Old Testament · Christian Leadership · Biblical Figures · Christian Life
Wrongdoing around Us? What Did Asa Do?
6 min read, approximately
“The Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Obed. He went out to meet Asa and said to him: Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD will be with you if you are with him. If you seek him, you will find him; but if you abandon him, he will also abandon you.” (2 Chronicles 15:1-2)
Day after day, society tries to subject us to its system, making us believe that unless we do what everyone else does, we will not be taken into account. Sadly, many of us have repeatedly allowed ourselves to be swept along by these ideals, expressions, behaviors, and actions, adopting them as our own without even considering whether they are good or bad… Just because we want to be liked?
We can certainly learn from King Asa in this respect. Let us look at what was happening around him and in his society:
\1. Sodomites
In his time, there were sodomites everywhere. But what are sodomites? This was the name given to people who practiced what had taken place in the ancient city of Sodom: sodomy. What is sodomy? It is a term commonly used to describe oral or anal sex between people of the same sex, as in homosexuality, although it also encompasses those who engage in sexual acts that go against normal sexual practice, such as sadomasochism.
\2. Idolatry
The worship of Asherah was widespread (or Ashtaroth, as she was called in Joshua’s time).
“You shall not plant any tree for Asherah near the altar of the LORD your God that you have made, nor shall you erect a statue, which the LORD your God hates.” (Deuteronomy 16:21-22)
Who was Asherah or Ashtaroth? She was known as the goddess of sexuality and fertility. People with fertility problems therefore took part in various unrestrained ceremonial sexual orgies in order to receive this goddess’s favor so that they could conceive.
\3. Idolatry in His Own Household
His mother Maacah worshiped Asherah.
\4. Social Trouble
“In those times there was no peace for those who went out or came in, but great affliction upon all the inhabitants of the lands. One nation destroyed another, and one city another, because God troubled them with every kind of calamity.” (2 Chronicles 15:5-6)
\4. War
And to make matters worse: an impending war against Ethiopia.
What Happened?
All of this had clearly discouraged him, but here was his key:
\1. Listen and Act
As king, he could have followed what those around him were doing in order to ‘be liked,’ but:
“When Asa heard the words and the prophecy of the prophet Azariah son of Obed, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. He repaired the LORD’s altar, which stood before the LORD’s portico.” (2 Chronicles 15:8)
\2. Decision and Commitment
Throughout history, we have heard of kings, presidents, governors, and monarchs who ask their people to do something but do not do it themselves. However:
“Then he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, together with the foreigners from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were among them. Many from Israel had come over to him when they saw that the LORD his God was with him. They gathered in Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign. On that day they sacrificed to the LORD seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep from the plunder they had brought.
Then they solemnly pledged to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and all their soul, and that whoever would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, should die, whether great or small, man or woman. They swore an oath to the LORD with loud voices and joyful shouts, with trumpets and horns. All Judah rejoiced over this oath, for they had sworn it with all their heart and sought him with their whole will. They found him, and the LORD gave them peace on every side.” (2 Chronicles 15:9-15)
\3. Authority
When we draw near to God, we understand that the great King and Lord delegates authority to us and that our duty is to exercise it. King Asa understood this very well in the particular case of his mother:
“King Asa even removed his mother Maacah from her position of honor because she had made an image of Asherah. Asa destroyed the image, crushed it, and burned it beside the Kidron brook.” (2 Chronicles 15:16)
\4. Prayer, Conviction, and Trust in God
Even though:
“Asa also had an army carrying shields and spears: three hundred thousand from Judah, and two hundred and eighty thousand from Benjamin who carried shields and drew bows, all skilled men.” (2 Chronicles 14:8)
He knew clearly that trusting in his own ability would be of no use. Instead, trusting in God in the midst of adversity would bring him complete success:
“Zerah the Ethiopian came against them with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, and reached Mareshah. Asa went out against him, and they arranged their battle lines in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah. Asa cried out to the LORD his God and said: LORD, it makes no difference to you whether you help the powerful or those who have no strength! Help us, LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this army. LORD, you are our God; do not let a human being prevail against you. The LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.
Asa and the people with him pursued them as far as Gerar. The Ethiopians fell until no strength remained in them, for they were defeated before the LORD and his army. They took a very great amount of plunder from them. They also attacked all the towns around Gerar, because the terror of the LORD had fallen upon them. They plundered all the towns, for there was much spoil in them. They also attacked the camps of those who kept livestock, carried off many sheep and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.” (2 Chronicles 14:9-15)
Conclusion
When we choose to please God rather than people, we truly want only to give God glory, and God rewards this:
“He brought into God’s house what his father had dedicated and what he himself had consecrated: silver, gold, and utensils. There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.” (2 Chronicles 15:18-19)
What would we have done in King Asa’s position? What would King Asa have done in ours?
If those around us behave badly, should we do the same?
May God continue to bless you
and may you continue to have a wonderful day in Christ Jesus!
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