This week's Come Follow Me study.
Today, we begin our study in 2 Chronicles, focusing on the reign of King Asa of Judah, as found in chapters 14 through 16. This week's theme emphasizes that when we seek the Lord and put our trust in Him, He will deliver us and provide strength in times of adversity.
Here are today's assigned scriptures:
King Asa was the third king of Judah, and his reign began with a strong commitment to righteousness. He actively removed idolatry from the land, tearing down foreign altars and pagan shrines, and commanded the people of Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers. For a decade, the land experienced peace under his righteous leadership. However, this peace was challenged when Zerah the Ethiopian attacked Judah with a massive army of a million men. In this moment of overwhelming adversity, Asa turned to the Lord in earnest prayer, acknowledging God's power to help the powerless, and trusting in Him alone. The Lord delivered Judah, and they achieved a great victory. Following this, the prophet Azariah encouraged Asa and the people, declaring, "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). Inspired by this message, Asa renewed his reforms, and the people entered into a covenant to seek the Lord with all their heart and soul, bringing a prolonged period of rest from war.
Later in his reign, however, when King Baasha of Israel came against Judah, Asa chose a different path. Instead of relying on the Lord, he used silver and gold from the temple and his own palace to form an alliance with King Ben-hadad of Syria. Hanani the seer rebuked Asa for this lack of faith, reminding him of the earlier victory against the Ethiopians that came through relying on God. The seer proclaimed, "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" (2 Chronicles 16:9). Asa reacted with anger, imprisoning the seer and oppressing some of the people. Even in his final illness, he "sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians" (2 Chronicles 16:12), highlighting a shift from his earlier trust in God.
Reflective Questions:
Closing Tying Insight:
King Asa's life beautifully illustrates the divine principle that when we seek the Lord, He will be found of us, and He will deliver and strengthen us. His initial victories and periods of peace were direct results of his fervent efforts to cleanse the land and trust in God. However, his later struggles and lack of deliverance highlight the critical importance of continuously seeking the Lord, not just in crisis, but always. As endowed members, we covenant to always remember the Savior and follow Him. Today, let us covenant to actively choose Christ and seek His guidance in every decision, remembering that true strength comes from continually turning to Him, regardless of our circumstances.