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JULY 10
DAY 9: How did a godly king respond to crises?
Second Chronicles 14:1–16:14 records the reign of Asa in Judah (ca. 911–870 B.C.). First Kings
15:11 says that Asa did as his forefather David had done—honoring God while building the king-
dom (vv.6–8).Times of peace were used for strengthening.“Asa did what was good and right in the
eyes of LORD his God” (v. 2). He removed elements of false worship that had accumulated over the
years of Solomon, Rehoboam, and Abijah (1 Kin. 15:12,13). Apparently, he did not remove all the
high places or, once removed, they reappeared (1 Kin. 15:14; 1 Chr. 15:6). His son Jehoshaphat later
had to remove them (2 Chr.17:6),although not completely (1 Chr.20:33).This was done in an effort
to comply with Deuteronomy 12:2,3.
Asa had an army of 580,000 men “who carried shields and drew bows; all these were mighty
men of valor” (v. 8).Yet a major threat developed from Zerah, the Ethiopian, probably on behalf of
the Egyptian Pharaoh, who was attempting to regain control as Shishak had during the days of
Rehoboam (2 Chr.12:7,8),ca.901–900 B.C.The Ethiopians came against them with “an army of a million
men and three hundred chariots”(v. 9).
Asa’s appeal to God centered on God’s omnipotence and reputation and is well worth mem-
orizing.“LORD, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power;
help us,…O LORD,You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!” (v. 11). God’s response was
to strike the Ethiopian army and overthrow them.“And they carried away very much spoil”(v.13).It
appears that this great horde was a nomadic people who moved with all their possessions and had
set up their camp near Gerar.The spoils of Judah’s victory were immense.

great turmoil was on all the inhabitants of the
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July 10 lands. So nation was destroyed by nation, and
city by city, for God troubled them with every
adversity. But you, be strong and do not let
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your hands be weak, for your work shall be
2 Chronicles 15:1–16:14
rewarded!”
Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah 8 And when Asa heard these words and the
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15 the son of Oded. And he went out to prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took
meet Asa, and said to him: “Hear me, Asa, and courage, and removed the abominable idols
all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and
while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He from the cities which he had taken in the
will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, mountains of Ephraim; and he restored the
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He will forsake you. For a long time Israel has altar of the LORD that was before the vestibule
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been without the true God, without a teaching of the LORD. Then he gathered all Judah and
priest, and without law; but when in their Benjamin, and those who dwelt with them
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trouble they turned to the LORD God of Israel, from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon, for
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and sought Him, He was found by them. And they came over to him in great numbers from
in those times there was no peace to the one Israel when they saw that the LORD his God
who went out, nor to the one who came in, but was with him.
10 So they gathered together at Jerusalem in
the third month, in the fifteenth year of the
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reign of Asa. And they offered to the LORD at
that time seven hundred bulls and seven thou-
15:1 Spirit of God. An act of the Holy Spirit, sand sheep from the spoil they had brought.
common in the Old Testament, enabling ser- 12 Then they entered into a covenant to seek
vants of God to speak or act uniquely for Him. the LORD God of their fathers with all their
Azariah. This man was a prophet mentioned heart and with all their soul; and whoever
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only here,who met Asa as he returned from the
victory and spoke to him before all his army. would not seek the LORD God of Israel was to
be put to death, whether small or great,
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whether man or woman. Then they took an
15:2 The spiritual truth here is basic, namely
that God is present and powerful in defense of oath before the LORD with a loud voice, with
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His obedient people.While good Asa ruled for shouting and trumpets and rams’ horns. And
41 years, 8 wicked kings ruled in Israel, includ- all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had
ing Jeroboam,who,along with the others,was sworn with all their heart and sought Him
a negative illustration of this truth. with all their soul; and He was found by them,
and the LORD gave them rest all around.
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