Asa s Last Years. 2 Chronicles 16:1-14

Transcription

1 1 Asa s Last Years 2 Chronicles 16:1-14

2 2 Text: 2 Chronicles 16:1-14, Asa s Last Years 1. In the thirty-sixth year of Asa s reign, King Baasha of Israel attacked Judah, and he established Ramah as a military outpost to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the land of King Asa of Judah. 2. Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Lord s temple and of the royal palace and sent it to King Ben Hadad of Syria, ruler in Damascus, along with this message: 3. I want to make a treaty with you, like the one our fathers made. See, I have sent you silver and gold. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel, so he will retreat from my land. 4. Ben Hadad accepted King Asa s offer and ordered his army commanders to attack the cities of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali. 5. When Baasha heard the news, he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned the project. 6. King Asa ordered all the men of Judah to carry away the stones and wood that Baasha had used to build Ramah. He used the materials to build up Geba and Mizpah. 7. At that time Hanani the prophet visited King Asa 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 from your hand.

3 Did not the Cushites and Libyans have a huge army with chariots and a very large number of horsemen? But when you relied on the Lord, he handed them over to you! 9. Certainly the Lord watches the whole earth carefully and is ready to strengthen those who are devoted to him. You have acted foolishly in this matter; from now on you will have war. 10. Asa was so angry at the prophet, he put him in jail. Asa also oppressed some of the people at that time. 11. The events of Asa s reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 12. In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a foot disease. Though his disease was severe, he did not seek the Lord, but only the doctors. 13. Asa passed away in the forty-first year of his reign. 14. He was buried in the tomb he had carved out in the City of David. They laid him to rest on a bier covered with spices and assorted mixtures of ointments. They made a huge bonfire to honor him. (NET) Introduction: I. David was a man after God s own heart, yet he was guilty of many sins; and likewise Asa, although his heart was perfect toward Jehovah, yet, like all mortals, he was guilty of sin; and the Chronicler in this chapter cites two events in which king Asa did wrong in the sight of God, Coffman wrote. A. Asa not only illustrates that God can be found when he is sought, but he also illustrates that God forsakes those who forsake him, Hicks wrote. II. Parallel references:

4 4 A. 2 Chronicles 16:1-6, In the thirty-sixth year of Asa s reign, King Baasha of Israel attacked Judah, and he established Ramah as a military outpost to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the land of King Asa of Judah. Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Lord s temple and of the royal palace and sent it to King Ben Hadad of Syria, ruler in Damascus, along with this message: I want to make a treaty with you, like the one our fathers made. See, I have sent you silver and gold. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel, so he will retreat from my land. Ben Hadad accepted King Asa s offer and ordered his army commanders to attack the cities of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali. When Baasha heard the news, he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned the project. King Asa ordered all the men of Judah to carry away the stones and wood that Baasha had used to build Ramah. He used the materials to build up Geba and Mizpah. (NET) B. 1 Kings 15:17-22, King Baasha of Israel attacked Judah and established Ramah as a military outpost to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the land of King Asa of Judah. Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Lord s temple and of the royal palace and handed it to his servants. He then told them to deliver it to Ben Hadad son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, ruler in Damascus, along with this message: I want to make a treaty with you, like the one our fathers made. See, I have sent you silver and gold as a present. Break

5 5 your treaty with King Baasha of Israel, so he will retreat from my land. Ben Hadad accepted King Asa s offer and ordered his army commanders to attack the cities of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maacah, and all the territory of Naphtali, including the region of Kinnereth. When Baasha heard the news, he stopped fortifying Ramah and settled down in Tirzah. King Asa ordered all the men of Judah (no exemptions were granted) to carry away the stones and wood that Baasha had used to build Ramah. King Asa used the materials to build up Geba (in Benjamin) and Mizpah. (NET) C. 2 Chronicles 16:11-14, The events of Asa s reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel. In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a foot disease. Though his disease was severe, he did not seek the Lord, but only the doctors. Asa passed away in the forty-first year of his reign. He was buried in the tomb he had carved out in the City of David. They laid him to rest on a bier covered with spices and assorted mixtures of ointments. They made a huge bonfire to honor him. (NET) D. 1 Kings 15:23-24, The rest of the events of Asa s reign, including all his successes and accomplishments, as well as a record of the cities he built, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah. Yet when he was very old he developed a foot disease. Asa passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor David. His son Jehoshaphat replaced him as king. (NET)

