 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 from 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. Meditation God’s steadfast love is seeking to give strong support to the saints. Grace is God’s gaze toward the horizon, looking to lavish love on children who return home to relationship with Him. Asa had sought the Lord but now the focus changes to God who is seeking to strongly support those saved by grace. The narrative of Asa’s leadership details the inevitable for any human leader, eyes wandering the world looking for things only the Lord can give. Ben-Hadad, king of Syria, could not give the security Asa desired (1-6), punishing the prophet could not give the peace he longed for (7-9), and physicians could not give king Asa the healing he really needed (10-12). Sinful hearts look to the world for things only God can give. There is more grace. While we are looking to the world for life, the eyes of God are wandering the earth looking to give “strong support” to those whose hearts are blameless toward Him (9). Truly, the eyes of the Lord are on those in relationship with Him (Psalm 34:15). Asa should have continued to seek the Lord but did not. God continues to seek to strengthen those whose security is in Him. God’s relentless love is unstoppable! Jesus is the ultimate picture of God seeking to support His people. Jesus came to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10), amazing grace in a world where “no one seeks God, no not one” (Romans 3:10-11). Jesus invites you to look to Him for the strong support for which your heart hopes. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you about the contrast of Asa seeking power and peace from the world and God seeking to strongly support those who trust in Him? -Where do you seek things of this world that only God can give? For instance, security, love, hope, status, strength… -How does God’s grace give you strength to turn from your idolatrous ways and turn your eyes upon Jesus, trusting Him to give you all your heart is hoping for? Key Verse 9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and from 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.” Comments are closed.
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