James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary
2 Chronicles 14:2
GOOD KING ASA
‘Asa did that which was good.’
I. Asa’s good beginning.—When Asa came to the throne he found the land overrun with idolatry. The first task to which he put his hand was that of a religious reformation. He let it be known at once that he was on God’s side, and that he meant to rule in the fear of God. It was a noble beginning. Asa, in his resolve boldly to confess God and to begin right, is a pattern to us to-day. When we enter a new position let us take our stand boldly from the very beginning.
II. Religion and rest.—Asa began by banishing idolatry: and calling upon the people to serve God, and the chronicler says that ‘the kingdom was quiet before him.’ Notice the sequence: ‘Asa sought the Lord … the Lord gave him rest.’ Religion and rest go hand in hand.
III. Asa’s forethought.—During those years of quiet which God gave his people Asa put his country, as we should say, into a position of defence. For all around Judah there were nations that cast hungry eyes upon her territory, and were only waiting for a favourable opportunity to pounce upon it. So Asa prepared against possible attack. There is a lesson for all in Asa’s forethought. We fight not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. And the way to be safe against the attacks of these dread foes is to be prepared for war. What the armour is St. Paul tells us.
IV. God—a present help.—Asa’s vast preparations seemed useless, but on the eve of the conflict he addressed a confident appeal to God. And Asa did not call in vain. The Lord did help him, with the result that the immense Ethiopian army was destroyed ‘before the Lord and before His host.’ So (1) to have God on one’s side is to be sure of victory. (2) God is always within call. He is a ‘present help.’