6 6 III. 2 Chronicles 16 can be outlined, according to The Pulpit commentary, as follows: A. Asa s conflict with Baasha Chronicles 16:1-6, In the thirty-sixth year of Asa s reign, King Baasha of Israel attacked Judah, and he established Ramah as a military outpost to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the land of King Asa of Judah. Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Lord s temple and of the royal palace and sent it to King Ben Hadad of Syria, ruler in Damascus, along with this message: I want to make a treaty with you, like the one our fathers made. See, I have sent you silver and gold. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel, so he will retreat from my land. Ben Hadad accepted King Asa s offer and ordered his army commanders to attack the cities of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali. When Baasha heard the news, he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned the project. King Asa ordered all the men of Judah to carry away the stones and wood that Baasha had used to build Ramah. He used the materials to build up Geba and Mizpah. (NET) 2. 1 Kings 15:16-22, Now Asa and King Baasha of Israel were continually at war with each other. King Baasha of Israel attacked Judah and

7 7 established Ramah as a military outpost to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the land of King Asa of Judah. Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Lord s temple and of the royal palace and handed it to his servants. He then told them to deliver it to Ben Hadad son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, ruler in Damascus, along with this message: I want to make a treaty with you, like the one our fathers made. See, I have sent you silver and gold as a present. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel, so he will retreat from my land. Ben Hadad accepted King Asa s offer and ordered his army commanders to attack the cities of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maacah, and all the territory of Naphtali, including the region of Kinnereth. When Baasha heard the news, he stopped fortifying Ramah and settled down in Tirzah. King Asa ordered all the men of Judah (no exemptions were granted) to carry away the stones and wood that Baasha had used to build Ramah. King Asa used the materials to build up Geba (in Benjamin) and Mizpah. (NET) B. Hanani s rebuke of Asa and his negative response Chronicles 16:7-10, At that time Hanani the prophet visited King Asa 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 from your hand. Did not the Cushites and Libyans have a huge

8 8 army with chariots and a very large number of horsemen? But when you relied on the Lord, he handed them over to you! Certainly the Lord watches the whole earth carefully and is ready to strengthen those who are devoted to him. You have acted foolishly in this matter; from now on you will have war. Asa was so angry at the prophet, he put him in jail. Asa also oppressed some of the people at that time. (NET) C. Asa s disease, death and burial Chronicles 16:11-14, The events of Asa s reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel. In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a foot disease. Though his disease was severe, he did not seek the Lord, but only the doctors. Asa passed away in the forty-first year of his reign. He was buried in the tomb he had carved out in the City of David. They laid him to rest on a bier covered with spices and assorted mixtures of ointments. They made a huge bonfire to honor him. (NET) 2. 1 Kings 15:23-24, The rest of the events of Asa s reign, including all his successes and accomplishments, as well as a record of the cities he built, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah. Yet when he was very old he developed a foot disease. Asa passed away and was buried with his ancestors

9 9 Commentary: in the city of his ancestor David. His son Jehoshaphat replaced him as king. (NET) 2 Chronicles 16:1, In the thirty-sixth year of Asa s reign, King Baasha of Israel attacked Judah, and he established Ramah as a military outpost to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the land of King Asa of Judah. (NET) I. In the thirty-sixth (36 th ) year of Asa s reign... A. This incursion is thought to have occurred in 894 B.C., just one year after the covenant renewal festival described in 2 Chronicles 15, Hicks wrote. 1. Baasha initiated the hostilities. a. This was another test from God: Asa had to decide what course of action he would take. b. This time Asa failed the test. c. 2 Chronicles 32:31, So when the envoys arrived from the Babylonian officials to visit him and inquire about the sign that occurred in the land, God left him alone to test him, in order to know his true motives. (NET) B. Clarke, following Usher, calculates the thirty-sixth year of Asa s reign from the time the kingdom divided, but this opinion is not universally held by commentators.

