What I Noticed Today (1 Kings 15; 2 Chronicles 13-16)
1 Kings 15
In verses 1-8, in Jeroboam’s (Israel) 18th year, Abijam son of Rehoboam began to rule over Judah. Abijam only ruled three years (913-911 B.C.). He was a bad king, not devoted to God. There was continual war between Abijam and Jeroboam. Abijam died, and his son Asa became king of Judah.
In verses 9-24, in Jeroboam’s 20th year Asa (Abijam’s son) began to rule over Judah.
- Asa was a good king who ruled for 41 years in Jerusalem.
- His heart was devoted to the Lord.
- He got rid of the prostitutes and idols and even deposed his queen mother because she worshiped foreign gods.
- He began to restore the treasury of the house of the Lord.
- There was a war between Baasha and Asa throughout their reigns.
In verses 25-32, Nadab (son of Jeroboam) began reigning in Israel in Asa’s second year.
- Nadab reigned over Israel for two years (910-909 B.C.).
- He was a bad king who walked in the ways of his father, Jeroboam.
- Then Baasha son of Ahijah killed Nadab and became king of Israel.
- Baasha killed all the surviving members of the house of Jeroboam.
- There was a war between Baasha and Asa throughout their reigns.
- Asa removed the silver and gold from the treasury of the Lord’s temple and the royal treasury. He sent it to Ben-hadad king of Aram who lived in Damascus asking him to break his treaty with Baasha.
- Ben-hadad broke his treaty with Baasha and went and attacked cities in Israel.
- In Asa’s old age he developed a disease in his feet, died, and was buried in Jerusalem. His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place.
In verses 33-34, in Asa’s third year, Baasha (son of Ahijah) became king over Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah 24 years (909-986 B.C.).
- He was also a bad king, following the example of Jeroboam.
- He became king by killing Nadab and all his household.
- Baasha was at war with Asa all of their days.
Some thoughts for additional consideration:
- Solomon’s great kingdom was decimated. Their nation was divided, and the great riches of their treasuries were gone. This was all part of God’s judgment. Yet, these bad kings did not repent of their sins and turn back to God. The only decent king here was Asa in that he tried to restore the worship of God in Judah.
- It is so easy for us to read these words and think ‘you fools’ look what you’ve done to yourselves by turning away from God. Then I read the news and realize our society is doing the very same thing today. We are enjoying God’s blessings but turning away from following Him as faithful children.
2 Chronicles 13
Abijah, the son of Rehoboam, reigns in Judah.
In verses 1-2, Abijah became king over Judah in the 18th year of Israel’s king Jeroboam.
- Abijah reigned only three years from Jerusalem.
In verses 2b-12, during that time, there was a war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
- Although outnumbered 2:1 Abijah called out to God for help.
- Abijah asserted God’s promise of the Davidic line and the rebellion of Jeroboam.
- Abijah recalled how Jeroboam had rejected God and turned away the Levites and priests to appoint his own priests and made golden calves to worship.
In verses 13-20, Jeroboam ambushed the army of Rehoboam, but Rehoboam cried out to God for help.
- God defeated Jeroboam. 500,000 men of Israel were killed in the battle.
- Abijah pursued Jeroboam and recovered some of the northern cities of Judah.
- Jeroboam was unable to maintain his power during the reign of Abijah. The lord struck Jeroboam, and he died.
- Meanwhile, Abijah grew strong, acquired 14 wives, and had 22 sons and 16 daughters.
Some thoughts for additional consideration:
- So often we see these kings and other leaders who begin with a faithful heart following God, turn away when they have achieved some measure of success. We see the same progression today. God’s people are happy to have God help them achieve some measure of success, but after a while, they turn away from God. Inevitably their fall is not far behind.
2 Chronicles 14-16
The reign of King Asa of Judah.
2 Chronicles 14
In verses 1-2a, Abijah died and his son, Asa, became king in Judah. During his 10-year reign, the land had peace.
In verses 2b-7, Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord for many years, and in that time, the Lord prospered him.
- Asa removed the foreign altars, the high places and commanded Judah to worship the Lord.
- He built up fortified cities and the army and had peace for many years.
In verse 8, Asa’s army included 300,000 soldiers bearing large shields from Judah. There were also 280,000 soldiers from Benjamin with regular shields and bows.
In verses 9-15, Zerah the Cushite (modern-day southern Egypt, Sudan, and northern Ethiopia) came up against Asa with an army twice their size.
- Asa marched out to battle and cried out to the Lord for help. Using Asa, God defeated the Cushites.
- The Cushites fled to Gerar. Asa caught up with the Cushites he plundered Gerar and the surrounding villages and returned to Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 15
In verses 1-7, Azariah, a prophet, came to Asa to encourage him to remain faithful to the Lord.
- Azariah admonished Asa to seek the Lord (2 Chronicles 15:2), to trust the Lord (2 Chronicles 15:4), and to be courageous because the Lord rewards obedience (2 Chronicles 15:7).
In verses 8-18, upon hearing Azariah’s words, Asa enacted reforms:
- Asa got rid of all the idols in Judah and Benjamin.
- He repaired the altar of the Lord.
- He brought the people together to offer sacrifices.
- He entered into a covenant with the people to seek the Lord with all their heart and soul.
- Asa went so far as to remove Maacah, his own grandmother from the position of queen mother because she had made an idol of Asherah.
- Asa brought consecrated gifts of gold and silver to the Lord’s temple.
In verse 19, there was peace in the land until the 35th year of Asa’s reign (876 B.C.).
2 Chronicles 16
King Asa establishes a treaty with Baasha, King of Damascus.
In verses 1-6 in Asa’s 36th year Baasha, king of Israel came up against Asa.
- Instead of relying on the Lord, Asa bought the support of the pagan king Ben-hadad by sending him silver and gold from the Temple treasury.
- Ben-hadad broke his treaty with Israel and supported Judah.
- While Asa’s strategy worked, God was not pleased that Asa had not turned to Him.
In verses 7-10, Hanani, the seer, came to Asa and told him that because he had relied on the Syrian king instead of God, he would have wars the rest of his days.
- Asa was so angry hearing this that he put Hanani, the seer in prison and punished some of the people.
In verses 11-14, Asa was stricken with a disease in his feet and rather than turning to God, he turned to the physicians.
Note: The sin was not that he used the physicians, but that he stubbornly refused to turn to God.
- Asa died in the 41st year of his reign and was buried in Jerusalem.
