Asa, the Reformer
Central Thought: It is of great value to prayerfully start a Spiritual revival/reformation, receive grace to sustain it and finish strong.
Hymn: “Guide me O thou great Jehovah…”
Text: 2 Chronicles 14:1-15, 15:-19
Asa was the son of the successor of Abijah as King of Judah. He was the third King of Judah who restored true worship to Judah, 1 Kings 15:8-15, and he reigned for 41 years. The Scriptures testify that King Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord, his God, 2 Chronicles 14:2. He was a pious man who instituted several reforms to remove foreign gods and foreign religious practices from the land. Part of his strategies, to institute the reform was the removal of his idolatrous Mother from being Queen Mother (political power) in order to purge the land of idolatry. Although, the account of 1st kings 15 tells us that Asa’s heart was loyal to the Lord all his days, 1 Kings 15:14, but Chronicles explains that in his later years, he departed from his total devotion of God, 2 Chronicles 16:1-14. This gives credence to the scripture that says, “let him that thinketh, he standeth, take heed, lest he falls…” There is the need therefore for believers to start the Christian race well, run it well and finish it well.
Be confident that when you wholeheartedly seek God, you will find Him. Rejoice in knowing that the Lord is searching for people like you whose hearts will be loyal to Him, that He may strengthen and support and use for His glory. Make yourself available – Amen.
Lesson Objectives:
- Explain why it was said that “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.”
- Discuss reasons why it was possible for Asa to build fortified cities in Judah.
- Identify and explain the warnings given to Asa by prophet Azariah.
- Discuss Asa’s response to prophet Azariah’s warning.
- Identify and discuss the events that led to the fall of Asa, the great reformer.
1a.Why was it said that “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord His God”? 2 Chronicles 14:2-5
Asa was a reformer andhe promptly set out to purge the land of idolatry. He barnished the perverted persons from the land and removed all the idols that his father, Abijam had set up, drove out the Sodomites from the land, and removed his idolatrous grand Mother, Maachah from being Queen Mother. It is refreshing to see a King over Judah spoken of by God, in this way. Asa pointed Judah to the Bible while seeking the ways of God, and following the word of God ensured serenity, rest and peace which the land witnessed.
1b. What made it possible for him to build fortified cities in Judah? 2 Chronicles 14:6-8
King Asa build fenced or fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest and he had no war in those years, because the Lord had given him rest. When one truly follows the Lord, “rest” is guaranteed. The Lord Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 promised to give rest to all those who put their trust in Him. When people are right with God, they have power over the enemies. If a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Since Asa and the people of Judah sought the Lord, they were strengthened to build city walls, towers, gates, bars to fortify the cities of their dwelling.
1c. Read 2 Chronicles 14: 9-12 and comment on the prayer of King Asa and the reward for seeking God always.
Whenever success, victory and expansion take place in our assigned duties, satan would always muster forces to oppose us. Since God gave Asa rest, satan stirred up Zerah, King of Ethiopia, with one million soldiers against Asa who had only five hundred and eighty thousand soldiers. Even though Asa had a might army, he did not rely on them. He cried unto the Lord and said, “it is nothing with you to help whether with many or with them who have no power, help us oh Lord our God, for we rest on you, and in your name we go against this multitude, O LORD, you are our God, let not man prevail against you”, 2 Chronicles 14:11. Most often, blessing and prosperity which comeform God can turn the hearts and minds of undiscerning men away from God. Asa trusted solely on the Lord, the result was that God gave him and his people great victory. They that put their trust in the Lord shall be like mount Zion that cannot be moved. Christians who desire victory and God’s blessings must seek the Lord whole heartedly always.
2a. Identify and explain the warning given to Asa by prophet Azariah? 2 Chronicles 15:1-2
In these two verses, three eternal truths are expressed in form of warming to King Asa and any other believer in Christ, Jew or Gentile, people under law or under grace, in one dispensation or another.
-The Lord is with you, while you are with Him.
-If you seek Him, He will be found of you.
-If you forsake Him, He will forsake you.
The first truth is that; it is the responsibility of the individual to go to God to be accepted as “son” through Christ’s redemptive work. You are to seek for Him and be found in Him and finally if you make a choice to forsake Him (not seek Him), the He will also forsake you.
2b. From 2 Chronicles 15:3-6, what are the consequences to an individual, church or nation in the precarious situation described in v. 3?