10 10 II. Baasha King of Israel... A. Baasha was a very evil person, the third king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. (Youngblood) 1. Baasha became king by murdering Nadab, his successor. (Youngblood) 2. Baasha also murdered every member of the royal house, eliminating everyone who might claim the throne. (Youngblood) 3. Baasha reigned twenty-four (24) years ( B.C.). (Youngblood) III. went up against Judah and fortified Remah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah. A. Baasha began to fortify Ramah. 1. As is stated in verse 5, Baasha did not complete this task due to military action by Asa and Ben Hadad. 2. Ramah (lofty) in the territory of Benjamin was located in the vicinity of Bethel and Gibeah just five (5) miles north of Jerusalem and on the border between the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. (Youngblood) a. 2 Chronicles 13:19, Abijah chased Jeroboam; he seized from him these cities: Bethel and its surrounding towns, Jeshanah and its surrounding towns, and Ephron and its surrounding towns. (NET)

11 The kings of the Northern Kingdom feared that if their people went to Jerusalem to worship, the hearts of the people would return their allegiance to David s dynasty and that they, the Northern kings, would be deposed and the kingdom reunited. 4. To prevent this, Baasha had in mind to stop the migration north and south by ceiling the border at Ramah. (See Coffman.) 5. Baasha, Hicks observed, was also on a key traderoute intersection at Ramah which effectively controlled trade along both east-west and north-south thoroughfares. a. Baasha evidently acted from economic, political, territorial and religious motivations. (See Hicks.) 6. This was a blockade which stopped coming and going, leaving and entering north and south through Ramah. 2 Chronicles 16:2, Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Lord s temple and of the royal palace and sent it to King Ben Hadad of Syria, ruler in Damascus, along with this message: (NET) I. Asa then took the silver and gold out of the treasures of the Lord s temple and of his own palace and... A. God had delivered Asa from the mighty army of Zerah; he could certainly have given Asa victory over Baasha.

12 12 B. Ben Hadad acted like a mercenary ready to fight on the side of the highest bidder. 1. Asa offered Ben Hadad silver and gold to break his treaty with Baasha. 2. Ben Hadad took the silver and gold and broke his treaty with Baasha. 3. Asa must have paid Ben Hadad a really lot of money to cover both the military expenses and provide Ben Hadad a handsome profit. C. Our trust must be in God rather than man. II. sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus. A. Relying on Ben-Hadad instead of on God was a big mistake, Asa s first wrong reported in this chapter by the Chronicler. 1. This foreign alliance was a definite mistake. 2. Asa had taken certain Northern border town; now Baasha takes control of Ramah. B. Aram (Syria) ruled territory to the northeast of Israel, the capital of which was Damascus, Hicks wrote. 1. There had not always been peace between Israel and Aram.

13 13 a. 1 Chronicles 19:6-19, When the Ammonites realized that David was disgusted with them, Hanun and the Ammonites sent 1,000 talents of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maacah, and Zobah. They hired 32,000 chariots, along with the king of Maacah and his army, who came and camped in front of Medeba. The Ammonites also assembled from their cities and marched out to do battle. When David heard the news, he sent Joab and the entire army to meet them. The Ammonites marched out and were deployed for battle at the entrance to the city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the field. When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel s best men and deployed them against the Arameans. He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army and they were deployed against the Ammonites. Joab said, If the Arameans start to overpower me, you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you, I will come to your rescue. Be strong! Let s fight bravely for the sake of our people and the cities of our God! The Lord will do what he decides is best! So Joab and his men marched toward the Arameans to do battle, and they fled before him. When the Ammonites saw the Arameans flee, they fled before Joab s

14 14 brother Abishai and withdrew into the city. Joab went back to Jerusalem. When the Arameans realized they had been defeated by Israel, they sent for reinforcements from beyond the Euphrates River, led by Shophach the commanding general of Hadadezer s army. When David was informed, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River, and marched against them. David deployed his army against the Arameans for battle and they fought against him. The Arameans fled before Israel. David killed 7,000 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 infantrymen; he also killed Shophach the commanding general. When Hadadezer s subjects saw they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became his subjects. The Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites. (NET) 2. In the year prior to the Ramah incident Aram and Israel had entered into a series of treaties. 2 Chronicles 16:3, I want to make a treaty with you, like the one our fathers made. See, I have sent you silver and gold. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel, so he will retreat from my land. (NET) I. Let there be a treaty between me and you, he said, as there was between my father and your father.

