The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Asa

  • Seek God and Never Forsake Him

    “… 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.”

    2 Chronicles 15:2

    King Asa knew what to do when an enemy came up against Judah. He placed his trust in the Lord (see 2 Chronicles 14:11). When he cried out to God, God delivered them. After this great victory, God sent His prophet to them with a message. “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” (2 Chronicles 15:1-2). Azariah, the son of Oded, reminded God’s people of something they should have already known. Something of which King Solomon had been warned long ago. “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever” (1 Chronicles 28:9).

    • Know means “to perceive, to understand, acquire knowledge, know.”
    • Perfect means “complete; whole; perfect.”
    • Heart means “the totality of man’s inner or immaterial nature… These are the deepest, innermost feelings.”
    • Willing means “taking pleasure in.”
    • Mind means “the inner person; … The most interesting meaning of the word … is it means ‘one who has died,’ with the emphasis on the personal identity of an individual while alive.”

    These words give us a clear understanding of what God expects.

    • First, they were to know God: more than just a general knowledge of God, but to take time and learn about Him, to actually know Him. Today, we know God because of Jesus. Remember: “6. Jesus saith unto him,I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him” (John 14:6-7). Not only is Jesus they way to the Father, when we know Jesus, we know God. Jesus also taught us that we are to learn of Him. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29).
    • Next, they were to serve Him with a perfect heart: with one’s whole being. Paul gave us the example of Jesus. “21. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23. Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:21-23). When we know Christ, we follow in His steps.
    • One must also have a willing mind: this is one who takes pleasure in the things of God, completely giving up oneself to focus upon the things of God. Remember what the New Testament teaches: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Christians allow Christ to live through them. See also Romans 12:1-2.
    • They were also to recognize that God knew the intentions of their hearts and their very thoughts. They could not pretend with God – for He knows all. One cannot be a hypocrite before God. In the New Testament, God still knows the heart. “And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15). We learn that Jesus, too, knows. “And Jesus knowing their thoughts said,Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?” (Matthew 9:4).

    Asa and God’s people were also given a warning: to not forsake God, or He would forsake them. God wanted them to know something: “The LORD is with you, while ye be with him” (see 2 Chronicles 15:2). We are encouraged with the same thought in the New Testament. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (James 4:8). If there is anything that separates between you and God, eliminate it. Remember: “1. Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2). If Christians are failing in their relationship with God, it is not only their fault, but it is usually sin that keeps God from hearing. Although Christians have the forgiveness of sin (see Colossians 1:12-14), we must remember: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). Our duty is to confess them before God. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

    Do you seek to know Jesus, following His example?

    Do you recognize when sin separates, understanding you must repent?

  • Lesson 6: 1 Kings 12:1 – 15:24; 2 Chronicles 10-16 Rehoboam, Abijam (Abijah), and Asa

    Key Verse

    Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left.

    —Joshua 23:6

    Key Verse Thought: Read today’s Key Verse. In this verse, courageous means “to be firm; be strong; to retain, hold fast, or keep.”  What are we to be strong doing? We are to do all that is written in God’s Word. Notice especially the addendum:  “that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left.”  There is no allowance for variance – one must adhere directly to God’s Word and hold fast to it with all of our might. In this lesson, we will learn of three kings. Rehoboam, who was not courageous to do all written in the book of the law; Abijam (Abijah), who walked in the sins of his father, and a king (Asa) who, after being very courageous, turned aside at the end of his life.

    Emphasis: In this lesson, we are to understand that God wants to show Himself mighty to His people (Christians). We are also to recognize the importance of remaining courageous – obeying God and His Word all throughout our lives – never failing as King Asa did toward the end of his life.

    Lesson Summary: In the last quarter, we learned about Israel, the Northern Kingdom, and how they were carried captive. In this lesson, we will begin our study of Judah, the Southern Kingdom. 

    We will begin by remembering King Rehoboam’s reign and what happened to cause the nation to divide into two separate kingdoms. King Rehoboam was considered a bad king because he forsook God. When Rehoboam died, his son, Abijam (Abijah), became the king of Judah. He “… walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father” (1 Kings 15:3). Abijam (Abijah) was also considered a bad king. Little is recorded about him in First Kings, so we will focus on information in Second Chronicles. He only reigned for three years, and although God used him to do good things for Judah (King Abijam had the right reasons for fighting King Jeroboam), God knew King Abijam’s (Abijah’s) heart.

    When King Abijam (Abijah) died, his son, Asa, became king. Asa reigned for 41 years in Jerusalem, “And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father” (1 Kings 15:11). He was a good king and it was during his reign that he made many great reformations, and the people of Judah turned their hearts back to God. King Asa knew to cry out to God when the enemy came against Judah, and God was able to show himself mighty before the people. When God sent His prophet to speak to King Asa, he listened. He was told to be strong and seek God, continually. He took courage, and removed the idol worship and broke down the false places of worship. The people recognized God was with King Asa. He even removed his grandmother as queen because she worshiped an idol. He also destroyed her idol. Nevertheless, toward the end of King Asa’s reign, King Baasha of Israel came against a city in Judah. King Asa sought the help of an enemy nation. Although they gained the city back, Asa had failed to seek the Lord. God sent his prophet with a message, but King Asa rejected the message. After this, King Asa was diseased in his feet, but he sought the physicians and never sought God. He died of the disease in his feet.

    Y2Q4 – Lesson 6 Questions

    Y2Q4 – Lesson 6 Children’s Worksheets

    See the following for a craft idea if you teach this with young children:

    We made a book with the Ten Commandments in them to remember the importance of obeying God’s commands.