This precarious period mentioned in v. 3 probably was the period that spans from the last years of King Solomon, fourteen years of King Rehoboam’s reign and the tree years of King Abijah’s reign, 2 Chronicles 11:17, 12:1; 1 Kings 15:1-4. It was a period in which Judah was without the true God, without law and without a teaching priest. As a result, there was no peace, but great vexations were upon them as individuals and as a nation. They experienced various kinds of adversities. God gave them up to reprobate mind, Romans 1:21, 28. Another consequence is that apostasy will thrive and the power of God will diminish among His chosen people (viz-a-viz a powerless individual and church).
3a. What was Asa’s response to prophet Azariah’s warning? 2 Chronicles 15:8-9, 16
God’s move to bring revival to the people of Judah was received by King Asa with an open hand and whole heartedly. First, he took courage, a virtue to be used to confront any assignment given to us by God, put away from the whole land, all the abominable idols, renewed the altar of the Lord. Any time there is a true move of God, the Lord will bring the people back to cross, which is symbolized here by the altar. He also deposed his grand Mother, Maachah from being the Queen mother because she set up an idol in a grove which Asa cut down, burnt it at the brook kidron. He also received other Israelites from the northern kingdom to worship the true God. The sincerity of the agent of revival makes the fire of revival, to burn far and wide.
3b. How did the people react to all the reforms that the king brought about? 2 Chronicles 15:10-15
It was a unanimous positive reaction that came from all the people of Judah, Benjamin and the others from Israel who took notice that God was with Asa, King of Judah. On the third month of the 15th year of king Asa’s reign, all the people gathered together at Jerusalem and they offered unto the Lord, 700 Oxen and 7000 sheet as sacrificial offerings. In addition, they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their Father will all their hearts and with all their souls, and that any person who refuses to seek the Lord God of Israel will be put to death, small or great; man or woman. They made several other vows and oaths accompanied with music and musical instruments. They sought the Lord and He was found of them. In fact, He can be found of anyone, who in true sincerity seeks Him.
3c. What was the result of the reform according to 2 Chronicles 15:18-19?
As a result of the revival and reformation, Asa’s heart was knit to the Lord as he continued to do what please the Lord. He brought back into the temple all the dedicated silver, gold and vessels to honor the true living God. This attitude made him to experience another ten years of peaceful reign without any war. Asa had peace the first ten years of his reign, 2 Chronicle 14:1, then came the Ethiopian invasion of Judah, 2 Chronicles 14:9-15; after that there was peace for twenty-five years, 2 Chronicles 15:19.
When you put your trust in the Lord, he will fight for you and give peace all around you.
4a. Discuss the events that led to the fall of this great reformer. 2 Chronicles 16:1-13
The revival that break forth in Judah made thousands of Israelites from the northern kingdom come to Judah so that they might worship God in the temple. Baasha, king of Israel attempted to stop this flight by building the border city of Ramah with the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. Instead of relying on God to fight for him, in this battle, Asa brought out the dedicated silver and gold our of the treasures of the house of the Lord and those in the king’s house to hire the king of Syria to fight for him against Baasha. Asa’s plan succeeded militarily, but failed spiritually. The success of self-made plans is always a spiritual disaster. It must be remembered that new victories cannot be won by the remembrance of old faith; there must be a fresh exercise of faith in every crisis.
Even when the seer, Hanani rebuked him for not trusting in God, he became angry and put the seer into prison, oppressed some of his people. He became diseased in his feet and instead of going to God for healing, he relied on physicians. Asa cut off his life span because of his faithfulness. How are the mighty fallen?
4b. Summarize the lessons you are taking home from the life of King Asa.
There are beautiful lessons to learn from the life of Asa.
-Wherever we are, we should help to lead other people into covenant of seeking the Lord with all their hearts like Asa did.
-Use your position to help bring revival to your family, colleagues, congregation, etc.
-When revival has taken place in your life, make conscious effort to sustain it and never return to your vomit.
-Remember that at the peak of your successes and victories, Satan always launches an attack, therefore be careful to stand firm for he who thinks that he standeth, should take heed lest he falls.
Daily Living Application:
King Asa pointed Judah to the God of the Bible; instead of the series of idols they were involved with for a period of at least twenty years earlier. Similarly, how badly we need preachers who will, as well, point people to the Bible and the God of the Bible, but all too often the people are pointed in every direction except the Bible. Obedience to the word of God ensures serenity, rest and peace. It doesn’t mean that Satan will cease to oppose the true child of God; however, it means victory and then peace when Satan does oppose. God will not forsake those who turn to Him and seek Him. Believers are never to join with unbelievers, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. Asa relied on the Lord when the Ethiopians came against him, why did he not rely on Him when Baasha came up against him. Remember, yesterday’s faith if not sustained will not suffice for today.
Memory Verse:
2 Chronicles 16:9a – “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.”