Written by: Jake Withrow
“After Rehoboam’s position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 12:1
After the kingdom of Israel split into two. The southern kingdom, Judah, quickly abandoned God. They set up altars and Ashura poles and worshipped at them. As a result, during the reigns of Rehoboam and Abijah, they were at war constantly. Then, Asa, son of Abijah, was appointed king. King Asa quickly dismantled idol worship in the kingdom and sought to live up to God’s standards. King Asa shows that even when the authorities and influences in our life may point us in the wrong direction, we can still live obediently for God.
Scripture says this about him.
“Asa did what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God. He removed the foreign altars and the pagan shrines. He smashed the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah poles. He commanded the people of Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his law and his commands.” 2 Chronicles 14:2-4
We should identify what causes us to sin and do everything in our power to remove it
For the first time in 20 years, the Kingdom of Judah experienced a period of peace. They returned to God, and God blessed them. King Asa was zealous for God, and he serves as a good example of how we should address sin in our own lives. We should be equally zealous in removing our sins. We should identify what causes us to sin and do everything in our power to remove it.
God was with Asa and his armies. Zerah the Cushite marched out toward Judah with hundreds of thousands of troops. Upon meeting the Cushite army, Asa prayed to God.
“Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.” 2 Chronicles 14:11
Asa had faith in God’s power, and God answered his prayer. Asa’s army routed the Cushites and plundered their towns, bringing back with them sheep, goats, and camels. When they were returning, God sent Azariah to them with a word. “…The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you…”
“If you seek him, he will be found by you.”
I want to draw attention to this phrase. If we seek him, we will find him. Judah had abandoned God for twenty years, and as soon as they began to seek him, he showed his face to them. No matter how long we might stray from God when we seek him, we will find him, and he will give us rest.