Faith has its mountings up, but it has often its breakings down. Human experiences teach us a little; but few can tell the whole tale. God's biographies teach us much; or He can tell the whole.
Asa's history is one of those records written by the finger of God that cannot fail to instruct. (Read 2 Chron. 14., 15., 16.) How brightly his reign begins; and ten years of peace and quiet are connected with an activity of faithful service which shows that Asa was walking before God. Altars were taken away, and Judah was taught to seek the Lord.
He rested not, however, in his security; he said not, " My mountain stands strong." God gave him rest, but he prepared himself for wars; he built fenced cities, and he had an army of mighty men.
Now comes the test of faith. Zerah appears on the scene, and Asa goes out to Mareshah to meet him; but he leans (relies or " rests," v. 2) on God. There are few more beautiful prayers in trouble than the firm, confident cry of Asa, " Lord, it is nothing with Thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, 0 Lord our God; for we lean on Thee, and in Thy Name we go against this multitude. 0 Lord Thou art our God; let not frail man prevail against Thee."
God answered the prayer, and smote the Ethiopians before Asa; and the people " carried away very much spoil." Chapter 15. tells the result of this glorious victory; but even in victory God sends a note of warning by Obed, " The Lord is with you while ye be with Him."
Twenty-six years pass over Asa, and now chapter 16. opens with another scene. Baasha comes against Asa, and he who met Zerah in the name of the Lord goes to meet Baasha in the name of Benhadad, King of Syria, and he robs God's house and his own house to bribe the world's power to help him against his enemy.
What a breakdown have we here! He who was strong as a lion against the Ethiopian with his thousand thousand men and three hundred chariots, quails before the ungodly king of Israel.
Why this change? God was the same; circumstances were less critical; but Asa had changed. He had taken another staff to lean on, and therefore God had left him to his own devices; and, after the shame and dishonor have been reaped, He sends Hanani the seer, who says, " Because thou hast leaned (or relied, the same word as in chapter 14., it) on the king of Syria, and hast not leaned on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thy hand," and winds up with the following precious word of promise, " 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."
Alas, that thirty-six years should so end! But these things are written for our admonition, and are profitable for teaching, for conviction, for setting straight what has gone crooked, and for discipline in righteousness. (2 Tim, 3: 16.)
The backsliding soul is slow to hear the voice that reproves, and Hanani is put in prison. Has Asa fallen so low, and his conscience become so seared? Yes, it is so!
For three years God's forbearance waits, and then again His hand is on the wayward child, and he is smitten with disease in his feet. But, unhumbled still, he seeks not to the Lord in his extremity, but to the physicians. After two years of suffering he dies, and his sun sets amidst clouds of gloom.
Man may bury with all honors, and may make a great burning of sweet odors and spices, but Asa's old age was not borne witness to by God; and we may conclude, as we are not told to the contrary, that he died leaving God's servant, His faithful seer, in prison. Deeply sad is all this. He who ran so well and so long, broke down at the end, and passed away as one saved by fire.
We are only safe as we enter into Paul's experience and say, " Not as though I had already attained or were already perfect; but I press after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." As if to give emphasis to these words the Apostle adds, " Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things that are behind, and reaching forth unto those things that are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Herein lies our only safeguard against those most terrible breakdowns which we see in Solomon, in Asa, in Demas, and in others who once ran well, but were hindered by the world, the flesh, and the devil. " Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."