By Roy E. Ciampa, Ph.D.,
S. Louis and Ann W. Armstrong Professor of Religion, Samford University
Remember God’s Faithfulness
2 Chronicles 16:1–13
It is always good to have friends and alliances you can rely on. But our decisions can reveal whether or not we are trusting ultimately and supremely in the Lord or instead in our earthly friends and alliances. King Asa had learned from his father to trust solely in the Lord in even the most challenging of circumstances but then something changed.
Don’t depend on others for what you should be depending on God. (1–6)
The move by Baasha, king of Israel, to keep people from leaving or entering the territory of Judah (where Asa was king) reflected an escalation in ongoing conflict between Israel and Judah and presumably a first step toward invading Judah.
Previously Asa had faced seemingly insurmountable forces by trusting in the Lord. But now he trusts in his own political skills and in the king of Aram instead of the Lord. With the future of the Jerusalem temple in the balance Asa did not turn first to the Lord who made His presence known there but rather to the pagan king of Aram instead.
Asa also took treasures that represented offerings made to God as acts of worship, removed them from the temple and sent them to Ben-Hadad, tangibly demonstrating he trusted in him rather than in the Lord.
Asa won a temporary victory at the cost of his relationship with the Lord God, the only One who could provide real and everlasting security.
Don’t forget what God has done and can do. (7–9)
Hanani, the seer, pointed out the change in Asa’s behavior which reflected the change in his loyalties. Asa could have had victory over the king of Israel and over the king of Aram if he had remained loyal to the Lord. But he made a “foolish” decision that would result in constant war (v. 9). Although the passage treats Asa as a negative example, verse 9 emphasizes the positive point that provides hope to us today even as it did to ancient Israelites and Jews: “the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” God is always ready to strengthen and renew those who fully trust in Him.
Don’t let pride or self-centeredness dictate your behavior. (10–13)
That Asa’s heart had turned away from the Lord was made even clearer by his response to the prophet. When someone points out our sins and failures we need to find the humility and courage to face the truth and turn to the Lord in His mercy.
But Asa’s hardened heart manifested itself again in his brutal oppression of some of his people (v. 10) and later in life when he refused to turn to the Lord for help.
Part of the point of verse 12 is that Asa always could have sought help from the Lord. It is not that the Lord was unwilling to respond to Asa’s cries for help but that Asa was unwilling to turn to the Lord. Asa’s story is an unnecessarily tragic story of someone unwilling to recognize his need to turn back to the Lord.
What is it about our decisions and behavior that reveal our ultimate trust and loyalty is found in the Lord rather than in family, friends, alliances or earthly resources?
When someone lovingly points out a change in our behavior that seems to reflect a change in our relationship with the Lord, do we seriously consider this potentially crucial information or do we become defensive and dismiss it too quickly? Do we listen to the concerns and warnings of friends and family or do we continue living the same way?
Our pride should never keep us from going back and returning to the grace of our faithful Lord.
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