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Home , Absalom, Asa of Judah, Maacah

n The Kings of the Divided Kingdom n

The King Who Started A Revival but Stumbled n n

1 Kings 15:8–15

“The church needs a revival!” That statement into apostasy under the rule of Kings could be made of many congregations in almost and Abijam. The next king who came to the throne any era. Churches may become indifferent. A was Asa, a good king.2 Asa was responsible for congregation is usually born in a burst of en- starting a great revival. Let us read the happy thusiasm, blooming with fire and fervor. Then, story of his revival and then look at its after- over time, the flames may die out. Some groups math. become lukewarm, as did the church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:15, 16), or dead, like the church in ASA STARTED A REVIVAL3 Sardis (Revelation 3:1). When that happens, the church needs a revival! The members need to be Asa’s Reign Summarized stirred up to their initial zeal. First Kings 15 begins the story of good King Even in the Old Testament, “revivals” oc- Asa with these words: curred from time to time. God’s people made a And Abijam slept with his fathers and they covenant with Him (Exodus 19). They agreed to buried him in the city of ; and Asa his son do His will, and He agreed to bless them if they became king in his place. would obey Him. He also warned that curses So in the twentieth year of the king of Israel, Asa began to reign as king of Judah. would follow if they turned away from Him. He reigned forty-one years in ; and A pattern emerged in God’s dealings with His his mother’s name was the daughter people. They would break the covenant, and God, of Abishalom. Asa did what was right in the true to His word, would curse them. Then the sight of the Lo r d , like David his father. He also put away the male cult prostitutes from people would repent and renew the covenant.1 God would subsequently bless them again. The 2Asa, the third king of Judah, the southern kingdom renewal of the covenant was the equivalent of during the period of the divided kingdom, reigned from a revival. about 910 until 869 B.C. 3 One of those times of revival and renewal The idea that Asa led a revival was suggested in Herbert Lockyer, All the Kings and Queens of the occurred not long after the beginning of the di- (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing House, 1961), vided kingdom. The had sunk 118–20; and Joseph Parker, “Asa,” in Bible Characters, by Dwight Lyman Moody, T. De Witt Talmage, and Joseph Parker (Chicago: Thomas W. Jackson Publishing Co., 1902; 1Covenant renewal ceremonies are described in Joshua reprint, Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing House, 8; 24; ; Ezra 10; and Nehemiah 8—10. n.d.), 314–20.

930 913 910 872 848 B.C.

JUDAH Rehoboam asa Abijam

1 the land and removed all the idols which his vision of one individual. One devoted Christian fathers had made. He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother, because she may not be able to start a revival alone, but it had made a horrid image as an ; and is certain that no revival will begin without the Asa cut down her horrid image and burned it determined leadership of at least one disciple! at the brook Kidron. But the high places were Revival spread to the whole community. The not taken away; nevertheless the heart of Asa was wholly devoted to the Lo r d all his days. He story of Asa’s revival began but did not end brought into the house of the Lo r d the dedicated with Asa’s faithfulness. He was determined to things of his father and his own dedicated things: take others with him on the road back to God. silver and gold and utensils (vv. 8–15). He “commanded Judah to seek the Lo r d God Asa’s reign is summarized with a statement of their fathers and to observe the law and the that he “did what was right in the sight of the commandment” (:4). Lo r d .” Specifically, he (1) “put away the male Likewise, if someone today desires to lead cult prostitutes,” (2) “removed . . . the idols,” the church to revival, he must find a way to take (3) deposed Maacah from her position as the others with him. Unfortunately, not even a queen mother, and (4) dedicated his wealth to leader in the church can command people to fol- 6 the treas­ury in the house of God. low the Lord. Rather, he must persuade people to accompany him on the journey. Consecrated Asa’s Revival Analyzed Christians lead God’s people by personal influ- Second Chronicles expands this description ence, by teaching, by persuasion, and by moti- of Asa’s reign, telling his story in three chapters vation—not by threats, intimidation, or physical (chs. 14—16). As we read that narrative, we get force. some idea of how he started a revival and, there- Revival succeeded because of God’s blessing. fore, of what needs to happen in order to revive After saying that Asa initiated reforms early in a group of Christians today. his reign (during a period of peace and apparent Revival started with one man’s dedication. First, prosperity; 2 Chronicles 14:6–8), the chronicler the account in 2 Chronicles confirms that the re- reported that the king of Ethiopia came against vival in Asa’s day began with his determination Judah with an army of one million warriors and to do God’s will. The chronicler wrote, “Asa did three hundred chariots (2 Chronicles 14:9). Judah good and right in the sight of the Lo r d his God” had only a little over half as many soldiers. Asa (2 Chronicles 14:2). Because he was dedicated to prayed to God, God, Asa sought to eradicate idolatry from the Lo r d , there is no one besides You to help in the land (2 Chronicles 14:3, 5). Asa was so zealous battle between the powerful and those who have for God’s way that he even removed Maacah— no strength; so help us, O Lo r d our God, for we probably his own grandmother 4—from her trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O Lo r d , You are our God; let not place as the queen mother (:16), a man prevail against You (2 Chronicles 14:11). position of prominence and power. In doing so, he illustrated the kind of dedication Christians God indeed blessed Asa’s forces (2 Chronicles ought to develop. Christ taught that an individual 14:12–15). They won a resounding victory because must be willing to forsake all, including his or they trusted in God. her own family, to be His disciple.5 In the next chapter, the spoke Just as the revival in Asa’s day began with one to Asa and the people of the southern kingdom, man’s dedication, revival today can begin with the saying, “The Lo r d is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find 4Both 2 Chronicles 15:16 and :10 speak of Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake Maacah as being Asa’s mother. However, since 1 Kings 15:2 you” (2 Chronicles 15:2). Then the prophet ad- says that Maacah was the mother of Abijam (Asa’s father) and since :20, 21 indicates that Maacah was monished Asa, “But you, be strong and do not ’s daughter and Rehoboam’s favorite wife, it is prob- lose courage, for there is reward for your work” able that Maacah was Rehoboam’s wife, Abijam’s mother, (2 Chronicles 15:7). and Asa’s grandmother. If so, “mother” in 1 and 2 Kings is used in the sense of “grandmother,” just as “father” is sometimes used in the sense of “forefather.” 6However, he can teach them what God’s Word com- 5See Luke 14:25, 26. mands or requires.

