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.
Chapter 15 of the book of 2 Chronicles in the KJV Holy Bible continues the story of King Asa of Judah. The chapter begins with the prophet Azariah coming to Asa and the people of Judah to remind them of the covenant they made with God to seek Him and to follow His commandments. Azariah also warns them that if they turn away from God, they will face His wrath and punishment.
Asa takes this message seriously and immediately sets out to remove all the idols and high places from the land. He also restores the altar of the Lord and offers sacrifices and offerings to God. The people of Judah also join in and make a covenant to seek the Lord with all their hearts and souls.
Asa's reforms and dedication to God bring about a time of peace and prosperity in the land of Judah. He strengthens the cities and fortifies them with walls and towers. He also builds up the army and prepares them for battle, trusting in the Lord to be with them.
However, in the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, King Baasha of Israel attacks Judah and begins to build a fortified city to prevent anyone from entering or leaving the land. Asa responds by seeking help from the Lord and not relying on his own strength. He takes the silver and gold from the temple and palace and sends it to Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, asking for his help in defeating Baasha.
Ben-Hadad agrees and attacks the cities of Israel, forcing Baasha to withdraw his troops from Judah. Asa and the people of Judah are victorious and take back the fortified city that Baasha was building. The Lord gives them rest from their enemies, and Asa uses the time to continue to strengthen the kingdom and restore the worship of the Lord.
The chapter concludes with the death of King Asa and the reign of his son, Jehoshaphat. Overall, chapter 15 of 2 Chronicles highlights the importance of seeking and following God, the consequences of turning away from Him, and the blessings and protection that come from trusting in Him.
1. The Covenant with God
The primary theme of chapter 15 is the covenant that Asa and the people of Judah make with God. This covenant is a promise to seek and follow God with all their hearts and souls, and to obey His commandments. This theme is prevalent throughout the entire chapter, and it serves as a reminder to the people of Judah to remain faithful to God and His laws.
The prophet Azariah emphasizes the importance of this covenant by warning the people that if they turn away from God, they will face His wrath and punishment. Asa takes this warning seriously and immediately takes action to remove the idols and high places from the land and restore the worship of the Lord. By making this covenant, Asa and the people of Judah reaffirm their commitment to God and His ways.
2. The Consequences of Turning Away from God
Asa's dedication to God and his reforms bring about a time of peace and prosperity in the land of Judah. However, the chapter also highlights the consequences of turning away from God. In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, King Baasha of Israel attacks Judah and begins to build a fortified city to prevent anyone from entering or leaving the land.
Asa's response to this attack is a reminder that when we rely on our own strength and resources, we are vulnerable to our enemies. Asa turns to God and seeks His help, and the Lord gives him victory over his enemies. This serves as a lesson that when we turn away from God, we not only face His punishment, but we also become vulnerable to our enemies and the challenges of life.
3. Trusting in God
Throughout the chapter, Asa and the people of Judah demonstrate their trust in God. Asa does not rely on his own strength or resources to defeat Baasha and the army of Israel. Instead, he seeks help from the Lord and trusts that He will give them victory. Asa's actions serve as a reminder to us that when we trust in God and seek His help, He will be with us and give us the strength and resources we need to overcome our enemies and challenges.
Chapter 15 of 2 Chronicles carries several important messages and lessons that are relevant to our lives today. One of the main messages is the importance of seeking and following God. Asa's dedication to God and his reforms bring about a time of peace and prosperity in the land of Judah. This serves as a reminder that when we put God first in our lives and follow His commandments, He will bless us and give us peace.
The consequences of turning away from God are also highlighted in this chapter. Asa's response to the attack by King Baasha reminds us that when we rely on our own strength and resources, we are vulnerable to our enemies and the challenges of life. However, when we turn to God and trust in Him, He will give us victory over our enemies and protect us from harm.
Another important lesson from this chapter is the importance of trusting in God. Asa's trust in God is evident in his actions, and the Lord rewards him with victory and peace. This serves as a reminder that when we trust in God and seek His help, He will be with us and give us the strength and resources we need to overcome any challenges that come our way.
In conclusion, chapter 15 of 2 Chronicles in the KJV Holy Bible is a powerful reminder of the importance of seeking and following God, the consequences of turning away from Him, and the blessings and protection that come from trusting in Him. It serves as a guide for us to remain faithful to God and His ways, and to trust in Him in all situations. Asa's example of dedication and trust in God is one that we can all learn from and apply in our own lives.
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