King Asa

Overview

• Asa was the third king of Judah after the division of the kingdom (1 Kings 15:9)

• He was the son of Abijam and grandson of Rehoboam (1 Kings 15:8-10)

• Came to power around 911 BC and reigned for 41 years (1 Kings 15:10, 2 Chronicles 16:13)

Significant events and actions:

•   Removed idols and high places from Judah (1 Kings 15:11-12, 2 Chronicles 14:3-5)

•   Destroyed the image of Asherah made by his grandmother (1 Kings 15:13)

•   Strengthened the cities of Judah (2 Chronicles 14:6-8)

•   Defeated a large Ethiopian army led by Zerah (2 Chronicles 14:9-15)

•   Made reforms to bring the people back to God (2 Chronicles 15:8-15)

•   Faced war with Baasha of Israel (1 Kings 15:16-17)

•   Made a treaty with Ben-Hadad of Aram against Israel (1 Kings 15:18-22)

•   Was rebuked by the prophet Hanani for relying on Aram instead of God (2 Chronicles 16:7-9)

•   Imprisoned Hanani for his rebuke (2 Chronicles 16:10)

•   Oppressed some of the people in his latter years (2 Chronicles 16:10)

•   Suffered from a severe foot disease in his old age (1 Kings 15:23, 2 Chronicles 16:12)

•   Did not seek God's help for his disease, only physicians (2 Chronicles 16:12)

• Was Succeeded by his son, Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 17:1)

Places of significance:

•   Jerusalem (capital of Judah) (1 Kings 15:10)

•   Mareshah (site of battle against Ethiopians) (2 Chronicles 14:9-10)

•   Ramah (Israelite city Asa destroyed and used materials to build Geba and Mizpah) (1 Kings 15:17, 22)

Asa's rise to power and the trajectory of his faithfulness:

• Asa came to power as part of the Davidic line, succeeding his father Abijam (1 Kings 15:8-10). His early reign was marked by strong religious reforms and faithfulness to God. He removed idols, destroyed pagan shrines, and encouraged the people to seek God (1 Kings 15:11-15, 2 Chronicles 14:2-5). This period saw military success and peace (2 Chronicles 14:6-7).

• However, Asa's faith seemed to waver in his later years. When faced with threats from Israel, instead of relying on God as he had done earlier against the Ethiopians (2 Chronicles 14:11), he made a treaty with Aram (1 Kings 15:18-22). This action showed a decline in his trust in God. His harsh reaction to the prophet Hanani's rebuke and his oppression of some people further indicate a departure from his earlier faithfulness (2 Chronicles 16:7-10).

• The trajectory of Asa's faith could be described as starting very strong, with significant reforms and trust in God, but gradually declining in his later years as he began to rely more on human alliances and his own judgment rather than on God. His failure to seek God's help for his foot disease in his old age serves as a final indication of this downward trend in his spiritual life (2 Chronicles 16:12).

Key People In King Asa's Story

1. Abijam (1 Kings 15:8)

   1. Asa's father and predecessor as king of Judah

2. Maacah (1 Kings 15:10, 13)

   1. Asa's grandmother

   2. Removed by Asa from her position as queen mother due to her idolatry

3. Zerah the Ethiopian (2 Chronicles 14:9-15)

   1. Led a massive army against Judah

   2. Defeated by Asa, demonstrating God's protection

4. Azariah son of Oded (2 Chronicles 15:1-7)

   1. Prophet who encouraged Asa to continue his reforms

   2. His message inspired Asa to remove idols from the entire land

5. Baasha, King of Israel (1 Kings 15:16-17)

   1. Asa's northern rival

   2. His actions against Judah led to Asa's treaty with Ben-Hadad

6. Ben-Hadad, King of Aram (1 Kings 15:18-20)

   1. Ally of Asa against Israel

   2. Asa bribed him to break his treaty with Israel

7. Hanani the Seer (2 Chronicles 16:7-10)

   1. Prophet who rebuked Asa for relying on Aram instead of God

   2. Imprisoned by Asa for his rebuke

8. Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 15:24)

   1. Asa's son and successor

While not directly interacting with Asa, other prophets were active during his reign:

9. Jehu son of Hanani (1 Kings 16:1-7)

   1. Prophesied against Baasha of Israel

   2. Likely the son of Hanani who rebuked Asa

10. Elah, Zimri, Omri, and Ahab (1 Kings 16:8-33)

    1. Kings of Israel during Asa's later reign

    2. Their rapid successions and wickedness contrast with Asa's long, mostly righteous reign

11. Elijah (1 Kings 17:1)

    1. Began his ministry near the end of Asa's reign

    2. Major prophet in Israel, confronting the wickedness of Ahab and Jezebel

These individuals played various roles in shaping Asa's reign, either through direct interaction, as adversaries, or as contemporaries whose actions and ministries provide context for understanding Asa's time as king.

1. The importance of spiritual reform:

   • Asa began his reign by removing idols and pagan shrines (1 Kings 15:11-13, 2 Chronicles 14:3-5)

   • Lesson: Addressing spiritual issues can lead to national renewal and blessing

2. Courage in facing overwhelming odds:

   • Asa faced a vast Ethiopian army with faith in God (2 Chronicles 14:9-15)

   • Lesson: With faith in God, one can overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges

3. The danger of spiritual complacency:

   • Asa's faith seemed to waver in his later years (2 Chronicles 16:7-10)

   • Lesson: Maintaining faith and trust in God is a lifelong commitment

4. The importance of consistent reliance on God:

   • Asa relied on God against the Ethiopians but on human alliances against Israel (2 Chronicles 14:11, 16:2-3)

   • Lesson: We should consistently trust God in all situations, not just when we feel overwhelmed

5. The consequences of rejecting godly counsel:

   • Asa imprisoned the prophet Hanani for rebuking him (2 Chronicles 16:10)

   • Lesson: Rejecting godly advice can lead to poor decisions and spiritual decline

6. The impact of leadership on national spirituality:

   • Asa's reforms led the people back to God (2 Chronicles 15:9-15)

   • Lesson: A leader's spiritual choices can significantly influence their followers

7. The danger of pride and self-reliance:

   • In his later years, Asa relied more on his own judgment than on God (2 Chronicles 16:12)

   • Lesson: Pride can lead to a fall, even for those who started well

8. The importance of finishing well:

   • Despite a strong start, Asa's later years were marked by decline (2 Chronicles 16:10-12)

   • Lesson: It's crucial to maintain faith and integrity throughout life, not just at the beginning

9. The value of decisive action in spiritual matters:

   • Asa took bold steps to remove idolatry, even confronting his grandmother (1 Kings 15:13)

   • Lesson: Sometimes, tough decisions are necessary for spiritual health

10. The relationship between faith and national security:

    • Asa's early trust in God led to peace and prosperity (2 Chronicles 14:6-7)

    • Lesson: National security is ultimately in God's hands, not just human strategies

11. The danger of partial obedience:

    • While Asa removed many idols, he didn't remove all the high places (1 Kings 15:14)

    • Lesson: Partial obedience can still leave room for future problems

12. The importance of seeking God in times of personal crisis:

    • Asa failed to seek God's help for his foot disease (2 Chronicles 16:12)

    • Lesson: We should turn to God in all our troubles, including personal health issues

These lessons from Asa's life provide valuable insights for personal faith, leadership, and decision-making, emphasizing the importance of consistent trust in God, the dangers of spiritual complacency, and the impact of leadership on community faith.