II Chronicles 16 Commentary
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.
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,
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.
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.
And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
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.
And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
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.
II Chronicles 16 presents a sobering account of King Asa's later years, offering vital lessons about faith, reliance on God, and the dangers of complacency. It serves as a powerful reminder that past spiritual victories do not guarantee future success, and that a consistent, day-by-day commitment to God's agenda is essential.
Asa's Mistake: Trusting in Man, Not God (II Chronicles 16:1-6)
The chapter opens with a significant shift in Asa's behavior. Despite his earlier dependence on the Lord for deliverance from the Cushites, when King Baasha of Israel threatened Judah, Asa panicked. Instead of seeking God's help, he chose a path of political maneuvering, bribing King Ben-hadad of Aram (Syria) to break his treaty with Israel and attack them. This action, detailed in II Chronicles 16:1-5, reveals a dangerous departure from Asa's previous faith.
Perhaps the two decades of peace and spiritual prosperity had bred complacency in Asa's heart. Whatever the reason, his decision to rely on a pagan king rather than the Lord was a grave error. Furthermore, Asa used silver and gold from the temple treasuries to pay the bribe, a deeply offensive act to God (II Chronicles 16:2). This illustrates how easily we can compromise our values and faith when fear and self-reliance take over.
The Prophet's Rebuke and Asa's Anger (II Chronicles 16:7-10)
Asa's military strategy proved successful, but his spiritual failure incurred God's displeasure. The Lord sent the seer Hanani to deliver a message of rebuke to Asa (II Chronicles 16:7). Hanani reminded Asa of God's past faithfulness, pointing out how the Lord had delivered him when he relied on Him (II Chronicles 16:8). He emphasized that God's eyes are constantly watching, seeking those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him (II Chronicles 16:9).
This verse, II Chronicles 16:9, is a powerful reminder of God's constant presence and His desire to support those who trust in Him wholeheartedly. However, instead of repenting and seeking God's forgiveness, Asa reacted with anger and imprisoned Hanani. He even mistreated some of his own people (II Chronicles 16:10). This demonstrates the danger of pride and how it can lead us to reject correction and persecute those who speak truth. Asa's reaction serves as a warning against allowing power and position to corrupt our hearts. Earthly victory is worthless when it comes at the expense of divine favor.
Illness and a Lack of Faith (II Chronicles 16:11-12)
The end of Asa's life was further marred by his declining spiritual state. He contracted a severe foot disease, likely gout, that caused him great pain. Sadly, instead of seeking the Lord for healing, Asa turned only to physicians (II Chronicles 16:12). While seeking medical help is not inherently wrong, Asa's exclusive reliance on doctors suggests a hardened heart and a lack of trust in God's healing power.
This is a temptation we face today as well. We should be grateful for the blessings of doctors and modern medicine. But, ultimately, all healing comes from the Lord. We should never neglect prayer and seeking God's will in our health concerns. Visit your physician and take your medication. But, first, pray.
Lessons for God's People (II Chronicles 16:13-14)
Asa's death provides a poignant reminder of the Chronicler's purpose in writing. His audience, living after the Babylonian exile, needed to understand the consequences of failing to seek the Lord's agenda. The Chronicler's selection of events from the lives of kings like Asa, highlighting both their successes and failures, served to teach God's people the importance of complete faithfulness to Him.
The Chronicler was writing to a generation that had experienced the crushing blow of the Babylonian captivity, a consequence of their ancestors' failure to seek the Lord. By recounting the stories of kings like Asa, who often did right but sometimes faltered, the Chronicler aimed to instill a deep understanding of the necessity for unwavering devotion to God. Asa's story, in particular, underscores the crucial lesson that past faithfulness is not enough; a continuous, heartfelt commitment to God is required for enduring spiritual well-being.
As we reflect on II Chronicles 16, let us examine our own hearts. Are we relying on our past experiences with God, or are we actively seeking His guidance and strength each day? Are we tempted to trust in our own abilities or worldly resources instead of turning to Him in times of need? May Asa's story serve as a warning and an encouragement to remain steadfast in our faith, always seeking the Lord with a whole heart.