15 15 A. Asa was not honorable in his seeking to bribe Ben Hadad and to try to get him to break his treaty with Baasha. (See Matthew Henry.) B. Ben Hadad was not honorable in accepting Asa s bribe nor in actually breaking his treaty with Baasha. (See Matthew Henry.) II. See, I am sending you silver and gold. A. Very obviously, talk as he might about previous relationships between their families, Asa was appealing to Ben Hadad s greed. III. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me. A. For no good reason, except for personal gain, Asa implored Ben Hadad to break his treaty with Baasha. 2 Chronicles 16:4, Ben Hadad accepted King Asa s offer and ordered his army commanders to attack the cities of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali. (NET) I. Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Israel. A. Baasha found himself fighting a two front war, one in the north against Ben Hadad and one in the south against Asa. 1. From a military standpoint, Asa acted wisely.

16 From a religious standpoint, Asa s failure to rely on God was a grievous error. II. They conquered Ijon, Dan Abel Maim and all the store cities of Naphtali. A. Ijon was one of the most northern cities in Israel. B. Dan (Laish) was another of the most northern cities in Israel and was often used as the northern most marker of Israel in the expression, from Dan to Beersheba. C. Abel Maim was a fortified city in northern Isarel. D. The above cities in the territory of Naphtali and certain other storage or supply cities were captured by Ben Hadad Chronicles 32:28, He made storerooms for the harvest of grain, wine, and olive oil, and stalls for all his various kinds of livestock and his flocks. (NET) 2. 2 Chronicles 8:6, and built up Baalath, all the storage cities that belonged to him, and all the cities where chariots and horses were kept. He built whatever he wanted in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and throughout his entire kingdom. (NET) 3. 1 Kings 9:19, all the storage cities that belonged to him, and the cities where chariots and horses were kept. He built whatever he

17 17 wanted in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and throughout his entire kingdom. (NET) 2 Chronicles 16:5, When Baasha heard the news, he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned the project. (NET) I. When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah and abandoned his work. A. When a greater threat presented itself in the north, Baasha s attention turned from Ramah to defense of his northern border. B. Baasha s top priority was now defending his northern boundary. 2 Chronicles 16:6, King Asa ordered all the men of Judah to carry away the stones and wood that Baasha had used to build Ramah. He used the materials to build up Geba and Mizpah. (NET) I. Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber Baasha had been using. A. 1 Kings 15:22, King Asa ordered all the men of Judah (no exemptions were granted) to carry away the stones and wood that Baasha had used to build Ramah. King Asa used the materials to build up Geba (in Benjamin) and Mizpah. (NET) B. Asa attacked Ramah and took control of it.

18 18 II. With them he built up Geba and Mizpah. A. The materials Baasha had been using to fortify Raamah were now used to fortify Geba and Mizpah. 1. Geba was located about two (2) miles due east of Ramah. (Hicks) 2. Mizpah was located two (2) or three (3) miles northwest of Ramah. (Hicks.) B. Asa secured his borders. (Hicks) Note: While Baasha lost certain storage cities and Asa reopened the southern border, Asa had depleted the temple treasury and, most importantly, had displeased God. 2 Chronicles 16:7, At that time Hanani the prophet visited King Asa 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 from your hand. (NET) I. At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him:... A. Hanani, who is otherwise unknown in Scripture, confronted Asa because of his sins. 1. Hanani s son, Jehu, was also a prophet. a. 2 Chronicles 19:1, 2, When King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned home safely

