2 Chronicles 14:3-16:14.
WE READ that king Asa also cut down the groves that were in the land. It was a heathen custom to plant trees around their idols, and in some countries today you may see at the end of a fine garden a little arbor in which there is an image. Those who worship an image like that surely do not know the wonderful story of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is a living Saviour, and of how He came down here a living Person. Though He died upon the cross, death could not hold Him; He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, where He is now at God's right hand. His work upon the cross is a finished work, and there is nothing left for anyone to do. Even many who know about these things are taught that Jesus did only part of the work of our salvation and that they must do the rest themselves. How sad this is when Scripture is so clear on this point: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast."
Also we read that king Asa built fenced cities, and the Lord gave him rest so that there was no war for ten years. Then the Ethiopians came up against Judah. Asa cried to the Lord and the Lord helped them. God sent a message to Asa by His prophet telling him that He would be with them as long as he sought Him. Asa, encouraged by the Lord's goodness to him, was more diligent in searching out every evil that might be put away out of his kingdom. Then he called all the people to come up to Jerusalem, and not only those of Judah and Benjamin came, but a great many came out of Israel. They offered to the Lord together and made a covenant to seek the Lord with all their heart and with all their soul.
Then they sware unto the Lord with a loud voice, with shouting and with trumpets and with music. Judah rejoiced with the oath, for they sought the Lord with their whole desire. Even the king's mother was put away from being queen, because she had an idol which Asa burned.
After this there were no more wars in Asa's reign for thirty-five years. Then the king of Israel came up against Judah and built the city of Ramah to prevent the children of Israel from going up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord and to seek king Asa. And now we read something very sad about Asa. He seemed to forget how the Lord had helped him in the past, for he made a league with the idolatrous king of Syria, and he gave him treasures out of the Lord's house to get him to go and fight against the king of Israel.
God was very displeased with Asa for his unbelief and He sent Hanani the seer to tell Asa that since he had relied upon the king of Syria and not upon the Lord, he had lost the opportunity of conquering the king of Syria. God would have helped Asa against Syria, as He had helped him before, for "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." From then on the rest God had given to Asa was gone and he had wars instead. Sad to say, Asa did not bow to the word of the Lord, but instead he flew into a rage and put the prophet in prison; also he oppressed some of the people. However, the Lord did not take His hand off him for he became diseased in his feet. Even then Asa did not ask help from the Lord but turned to the doctors. He died two years later. They buried him with great honors in the city of David, and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead.
Messages of the Love of God 7/27/1958