2 Chronicles 15

1 When God's spirit came upon Azariah, Oded's son,

2 he confronted Asa: "Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin," he said. "The LORD is with you as long as you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you abandon him, he will abandon you.

3 For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach them, and without the Instruction.

4 But in their time of trouble they turned to the LORD, Israel's God. They sought him and found him!

5 At that time, it wasn't safe to travel because great turmoil affected all the inhabitants of the area.

6 Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, as God troubled them with every kind of problem.

7 But as for you, be brave and don't lose heart, because your work will be rewarded!"

Asa’s reforms

8 As soon as Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah, Oded's son, he felt brave and removed the detestable idols from all of Judah and Benjamin, as well as from the cities he had captured in Ephraim's highlands, and he repaired the LORD's altar that stood before the LORD's entrance hall.

9 Then Asa gathered all Judah and Benjamin, along with those who were living among them as immigrants from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon, because many people from Israel had joined up with him when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.

10 They gathered in Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa's rule.

11 On that day they sacrificed to the LORD part of the loot they had taken: seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.

12 They made a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and all their being.

13 They agreed that anyone who refused to seek the LORD, Israel's God, would be put to death, whether young or old, male or female.

14 They swore this to the LORD with a loud voice, shouts of joy, and blasts from trumpets and horns.

15 All Judah was delighted with the solemn pledge because they had sworn it with all their hearts. When they enthusiastically sought God, he was found by them, and the LORD gave them peace on every side.

16 Asa the king even removed his grandmother Maacah from the position of queen mother because she had made an image of Asherah. Asa cut down her image, pulverized it, and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

17 Although the shrines weren't removed from Israel, Asa nevertheless remained committed with all his heart throughout his life.

18 He brought into God's temple the various silver and gold objects that he and his father had dedicated.

19 There was no war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa's rule.

2 Chronicles 15 Commentary

Chapter 15

The people make a solemn covenant with God.

- The work of complete reformation appeared so difficult, that Asa had not courage to attempt it, till assured of Divine assistance and acceptance. He and his people offered sacrifices to God; thanksgiving for the favours they had received, and supplication for further favours. Prayers and praises are now our spiritual sacrifices. The people, of their own will, covenanted to seek the Lord, each for himself, with earnestness. What is religion but seeking God, inquiring after him, applying to him upon all occasions? We make nothing of our religion, if we do not make heart-work of it; God will have all the heart, or none. Our devotedness to God our Saviour, should be avowed and shown in the most solemn and public manner. What is done in hypocrisy is a mere drudgery.

Footnotes

• [a]. Cf Syr, Vulg; MT and the prophecy of the prophet Oded

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 15

Asa returning from the battle, and with the spoil of the enemy, was met by a prophet of the Lord, who encouraged him to go on with the work of reformation, promising the presence and help of God with him, 2Ch 15:1-7, which inspired him with fresh courage, and he went about the work with great alacrity; and having offered sacrifices, he and his people entered into a solemn covenant with the Lord, to serve him, 2Ch 15:8-15 upon which he destroyed his mother's idol, brought the dedicated things into the house of God, and the effect of this was peace for a long time, 2Ch 15:16-19.