19 19 to Jerusalem, the prophet Jehu son of Hanani confronted him; he said to King Jehoshaphat, Is it right to help the wicked and be an ally of those who oppose the Lord? Because you have done this the Lord is angry with you! (NET) b. 2 Chronicles 20:34, The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat s reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Annals of Jehu son of Hanani which are included in Scroll of the Kings of Israel. (NET) c. 1 Kings 16:1, 7, Jehu son of Hanani received from the Lord this message predicting Baasha s downfall: The prophet Jehu son of Hanani received from the Lord the message predicting the downfall of Baasha and his family because of all the evil Baasha had done in the sight of the Lord. His actions angered the Lord (including the way he had destroyed Jeroboam s dynasty), so that his family ended up like Jeroboam s. (NET) B. Nathan confronted David Samuel 11:1-27, time when kings normally conduct wars, David sent out Joab with his officers and the entire Israelite army. They defeated the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed behind in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked

20 20 around on the roof of his palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. Now this woman was very attractive. So David sent someone to inquire about the woman. The messenger said, Isn t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? David sent some messengers to get her. She came to him and he had sexual relations with her. (Now at that time she was in the process of purifying herself from her menstrual uncleanness.) Then she returned to her home. The woman conceived and then sent word to David saying, I m pregnant. So David sent a message to Joab that said, Send me Uriah the Hittite. So Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah came to him, David asked about how Joab and the army were doing and how the campaign was going. Then David said to Uriah, Go down to your home and relax. When Uriah left the palace, the king sent a gift to him. But Uriah stayed at the door of the palace with all the servants of his lord. He did not go down to his house. So they informed David, Uriah has not gone down to his house. So David said to Uriah, Haven t you just arrived from a journey? Why haven t you gone down to your house? Uriah replied to David, The ark and Israel and Judah reside in temporary shelters, and my lord Joab and my lord s soldiers are camping in the open field. Should I go to my house to eat and drink and have marital relations with my wife? As surely as you are alive, I will not do this thing! So David said to Uriah, Stay here another day. Tomorrow I will send you back. So

21 21 Uriah stayed in Jerusalem both that day and the following one. Then David summoned him. He ate and drank with him, and got him drunk. But in the evening he went out to sleep on his bed with the servants of his lord; he did not go down to his own house. In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In the letter he wrote: Station Uriah in the thick of the battle and then withdraw from him so he will be cut down and killed. So as Joab kept watch on the city, he stationed Uriah at the place where he knew the best enemy soldiers were. When the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, some of David s soldiers fell in battle. Uriah the Hittite also died. Then Joab sent a full battle report to David. He instructed the messenger as follows: When you finish giving the battle report to the king, if the king becomes angry and asks you, Why did you go so close to the city to fight? Didn t you realize they would shoot from the wall? Who struck down Abimelech the son of Jerub-Besheth? Didn t a woman throw an upper millstone down on him from the wall so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go so close to the wall? just say to him, Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead. So the messenger departed. When he arrived, he informed David of all the news that Joab had sent with him. The messenger said to David, The men overpowered us and attacked us in the field. But we forced them to retreat all the way to the door of the city gate. Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall and some of the king s soldiers

22 22 died. Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead. David said to the messenger, Tell Joab, Don t let this thing upset you. There is no way to anticipate whom the sword will cut down. Press the battle against the city and conquer it. Encourage him with these words. When Uriah s wife heard that her husband Uriah was dead, she mourned for him. When the time of mourning passed, David had her brought to his palace. She became his wife and she bore him a son. But what David had done upset the Lord. (NET) 2. 2 Samuel 12:1-25, When he came to David, Nathan said, There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a great many flocks and herds. But the poor man had nothing except for a little lamb he had acquired. He raised it, and it grew up alongside him and his children. It used to eat his food, drink from his cup, and sleep in his arms. It was just like a daughter to him. When a traveler arrived at the rich man s home, he did not want to use one of his own sheep or cattle to feed the traveler who had come to visit him. Instead, he took the poor man s lamb and cooked it for the man who had come to visit him. Then David became very angry at this man. He said to Nathan, As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! Because he committed this cold-hearted crime, he must pay for the lamb four times over! Nathan said to David, You are that man! This is what the Lord God of Israel says: I chose you to be king over

