RTW June 10
Don’t Stop Maturing
King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from entering or leaving King Asa’s territory in Judah.
1 Kings 15:17
My Takeaways
Something Old
Asa’s goal was right (keep an open route between Judah and Israel), but his means were wrong. (An alliance with Baasha, king of Syria.)
Asa
- Started off strong, but failed to trust God when it counted.
- Aligned himself with a pagan king
- Used the treasury of the Temple as a payment
- Refused correction (2 Chronicles 16:7-10)
As we grow older our:
- Faith should mature
- Trust in God should become second nature
- Response to correction should be acceptance
Something New
Asa’s grandmother is mentioned. She was from Absalom’s line. Asa didn’t play favorites. His mother had an obscene Asherah pole, and he made her take it down.
Something to Do
Grow up and keep growing.
“The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” 2 Chronicles 16:9 – God does not miss a thing! He is searching to strengthen me – not tear me down.
NEW: Hanani went to Asa to give him a word from the Lord and Jehu, Hanani’s son, went to Baasha with a word from the Lord!
Asa ruled over Israel for 41 years – during this tine there were 7 different rulers in Judah!
Jehoshaphat “was deeply committed to the ways of the Lord” (2 Chron 17:6). Can this be said about me? Am I committed – am I ALL IN for Jesus?
Jehoshaphat sent teachers out to teach the Book of the Law to the people. Was he the first one to do this, I wonder? I don’t recall it being mentioned anywhere else.
Northern/Southern – I get confused here as well so thank you, Wendy, for your encouragement to stick with it.
Wow my notes were almost identical to these!
Thank you for your notes. I found them very helpful.
-2 Chronicles 16 & 17 mention commitment to the LORD and His ways. I desire to be deeply committed to the Lord. Ask God to help me in this, show me how, and increase that desire. I can begin by reading, studying, and meditating on His Word and obeying it. Also by prayer and service.
-Asa did not seek the LORD’S help with his serious foot disease. I want to seek the Lord’s help regarding my health, asking Him to give me and my doctors wisdom and guidance.
-I was struck by the fact that Jehoshaphat sent priests throughout Judah to teach the people from the Book of the Law. It is so important to teach God’s Word!!