King Asa's Downfall: From Faithful Reformer to Brutal Tyrant

2 Chronicles 16

1 In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

3 There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.

4 And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.

5 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.

6 Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.

7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.

8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.

9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.

11 And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

12 And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.

13 And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.

14 And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries’ art: and they made a very great burning for him.

2 Chronicles 15

1 And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:

2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.

3 Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.

4 But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.

5 And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries.

6 And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity.

7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.

8 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD.

9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.

10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.

11 And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.

12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;

13 That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.

14 And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.

15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.

16 And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.

17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.

18 And he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.

19 And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.

King Asa’s transition from a faithful ruler to an oppressive one resulted from a decline in his spiritual experience and a failure to maintain his initial trust in God during times of trialBHOTV5 155.1+1.

The Foundations of Asa’s Early Reign 2 Chronicles 15

Early in his reign, Asa was a devoted reformer who took decisive action to exterminate idolatry from JudahPTUK September 22, 1898, page 595.4. He removed strange altars, broke down images, and even removed the queen-mother Maachah from her exalted position because she had made an idol in a grove 1 Kings 15:13KJV — 2Chronicles 14:2. Because he did what was good and right, seeking the Lord with his whole heart, the land enjoyed a period of peace and restRH July 31, 1913, par. 7+1. His faith was signally rewarded when he faced Zerah the Ethiopian and his massive army of a million menPK 110.2+1. Despite being outnumbered, Asa rested entirely on Jehovah, and the Lord smote the Ethiopians before himKJV — 2Chronicles 14:10+1. Following this victory, Asa entered into a solemn covenant with his people to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and soulRH July 31, 1913, par. 7.

The Shift to Self-Dependence 2 Chronicles 16

The change in Asa's character became evident twenty-five years later when war arose with Baasha, king of IsraelPTUK September 22, 1898, page 595.4. In this crisis, Asa forgot his former deliverance and the unlimited control God has over all earthly powersPK 110.2+1.

• A Worldly Alliance: Instead of relying on God, Asa purchased an alliance with Ben-Hadad of Syria using silver and gold from the temple and the royal palaceBHOTV5 155.1+1. This league with a heathen nation was a direct violation of God's precepts and marked the beginning of his spiritual declensionBHOTV5 155.1+1.

• Rejecting Divine Correction: When the seer Hanani rebuked Asa for his lack of faith and for missing the opportunity to have the Syrian army delivered into his hand, Asa did not humble himselfGCDB March 2, 1897, page 200.3+1. Instead, he allowed a cruel spirit of jealousy and unholy passion to cloud his mind4aSG 82.3+1. In a rage, he put the prophet in a prison house, showing a hardness of heart similar to that of the rulers who later persecuted the apostlesKJV — 2Chronicles 16:10+1.

The Rise of Spiritual Pride and Oppression

Asa’s spiritual fall was fueled by spiritual pride, which is a dangerous evil that eats out the vitals of religion14MR 293.1+1.

• Cruel Leadership: Once Asa forsook the Lord, he became a tyrannical ruler, oppressing some of his own people at the same time he imprisoned the prophetKJV — 2Chronicles 16:10+1. His life, which began with such promise, became darkened by the same spirit of oppression and selfishness that later characterized the Jewish nation in its apostasyEd 48.4+1.

• The Final Departure from God: In his old age, Asa was afflicted with a severe disease in his feetKJV — 1Kings 15:22+1. Even then, his "practical atheism" was revealed as he sought help only from physicians rather than inquiring of the LordBHOTV5 157.1+1. By trusting in human wisdom and secondary means rather than the supernatural power of God, he died in a state of spiritual darknessBHOTV5 157.1+1.

Asa's history serves as a solemn warning that a past experience of grace does not guarantee future faithfulness if one neglects personal piety and daily obedience to ChristGW92 53.2+1. Only by maintaining a spirit of dependence and humility can a leader avoid the snares of self-idolatry and prideGW 114.3+1. He who trusts in his own understanding or makes flesh his arm will surely be disappointed Jeremiah 17:5+1.