2 Asa’s experience and Azariah’s words reveal with all their heart and soul; and whoever would not seek the Lo r d God of Israel should be put to three truths about revival. First, those who want death,9 whether small or great, man or woman. to be revived and renewed must depend on God. Moreover, they made an oath to the Lo r d with Only He can give us strength; He alone is the a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets and One who blesses our evangelistic efforts with with horns. All Judah rejoiced concerning the oath, for they had sworn with their whole heart fruit. Without His blessings we cannot succeed. and had sought Him earnestly, and He let them Second, if we would have God on our side to find Him. So the Lo r d gave them rest on every bless us as we seek revival, we need to pray. side (2 Chronicles 15:9–15). Prayer must precede and accompany revival in any congregation. Third, we must remember that This renewal of the covenant involved God will only bless us with revival if we do His (1) participation by people from a variety of will, that is, obey His Word. backgrounds, (2) generous contributions given Revival required the people of Judah to reject to God, and (3) a vow to seek God with all the things which God finds abominable. Asa took cour- heart and soul. age from the prophet Azariah’s words and con- tinued his work of reformation, removing idols . . . BUT ASA STUMBLED from the land and deposing the queen mother We cannot leave the story of Asa without not- (2 Chronicles 15:8, 16). Other “revivals” we read ing that, like all people, he was imperfect. Despite about in the Old Testament also involved the the good that he accomplished, he slipped and confession of sin.7 fell. The last episodes in his life in 2 Chronicles In the same way, revival today requires that tell how he stumbled. we reject whatever God hates—actions and at- Baasha, the king of Israel, attacked Judah and titudes that are abominable to Him. What does fortified the town of Ramah, successfully restrict- that include? God despises impurity in a Chris- ing Judah’s ability to travel or to move troops tian’s life. He forbids idolatry—putting anything, (:1). In an attempt to overcome however precious to us, before Him. God hates the threat from Baasha, Asa sought the help of for Christians not to be active in doing good Ben-, the king of Aram (Syria), using the works, and He is sickened by lukewarmness in treas­ures from the house of God and from the a disciple’s life. If we would be revived, we should king’s palace to bribe him to help Judah (16:2, 3). confess our sins (James 5:16) and then seek to rid Consequently, Ben-hadad broke his treaty with ourselves, individually and collectively, of those Israel and attacked the northern kingdom (16:4). sins. Then, “when Baasha heard [of Ben-hadad’s suc- Revival resulted in a renewal of the covenant, a cessful attacks against Israel], he ceased fortify- rededication to the will of God. Second Chronicles ing Ramah” (16:5), ending his threat to Judah. describes how renewal occurred in Asa’s day: Asa then used the stones and timber from Baasha’s fortifications to fortify cities in Judah [Asa] gathered all Judah and Benjamin and (16:6). those from , Manasseh and Simeon who resided with them, for many defected to We might think that Asa used good judgment him from Israel when they saw that the Lo r d in saving Judah from Baasha’s aggression, but his God was with him.8 So they assembled at God did not think so. The prophet con- Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign. They sacrificed to the Lo r d demned Asa, saying, that day 700 oxen and 7,000 sheep from the spoil they had brought. They entered into the Because you have relied on the king of Aram covenant to seek the Lo r d God of their fathers and have not relied on the Lo r d your God, therefore the army of the king of Aram has es- caped out of your hand. Were not the Ethiopians 7These revivals are described in the Books of Ezra and and the Lubim an immense army with very Nehemiah. many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you 8The tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon were part of Israel, the northern kingdom. This passage indi- cates that, when some of the people of those tribes saw 9The law of Moses provided that anyone who did “what that God was blessing Asa and the kingdom of Judah, they is evil in the sight of the Lo r d . . . by transgressing His migrated from Israel to live in Judah, where the true God covenant” was to be stoned to death (Deuteronomy 17:2– was worshiped. 6).

