Abijam and Asa, Kings of Judah
[ READ ] 1 Kings 15:1–24
Abijam Reigns in Judah
1 Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah. 2 He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. 3 And he walked in all the sins that his father did before him, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father. 4 Nevertheless, for David's sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem, 5 because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 6 Now there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. 7 The rest of the acts of Abijam and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. 8 And Abijam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And Asa his son reigned in his place.
Asa Reigns in Judah
9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah, 10 and he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. 11 And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as David his father had done. 12 He put away the male cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 13 He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother because she had made an abominable image for Asherah. And Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron. 14 But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true to the Lord all his days. 15 And he brought into the house of the Lord the sacred gifts of his father and his own sacred gifts, silver, and gold, and vessels.
16 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 17 Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might permit no one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 18 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king's house and gave them into the hands of his servants. And King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, saying, 19 “Let there be a covenant[a] between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending to you a present of silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me.” 20 And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel and conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. 21 And when Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and he lived in Tirzah. 22 Then King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah, none was exempt, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had been building, and with them King Asa built Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah. 23 Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, all his might, and all that he did, and the cities that he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? But in his old age he was diseased in his feet. 24 And Asa slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.
1 Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah. 2 He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. 3 And he walked in all the sins that his father did before him, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father. 4 Nevertheless, for David's sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem, 5 because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 6 Now there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. 7 The rest of the acts of Abijam and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. 8 And Abijam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And Asa his son reigned in his place.
Asa Reigns in Judah
9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah, 10 and he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. 11 And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as David his father had done. 12 He put away the male cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 13 He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother because she had made an abominable image for Asherah. And Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron. 14 But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true to the Lord all his days. 15 And he brought into the house of the Lord the sacred gifts of his father and his own sacred gifts, silver, and gold, and vessels.
16 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 17 Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might permit no one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 18 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king's house and gave them into the hands of his servants. And King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, saying, 19 “Let there be a covenant[a] between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending to you a present of silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me.” 20 And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel and conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. 21 And when Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and he lived in Tirzah. 22 Then King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah, none was exempt, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had been building, and with them King Asa built Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah. 23 Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, all his might, and all that he did, and the cities that he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? But in his old age he was diseased in his feet. 24 And Asa slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.
Something about Asa's story feels familiar. Here's a king who takes some pretty bold steps to honor God. He removes idols from Judah and even removes his own grandmother from her position of authority because of her idolatry. That's not easy. But a few verses later, when his kingdom is threatened, Asa takes silver and gold from the temple to secure an alliance with another king. The same man who was willing to confront his own family over faithfulness to God now struggles to trust God when his security is on the line.
I wonder how often we do the same thing. We can trust God in one area of our lives and struggle to trust him in another. We can recognize the idols around us while completely missing the things we've come to depend on. And what's interesting is that Asa's plan actually worked. He got the outcome he wanted. But just because something works doesn't mean it was the right thing to do. Maybe the question isn't simply whether we trust God, but where our trust starts to fall apart. What happens when the things we love, the things we've built, or the things that make us feel secure are threatened? That's usually when we find out what we're really depending on.
- David Bempong
I wonder how often we do the same thing. We can trust God in one area of our lives and struggle to trust him in another. We can recognize the idols around us while completely missing the things we've come to depend on. And what's interesting is that Asa's plan actually worked. He got the outcome he wanted. But just because something works doesn't mean it was the right thing to do. Maybe the question isn't simply whether we trust God, but where our trust starts to fall apart. What happens when the things we love, the things we've built, or the things that make us feel secure are threatened? That's usually when we find out what we're really depending on.
- David Bempong
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What stands out to you in this passage? What do you notice about Asa's actions?
+ How does Asa's response to the threat from Baasha compare with the way he dealt with idolatry in Judah?
+ What stands out to you in this passage? What do you notice about Asa's actions?
+ How does Asa's response to the threat from Baasha compare with the way he dealt with idolatry in Judah?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where in your life do you find it easiest to trust God? Where do you struggle to trust him?
+ Have you ever made a decision that worked out the way you wanted, but looking back, you wonder whether you were really trusting God?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where in your life do you find it easiest to trust God? Where do you struggle to trust him?
+ Have you ever made a decision that worked out the way you wanted, but looking back, you wonder whether you were really trusting God?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, thank you for being faithful to us even when our trust in you falls short. Forgive us for the times we take matters into our own hands instead of depending on you. Help us recognize the things we've come to rely on more than you, especially when we're afraid or uncertain. Teach us to trust you, not just when it's easy, but when we feel like we have something to lose. In Jesus' name, amen.
+ Pray with me:
Father, thank you for being faithful to us even when our trust in you falls short. Forgive us for the times we take matters into our own hands instead of depending on you. Help us recognize the things we've come to rely on more than you, especially when we're afraid or uncertain. Teach us to trust you, not just when it's easy, but when we feel like we have something to lose. In Jesus' name, amen.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ What is one area of your life where you're learning to trust God more? Share that with someone today and ask them to pray with you.
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ What is one area of your life where you're learning to trust God more? Share that with someone today and ask them to pray with you.
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