2 Chronicles 14:1-15

THE REIGN OF ASA

(vv.1-15)

Abijah was buried in Jerusalem and his son Asa took the throne of Judah. To his credit the land was quiet for ten years, with no attacking enemies, for the character of Asa was such that he did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord (vv.2-3). His faithfulness involved the constructive work of commanding Judah to seek the Lord and to observe the law, but some destructive work was no less important: he removed the high places and incense altars that had been introduced in Solomon's time and was continued by Rehoboam and Abijah.

But while the land enjoyed rest from war, he was wise in preparing for wan He built fortified cities in Judah and encouraged the people to build and make walls about the including towers, gates and bars. Believers today also are wise to take advantage of times of peace to store up the Word of God in their hearts as a protection from the attacks of the enemy that are sure to come eventually. Thus Asa's prosperity is an incentive for us today to learn to prosper spiritually while we have opportunity for it.

Asa also gathered an army of 300,000 from Judah and 280,000 from Benjamin, all capable warriors (v.8). However, after ten years of his reigning the king of Ethiopia came to attack him with an army of one million men and 300 chariots (v.9). Thus, he had 420,000 more men than Asa had. But Asa was not discouraged. After setting his troops in battle array, he prayed a prayer of simple confidence in the Lord, reminding Him, "it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who 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; do not let men prevail against You" (v.11).

Such genuine confidence in the Lord produced the results we ought to expect. By the Lord's intervention the Ethiopians were routed in fear. Asa's army pursued them and overthrew all their power, leaving them without any ability to recover. Judah carried away a great amount of spoil (v.13). At the same time they defeated all the cities around Gerar. This was Philistine territory which really belonged to Judah, but had not been possessed by them. From these cities they took a great amount of plunder also, including much livestock (vv.14-15).