Don’t Stop Relying on the Lord.

King Asa was a notable king. He, unlike many others, did what was good and right in the sight of the Lord. He removed foreign altars and high places, tore down pagan pillars, was successful in battle…As long as he relied on the Lord, all was well with him.

‭‭II Chronicles‬ ‭14‬:‭2‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Asa did what was good and 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. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment. He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom was quiet under him. And he built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest; he had no war in those years, because the Lord had given him rest.”

‭‭II Chronicles‬ ‭14‬:‭9‬-‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ - Emphasis added 

“Then Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah. So Asa went out against him, and they set the troops in battle array in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, “Lord, 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 man prevail against You!” So the Lord struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.”

 Now if Asa was such a great king, where did he go wrong, you may ask? When he stopped relying on the Lord. 

Let’s jump to 2 Chronicles 16 to learn from his mistake.  

‭‭II Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, 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. Then Asa brought silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the Lord and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben-Hadad king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying, “Let there be a treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you silver and gold; come, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”

We see a similar situation happen in chapter 14 when the Ethiopians came out against Asa with a million men and three hundred chariots.  Asa called on the Lord and He was faithful to deliver him, remember? Well, this time, instead of relying on the Lord for help, King Asa chooses to take matters into his own hands. Wrong move.

‭‭II Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Let there be a treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you silver and gold; come, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”

To correct him for his lack of trust, the Lord sends Hanani the seer to correct Asa!

‭‭II Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ - Emphasis added 

‭‭ “Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. 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. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.” Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time.”

You see, when we stop relying on the Lord, it is an act of disloyalty to Him.

‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭9‬ ‭AMP‬‬ Emphasis added 

“For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth so that He may support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this; therefore, from now on you will have wars.”

The Lord is willing, ready and able to support those whose heart is loyal to Him. But if we stop relying on Him, He is no longer obligated to support us. Matter of fact, King Asa was even warned of this in 2 Chronicles 15:2. 

‭‭II Chronicles‬ ‭15:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Emphasis added 

“Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded. And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. 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.”

To conclude his tragic fall, let’s take a look at verse 12.

‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭12‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa developed a disease in his feet. His disease was severe, yet even in his illness he did not seek the Lord, but [relied only on] the physicians.”

Even on his death bed, King Asa STILL acted foolishly by not relying on the Lord and ONLY on the physicians. As if! 

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭AMP‬‬. Emphasis added 

“Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord [with reverent awe and obedience] and turn [entirely] away from evil. [Prov 8:13]”

Let us learn from King Asa’s mistake. Do not stop relying on the Lord because as we see with King Asa, it will cost you when you don’t.