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In II Chronicles 14:1 it says, "Then Asa his son reigned in his place." He came to power after the death of his father Abijah. It also says in 14:2 that, "Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God, for he removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places, and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images.
Verse 4 says, "He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandments." King Asa was on a mission to bring reform to Judah and Benjamin; and he did quite well as long as he relied on God.
II Chronicles 15:1 says, the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded, and he had a message for Asa. "The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you." Azariah also says in verse 7, "But be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded."
Asa certainly led the people back to God, bringing about many different reforms. Judah and Benjamin were blessed with peace until the 35th year of his reign. In the 36th year of his reign, Baasha, king of Israel came up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
I'm not sure what happened to Asa at that time, was he getting older and self-reliant? For some reason he chose to call on Ben-Hadad, king of Syria, when he should have humbled himself before God and asked for wisdom and deliverance. Because Asa did not rely on God, God allowed the Syrian army to escape from his hand. As judgment, God also sent wars upon Judah and Benjamin instead of peace.
So how does this story apply to you and me today in our everyday lives?
1. If we are doing God's work and relying on Him, He will bless our efforts and our work will be rewarded.
2. If we turn from God and rely on the people and things of this world, He will not bless our efforts, but will judge us.
"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him," II Chronicles 16:9. Comments or questions, contact me at: thoughtsonword@gmail.com