2 Chronicles 16:1-14
Q.1. Why was King Asa’s treaty with the Arameans such an affront to God? How did Asa respond to God’s appeal? – (2 Chr.16:1-10)
The making of peace treaties, and the joining with others to fight an enemy was the normal way that nations acted. However, God had set in motion very different ways for His people to engage in war (Dt.20:1-18). Asa had taken the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the house of the Lord (2 Chr.16:2-3). God also accused – … “Because you have relied on the king of Aram and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Aram has escaped out of your hand (2 Chr.16:7). It was not as though Asa was ignorant, because he had been victorious over an immense army in his early reign when Israel had trusted the Lord (2 Chr.16:8). He reminded Asa about the heart of God – For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His … (2 Chr.16:9). However, Asa’s response was an evil abuse of kingly power – Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him for this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time (2 Chr.16:10).
Q.2. What had Asa learned about trusting God? How was his funeral service at odds with his closing years? – (2 Chr.16:11-14)
It seems Asa learned nothing about trusting God, or about protecting the best in his realm – the faithful servants of God. Therefore, God tried made an appeal to Asa through sickness – In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa became diseased in his feet. His disease was severe, yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians (2 Chr.16:12). Asa had looked after himself in life, and even in death. He had cut out a special tomb from a rock in the city of David and had garnished it with the best of spices and perfumes (2 Chr.16:14). It is doubtful that God’s view of Asa would have been as great as the one that Asa had himself.