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.
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,
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.
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.
And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
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.
And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
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.
II Chronicles 16 presents a sobering account of King Asa's later years, offering vital lessons about faith, reliance on God, and the dangers of complacency. It serves as a powerful reminder that past spiritual victories do not guarantee future success, and that a consistent, day-by-day commitment to God's agenda is essential.
Asa's Mistake: Trusting in Man, Not God (II Chronicles 16:1-6)
The chapter opens with a significant shift in Asa's behavior. Despite his earlier dependence on the Lord for deliverance from the Cushites, when King Baasha of Israel threatened Judah, Asa panicked. Instead of seeking God's help, he chose a path of political maneuvering, bribing King Ben-hadad of Aram (Syria) to break his treaty with Israel and attack them. This action, detailed in II Chronicles 16:1-5, reveals a dangerous departure from Asa's previous faith.
Perhaps the two decades of peace and spiritual prosperity had bred complacency in Asa's heart. Whatever the reason, his decision to rely on a pagan king rather than the Lord was a grave error. Furthermore, Asa used silver and gold from the temple treasuries to pay the bribe, a deeply offensive act to God (II Chronicles 16:2). This illustrates how easily we can compromise our values and faith when fear and self-reliance take over.
The Prophet's Rebuke and Asa's Anger (II Chronicles 16:7-10)
Asa's military strategy proved successful, but his spiritual failure incurred God's displeasure. The Lord sent the seer Hanani to deliver a message of rebuke to Asa (II Chronicles 16:7). Hanani reminded Asa of God's past faithfulness, pointing out how the Lord had delivered him when he relied on Him (II Chronicles 16:8). He emphasized that God's eyes are constantly watching, seeking those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him (II Chronicles 16:9).
This verse, II Chronicles 16:9, is a powerful reminder of God's constant presence and His desire to support those who trust in Him wholeheartedly. However, instead of repenting and seeking God's forgiveness, Asa reacted with anger and imprisoned Hanani. He even mistreated some of his own people (II Chronicles 16:10). This demonstrates the danger of pride and how it can lead us to reject correction and persecute those who speak truth. Asa's reaction serves as a warning against allowing power and position to corrupt our hearts. Earthly victory is worthless when it comes at the expense of divine favor.
Illness and a Lack of Faith (II Chronicles 16:11-12)
The end of Asa's life was further marred by his declining spiritual state. He contracted a severe foot disease, likely gout, that caused him great pain. Sadly, instead of seeking the Lord for healing, Asa turned only to physicians (II Chronicles 16:12). While seeking medical help is not inherently wrong, Asa's exclusive reliance on doctors suggests a hardened heart and a lack of trust in God's healing power.
This is a temptation we face today as well. We should be grateful for the blessings of doctors and modern medicine. But, ultimately, all healing comes from the Lord. We should never neglect prayer and seeking God's will in our health concerns. Visit your physician and take your medication. But, first, pray.
Lessons for God's People (II Chronicles 16:13-14)
Asa's death provides a poignant reminder of the Chronicler's purpose in writing. His audience, living after the Babylonian exile, needed to understand the consequences of failing to seek the Lord's agenda. The Chronicler's selection of events from the lives of kings like Asa, highlighting both their successes and failures, served to teach God's people the importance of complete faithfulness to Him.
The Chronicler was writing to a generation that had experienced the crushing blow of the Babylonian captivity, a consequence of their ancestors' failure to seek the Lord. By recounting the stories of kings like Asa, who often did right but sometimes faltered, the Chronicler aimed to instill a deep understanding of the necessity for unwavering devotion to God. Asa's story, in particular, underscores the crucial lesson that past faithfulness is not enough; a continuous, heartfelt commitment to God is required for enduring spiritual well-being.
As we reflect on II Chronicles 16, let us examine our own hearts. Are we relying on our past experiences with God, or are we actively seeking His guidance and strength each day? Are we tempted to trust in our own abilities or worldly resources instead of turning to Him in times of need? May Asa's story serve as a warning and an encouragement to remain steadfast in our faith, always seeking the Lord with a whole heart.