23 23 Israel and I rescued you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master s house, and put your master s wives into your arms. I also gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all that somehow seems insignificant, I would have given you so much more as well! Why have you shown contempt for the word of the Lord by doing evil in my sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and you have taken his wife as your own! You have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. So now the sword will never depart from your house. For you have despised me by taking the wife of Uriah the Hittite as your own! This is what the Lord says: I am about to bring disaster on you from inside your own household! Right before your eyes I will take your wives and hand them over to your companion. He will have sexual relations with your wives in broad daylight! Although you have acted in secret, I will do this thing before all Israel, and in broad daylight. Then David exclaimed to Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord! Nathan replied to David, Yes, and the Lord has forgiven your sin. You are not going to die. Nonetheless, because you have treated the Lord with such contempt in this matter, the son who has been born to you will certainly die. Then Nathan went to his home. The Lord struck the child that Uriah s wife had borne to David, and the child became very ill. Then David prayed to God for the child and fasted. He would even go and spend the night lying on the ground. The elders of his house

24 24 stood over him and tried to lift him from the ground, but he was unwilling, and refused to eat food with them. On the seventh day the child died. But the servants of David were afraid to inform him that the child had died, for they said, While the child was still alive he would not listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He will do himself harm! When David saw that his servants were whispering to one another, he realized that the child was dead. So David asked his servants, Is the child dead? They replied, Yes, he s dead. So David got up from the ground, bathed, put on oil, and changed his clothes. He went to the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then, when he entered his palace, he requested that food be brought to him, and he ate. His servants said to him, What is this that you have done? While the child was still alive, you fasted and wept. Once the child was dead you got up and ate food! He replied, While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept because I thought, Perhaps the Lord will show pity and the child will live. But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Am I able to bring him back? I will go to him, but he cannot return to me! So David comforted his wife Bathsheba. He went to her and had marital relations with her. She gave birth to a son, and David named him Solomon. Now the Lord loved the child and sent word through Nathan the prophet that he should be named Jedidiah for the Lord s sake. (NET)

25 25 C. Isaiah confronted Hezekiah. 1. Isaiah 38:1-8, with a terminal illness. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz visited him and told him, This is what the Lord says, Give instructions to your household, for you are about to die; you will not get well. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, Please, Lord. Remember how I have served you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion, and how I have carried out your will. Then Hezekiah wept bitterly. The Lord told Isaiah, Go and tell Hezekiah: This is what the Lord God of your ancestor David says: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I will add fifteen years to your life, and rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will shield this city. Isaiah replied, This is your sign from the Lord confirming that the Lord will do what he has said: Look, I will make the shadow go back ten steps on the stairs of Ahaz. And then the shadow went back ten steps. (NET) II. Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. A. Hanani told Asa, You sinned when you relied on Ben Hadad instead of on God. If you had relied on God, he would have given you victory over both Baasha and Ben Hadad.

26 If Asa had placed his trust in God, he might well have regained control of all the land north and south. (Hicks) 2. Lack of faith and vision cost Asa dearly. 3. If the treaty between Baasha and Ben Hadad had not been broken, they may have fought as allies against Asa to whom God would have given the victory. (The Pulpit Commentary) 2 Chronicles 16:8, Did not the Cushites and Libyans have a huge army with chariots and a very large number of horsemen? But when you relied on the Lord, he handed them over to you! (NET) I. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? A. God did wonders for Asa in his victories over Zerah and could have done the same in regard to Baasha Chronicles 14:9-15, Zerah the Cushite marched against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots. He arrived at Mareshah, and Asa went out to oppose him. They deployed for battle in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah. Asa prayed to the Lord his God: O Lord, there is no one but you who can help the weak when they are vastly outnumbered. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you and have marched on your behalf against this huge army. O Lord our God, don t let men prevail

27 27 against you! The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, and Asa and his army chased them as far as Gerar. The Cushites were wiped out; they were shattered before the Lord and his army. The men of Judah carried off a huge amount of plunder. They defeated all the cities surrounding Gerar, for the Lord caused them to panic. The men of Judah looted all the cities, for they contained a huge amount of goods. They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen in charge of the livestock. They carried off many sheep and camels and then returned to Jerusalem. (NET) II. Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand. A. God had previously delivered Asa from a far more powerful enemy than Baasha. B. Why didn t he rely on God this time as well? 1. Had he lost faith? 2. Had his pride led him to think he could succeed without God? 2 Chronicles 16:9, Certainly the Lord watches the whole earth carefully and is ready to strengthen those who are devoted to him. You have acted foolishly in this matter; from now on you will have war. (NET)