3 relied on the Lo r d , He delivered them into your vious victory over the Ethiopians had caused him hand. For the eyes of the Lo r d move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly sup- to become arrogant. Maybe he reasoned within port those whose heart is completely His. You himself, “As great as I am, I can solve my prob- have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now lems myself. I do not need God’s help or the on you will surely have wars (16:7b–9). advice of a prophet. I can do it alone!” He was wrong, of course, and so are we when we begin In other words, Asa should have learned from to think we can handle our problems by ourselves. his great victory over the Ethiopians that God Let us learn from Asa’s mistake never to become can overcome any foe. By seeking the help of the puffed up with our own importance, but instead Syrians against Israel, Asa showed a lack of faith always to rely on God for help. in God’s power to deliver Judah. As a result, Judah would no longer enjoy peace and prosper- ity. Rather, the nation would be plagued with Lessons for Us war for the rest of Asa’s reign. The worst aspect of Asa’s sin is that he did 11 not respond to the prophet’s words with remorse We sometimes sing, “Revive us again.” How and repentance. Rather, he became angry and can we be revived? (1) Someone must take the imprisoned Hanani. At the same time, he was lead. (2) He must persuade others to join in the oppressing other people (2 Chronicles 16:10). movement. (3) Together, they must seek God’s Toward the end of his life, when the king was help with fervent prayer, recognizing that noth- “diseased in his feet,” he sought only the aid of ing good can happen without His blessing. (4) All physicians, rather than seeking God’s help, must confess and forsake their sins. (5) Each one (16:12).10 In this way, he failed again to rely on must renew the pledge to serve God with his or God. Asa was a good man, but he was not perfect. her whole heart. When that resolution is carried He revived his people’s faithfulness to God, but out, revival and renewal will come to the church. then he himself stumbled. Is a revival needed among the congregation Asa’s experience is a reminder that even great with which you work and worship? God will do men of God can stumble and sin. Our faith, the reviving, but you must begin the process. If therefore, should always be in God, not in any you are a Christian, you must begin by examining man—no matter how worthy or faithful he may yourself, seeing the sin in your soul, repenting of seem to be. In addition, we should remember that sin, and seeking God’s forgiveness in prayer. that “pride goeth before destruction” (Proverbs If you are a lukewarm Christian, revival needs to 16:18; KJV). Asa fell most likely because his pre- begin with you! “Awake, sleeper, . . . and Christ will shine on you” (Ephesians 5:14). God will, by grace, forgive you; then you can begin helping 10 “The king’s sin lay in having recourse to [the physi- those around you to follow that same path to cians] ‘only’ and not seeking ‘help from the Lo r d ,’ who is the ultimate healer of men’s diseases (2 Kings 20:5; Ps renewal. Coy Roper 103:3)” (J. Barton Payne, “1, 2 Chronicles,” in The Exposi- tor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1 Kings—Job [Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing House, 1988], 491). Neither 11William P. MacKay, “We Praise Thee, O God,” Songs this passage nor any other teaches that it is wrong for God’s of Faith and Praise, comp. and ed. Alton H. Howard (West people to seek help from a physician. Monroe, La.: Howard Publishing Co., 1994).

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