word every day. You can do it, keep it up.
I think you are right, I should read daily - make the time to do it. Thanks for you comment :-).
Post a Comment