28 28 I. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. A. The providential care of the Lord is with those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 1. Hanani was saying that Asa should have realized this and should have acted accordingly. 2. Zechariah 4:10b, (These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range throughout the earth.) 3. 1 Chronicles 28:9, And you, Solomon my son, obey the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit, for the Lord examines all minds and understands every motive of one s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him, but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently. (NET) II. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war. A. Hanani now charges Asa with having done a foolish thing and fixes Asa s punishment at continuous warfare for the rest of his life on earth, a life sentence of military conflict Kings 15:16, 32, Now Asa and King Baasha of Israel were continually at war with each other. (NET) 2. Asa was weak and he was going to pay the price for his foolishness.

29 Chronicles 16:10, Asa was so angry at the prophet, he put him in jail. Asa also oppressed some of the people at that time. (NET) I. Asa was angry (wroth) with the seer because of this; he was so enraged that he put him in prison. A. Asa had responded positively to Azariah the prophet Chronicles 15:8, When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he was encouraged. He removed the detestable idols from the entire land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities he had seized in the Ephraimite hill country. He repaired the altar of the Lord in front of the porch of the Lord s temple. (NET) B. Asa now responds negatively to Hanani the prophet. 1. The prophet was imprisoned for telling the truth to a prideful king who again acted foolishly. 2. Asa should have humbled himself and sought the Lord, his forgiveness and his will. 3. Instead, Asa persecuted God s messenger. C. Jeremiah was also persecuted in a similar way for preaching God s word.

30 Jeremiah 20:2, 3, When he heard Jeremiah s prophecy, he had the prophet flogged. Then he put him in the stocks which were at the Upper Gate of Benjamin in the Lord s temple. But the next day Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks. When he did, Jeremiah said to him, The Lord s name for you is not Pashhur but Terror is Everywhere. (NET) 2. Jeremiah 29:26, 27, The Lord has made you priest in place of Jehoiada. He has put you in charge in the Lord s temple of controlling any lunatic who pretends to be a prophet. And it is your duty to put any such person in the stocks with an iron collar around his neck. You should have reprimanded Jeremiah from Anathoth who is pretending to be a prophet among you! (NET) D. Micaiah was another example of the faithful prophet being persecuted Kings 22:26-27, Then the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the city official and Joash the king s son. Say, This is what the king says, Put this man in prison. Give him only a little bread and water until I safely return. (NET) II. At the same time Asa brutally oppressed some of the people. A. Asa s persecution of God s prophet and God s people shows a much different person than the young godly Asa

31 31 who had led the nation into a restoration of God s worship and law. 2 Chronicles 16:11, The events of Asa s reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel. (NET) I. The events of Asa s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. A. Hicks wrote that this reference to the book of the kings of Judah and Israel probably refers to now non-extant materials rather than to 1 and 2 Kings in the Bible, but that these materials were available for reference at the time the Chronicler wrote. B. 1 Kings 15:23, The rest of the events of Asa s reign, including all his successes and accomplishments, as well as a record of the cities he built, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah. Yet when he was very old he developed a foot disease. (NET) 2 Chronicles 16:12, In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a foot disease. Though his disease was severe, he did not seek the Lord, but only the doctors. (NET) I. In the thirty-ninth (39 th ) year of his reign, Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. A. This appears to be punishment for Asa s sins. (See Hicks.)

32 32 B. Asa still had not learned his lesson. 1. Instead of putting his faith in God to heal his disease, he trusted physicians first. 2. We must put our faith first in God, and then welcome the help of physicians as God s servants. C. Clarke thought Asa had gout; however, we are left with no firm diagnosis. II. Though his disease was (very great) severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord,... A. This was Asa s huge, primary sin; that is, the failure to seek the Lord s help in both his war with Baasha and in regard to this illness. III. but only from the physicians. A. Help from physicians, God s servants, is often necessary, but we must all realize that all healing comes from God. 2 Chronicles 16:13, Asa passed away in the forty-first year of his reign. (NET) I. Then in the forty-first (41 st ) year of his reign, Asa died and rested with his fathers. A. While other chronological questions remain, it is clear that Asa reigned over Judah and Benjamin forty-one (41) years.

