Asa was the grandson of Rehoboam, in whose days, and through whose folly, Israel had been divided into two kingdoms. The division had been attended and followed by much ill-feeling, and during the reign of Ahijah, this had culminated in the battle of Mount Ephraim, in which Israel was defeated with heavy slaughter, although twice as strong in numbers as their opponents. No less than five hundred thousand of the chosen men of Israel were slain in this conflict. "Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the Lord God of their fathers." (2 Chronicles 13:18)
Removing the Idols
Israel was long in recovering from the severe defeat then sustained, and after Asa's accession to the throne there was a period of ten years of unbroken peace. The time was spent in clearing out of the kingdom of Judah the idolatrous relics of King Solomon's apostasy. The altars of the strange gods were taken away, and the images of the sun were destroyed out of all the cities of Judah. A royal proclamation was sent throughout the country, commanding the people to seek the Lord and obey His commandments.
Religious Legislation
There are many nowadays who think that because such proclamations as these are recorded in the Scriptures, it was right to issue them, and that it is still right to enforce matters of religion by the law of the land. But, although Asa was a reformer, he showed by this edict that he did not fully appreciate the character of the worship which God requires of His people.
God's law is a law of love. By His loving-kindness He draws men to himself, and His commandments are given, not as rigid, autocratic requirements, but as a word of life, promising to all who hear and live the righteousness they set forth. Christ was the law of God in life and action, for "love is the fulfilling of the law," (Romans 13:10) and Christ was perfect love. Whoever would get correct ideas of the law of God will find them in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, who said: "Your law is within my heart." (Psalm 40:8)
He came not to condemn but to save. "If there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law." (Galatians 3:21) "But what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son ... condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us." (Romans 8:3-4)
God's Word is strong enough in itself to accomplish the thing whereto He sends it, and if the Word prove weak through the flesh, the flesh does not improve matters by promulgating a supplementary law of its own. The only effect of this is to hide from view the efficiency of the Divine Word, and thereby diminish faith in it.
Ensuring Peace
Asa showed further that he did not appreciate what God wanted to be to His people, by the measures he took to secure peace. In another proclamation to Judah, he admitted that because they had sought the Lord, He had given them rest on every side; yet, instead of exhorting them to continue to seek the Lord, and thus maintain their security, he ordered that they should build fortified cities, "and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars." (2 Chronicles 14:7)
In the same spirit he increased his army, until it numbered nearly six hundred thousand men, all of them mighty men of valor.
The Way of Peace
It is true that when God blesses men, with peace or any other good, He uses means; but we ought not to look for the fulfillment of the divine purpose through means which He has not provided. The measures taken by Asa were such precautions as might well be adopted by the heathen who knew not God, but the Lord did not design that His people should be preserved in peace by increasing their armaments.
At the present time the world is largely of opinion that the nation best prepared for war stands the best chance of maintaining peace, and statesmen and politicians claim that it would be criminal neglect to allow their nation to fall behind in the headlong race for military pre-eminence.
But peace can only come in the knowledge that the Lord's protection is over us, for "except the Lord keep the city, the watchman wakes but in vain." (Psalm 127:1)
If Judah had committed their ways unto the Lord, He would have seen that their peace was not disturbed. "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You." (Isaiah 26:3) "When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." (Proverbs 16:7)
The Ethiopian Invasion
This was soon demonstrated to Asa. A great king was advancing rapidly toward the border of Judah, conquering as he went, and threatening Asa's kingdom with the horrors of a barbarian invasion. The continual struggle between Egypt and Ethiopia had ended for the present in the subjugation of the former country, and Zerah, king of Ethiopia, had joined Egypt and the surrounding countries to his own. Now he was come forth, with more than a million warriors in his train, to lay waste the land of Palestine. Asa despaired of overthrowing this army with his own, Judah's numerous forces and fenced cities were seen to be of no avail in this tremendous crisis. "And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with You to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on You, and in your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; let not man prevail against You." (2 Chronicles 14:11)
A Needed Experience
God could have easily hindered the Ethiopian army from approaching Palestine and doubtless the faith of some waxed faint as they watched with growing apprehension the steady advance of the invading host. But the lesson was needed.
