Example of Asa, a good king, to us today

II Chronicles 14:2-4 (NASB)

Asa did good and right in the sight of the LORD his God, for he removed the foreign altars and high places, tore down the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherim, and commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment.

In reviewing the history of kings in the Old Testament, Saul was the first king, then David, and then Solomon.  Each of these kings reigned for 40 years (1050 BC to 930 BC).  Then, unfortunately, after Solomon’s death, the Israeli nation split into two kingdoms, the northern kingdom containing 10 tribes called Israel and the southern kingdom (containing two tribes) called Judah.  Here’s a quick summary:

Israel (930 to 722 BC)	Judah (930 to 586 BC)
First king:  Jeroboam I	First king:  Rehoboam
Total number of kings: 20 (all “bad”)	Total number of kings: 20 (12 “bad”)
Conquered by Assyria in 722 BC	Conquered by Babylonians (Nebuchadnezzer) in 586 BC

  

Asa was the third king of Judah after the death of Solomon.  Asa was considered a “good” king because of what II Chron 14:2-4 says about him.  There were 7 other good kings of Judah (notice that none of the kings of Israel were considered good) including Hezekiah and Josiah).  Asa reigned as king for 41 years because of his devotion to the Lord and the Lord blessed the kingdom of Judah.  

What did Asa do that was pleasing to the Lord and brought the Lord’s blessings to him and his kingdom?  First he got rid of sinful things.  We may not understand what these things were (foreign altars, high places, sacred pillars, Asherim), but they all represented objects that distracted God’s people from focusing on Him and caused people to develop sinful habits and attitudes.   If a political/spiritual leader like Asa were in power today and could get rid of sinful things, what would they be?  What/who do sinful people idolize today if not God?  Three immediate idols come to mind—greed/materialism (wealth at all costs), constant pursuit of anything that gives pleasure (sex, drugs, music, leisure), and doing whatever it takes to feed your ego (career, knowledge, power, position).  Look up I John 2:15-16 that summarizes the idols of the world.  All of these modern-day idols are selfish in nature and replace/push aside God as life’s number one priority. 

Second, Asa commanded the people of Judah to seek the Lord God.  Seeking the Lord God simply means to look for God like you would look for buried treasure (Proverbs 2:4). You are to look for God diligently through His Word, through meditation about His Word, through prayer, and through seeing His will and ways in His creation. Did you know that when you seek God, such action gives rest to your soul?  

Third, Asa commanded the people of Judah to follow God’s laws and commandments.  Belief in God backed up by actions and good works that show obedience to God that honor Him.  Application of the faith and works principles taught in the book of James.  Believing in what Jesus said in John 14:21 and 23 that your love of the Lord is proved by keeping His commandments, that is, following them by being humble, unselfish, generous, caring, loving, and serving others. 

What the good king, Asa, did for the Lord and his people and what they, in turn, did for the Lord brought many blessings to the kingdom of Judah.  The Bible is clear time after time that you reap what you sow.  You honor God, He gives you many blessings.  You ignore God and serve other gods, He gives you over to your selfish lusts (Romans 1:24-32) and you suffer the consequences.  This cyclic principle applies to individuals and to nations.  What is going to happen to America someday?  Is America honoring God or turning away from Him?