33 Kings 15:23, The rest of the events of Asa s reign, including all his successes and accomplishments, as well as a record of the cities he built, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah. Yet when he was very old he developed a foot disease. (NET) 2 Chronicles 16:14, He was buried in the tomb he had carved out in the City of David. They laid him to rest on a bier covered with spices and assorted mixtures of ointments. They made a huge bonfire to honor him. (NET) I. They buried him in the tomb that he had cut out for himself in the City of David. A. Johnstone via Hicks wrote that the Chronicler concludes his account of the reign of Asa with mostly his own data on the grandiose tomb and funeral arrangements Asa appointed for himself. II. They laid him on a bier covered with spices and various blended perfumes,... A. Asa s body was prepared for burial with honor. III. and they made a huge fire (great burning) in his honor. A. Coffman wrote, This is a reference to the burning of spices, an ancient custom designed to fill the atmosphere with sweet odors accompanying a funeral procession. (The Pulpit Commentary agrees.) B. Other examples include:

34 34 Conclusion: 1. 2 Chronicles 21:18-19, After all this happened, the Lord afflicted him with an incurable intestinal disease. After about two years his intestines came out because of the disease, so that he died a very painful death. His people did not make a bonfire to honor him, as they had done for his ancestors. (NET) 2. Jeremiah 34:4-5, However, listen to what I, the Lord, promise you, King Zedekiah of Judah. I, the Lord, promise that you will not die in battle or be executed. 5 You will die a peaceful death. They will burn incense at your burial just as they did at the burial of your ancestors, the former kings who preceded you. They will mourn for you, saying, Poor, poor master! Indeed, you have my own word on this. I, the Lord, affirm it! (NET) I. What is history s final appraisal of Asa? A. Was he a faithful king who fell from grace? B. The Chronicler recognizes the ups and downs of Asa s faith, Hicks wrote Chronicles 14:2, Asa did what the Lord his God desired and approved. (NET)

35 Chronicles 15:17, The high places were not eliminated from Israel, yet Asa was wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord throughout his lifetime. (NET) C. Hicks concluded, Asa was committed to God all his life though there were times of weakness and failure. II. What will history s final assessment of your life be?

36 36 Questions on 2 Chronicles 16: not only illustrates that can be when he is, but he also illustrates that those who him. (Hicks) 2. How could Asa s heart be perfect toward Jehovah while doing the things reported of him in this chapter? 3. Outline 2 Chronicles What happened in the thirty-sixth (36 th ) year of Asa s reign? _

37 Who was Baasha? What kind of person was he as to character? 6. Why was Baasha interested in Ramah? 7. What was Asa s response to Baasha s fortifying Ramah? Tell in what ways his actions were good or bad. 8. What kind of person was Ben Hadad as to character? Why did he decide to side with Asa?

38 Was Asa s military plan wise and/or successful? If yes, explain how the plan was wise and/or successful. 10. What were the results for Asa and Baasha of this conflict? What did each gain and lose? 11. What did Hanani the seer tell Asa? 12. How did Asa react to Hanani s speech? Does this surprise you? If so, why?

39 Contrast Asa s response to Hanani with David s response to Nathan and Hezekiah s response to Isaiah. 14. Why did Asa respond positively to Azariah and so very negatively to Hanani? What had happened to Asa? 15. Give biblical examples of righteous people s being persecuted for preaching God s truth. 16. What behooved Asa to brutally oppress some of the people?_

40 Where can we learn more about the events of Asa s reign? Where can we find a copy of this book? 18. What happened to Asa in the thirty-ninth (39 th ) year of his reign? Why did this happen to Asa? 19. What was wrong with Asa s going to see physicians regarding his foot problem? 20. What happened to Asa in the forty-first (41 st ) year of his reign? Where was he buried? Describe his funeral.

41 Extra credit question: Evaluate Asa s life and reign. How does history regard Asa?