God would teach His people that their security did not consist in armies and fortifications, that it was indeed nothing to Him whether He were called to help those who were many, or those who had no power. To the extent that armies and walled cities obscured the need of His protecting presence, they were no gain at all, but a decided loss.
Asa's prayer showed that the danger which God had allowed to threaten the nation had taught him the intended lesson. It indicated complete dependence upon the Lord, and the Lord amply honored the trust reposed in Him. "So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah." (2 Chronicles 14:12)
Their overthrow was so complete that they could not recover themselves. Zerah's conquering career was checked, and he returned to the country of Ethiopia, abandoning his foreign conquests and devoting his attention to the restoration of his own shattered kingdom.
Lifting the Standard
Once more the knowledge of the true God had shone out, and His power been seen, "working salvation in the midst of the earth." (Psalm 74:12)
God would deepen the lesson in the hearts of His people, so as Asa was returning with rejoicing to Jerusalem, a prophet was sent to meet him, declaring that if they would continue to seek the Lord, He would certainly be found of them. They were therefore exhorted to be strong and fearless in the Lord, for their work would be plentifully rewarded.
Asa took courage from these promises and applied himself diligently to the work of exterminating every vestige of idolatry, not even tolerating it among his own relations, and all Judah joined him in the work with their whole heart. As the reformation spread, those in the kingdom of Israel who desired to worship the Lord in truth, left their homes, "for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the Lord his God was with him." (2 Chronicles 15:9)
God was drawing to himself all who would be drawn, and those in Israel who rejected this opportunity of uniting themselves with the worshipers of Jehovah, sank lower and lower in idolatry, until the time soon came when there were only seven thousand in all the land who had not bowed the knee to Baal. (1 Kings 19:18; Romans 11:4)
A Foolish Policy
God was desirous that His people should keep in mind the victory over Zerah, but it faded from their memories, and when, after twenty-five years of peace, trouble again arose between the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, Asa made appeal for assistance, not to Jehovah, but to the heathen king of Syria.
It seemed as though the arrangement worked satisfactorily. The immediate difficulty was averted, but in turning away from the Lord, Asa had turned away from that which alone made peace sure to his kingdom. The Lord sent word to him that he had done foolishly, and that from thenceforth he would have wars. The messenger asked: "Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims [Libyans] a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because you did rely on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand." (2 Chronicles 16:8)
A Reliable God
The Lord likes to be relied upon. He makes great promises to those who will trust Him, declaring that they "shall never be put to shame, nor confounded, world without end." (Isaiah 45:17)
He is strong enough and willing enough to do for His people all that they need, but although He has given innumerable evidences of His power and love, it is rarely that He finds any who care to trust Him. "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards Him." (2 Chronicles 16:9)
One who realizes his need, and determines to trust the Lord's promise to supply all his need, should never fear that he is going to be disappointed. The Lord has been searching the whole earth for just such a case, to give Him an opportunity of showing what He can do, and now, if the man will only continue to trust Him, the Lord will show himself strong in his behalf.
Taking the Name of God
God did not ask Asa to keep up a huge army, and thus take all possible precautions against his enemies. He asked simply that Asa would rely upon Him, and trust, not in horses and chariots, but in the living God. It did not offend Him that Asa should say: "In your name we go against this multitude...let not man prevail against You," (2 Chronicles 14:11) for He has identified himself to the full with our cause and interests, and to all who thus acknowledge their intimate relation with God, and claim the privileges which the relationship confers, the promise is given: "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." (Exodus 20:7)--Present Truth, September 22, 1898--Notes on the International Sunday-School Lessons--2 Chronicles 14:2-12
E.J. Waggoner