Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 15:1-19
Helpful thoughts:
- In this word from the Lord, Asa was given a short history of Israel and a promise from the Lord quite similar to the one received by Solomon. If Asa and Judah would follow the Lord, the Lord would be with them.
- The promise to put anyone who worshiped an idol to death might sound extreme. However, this was a promise to obey what was already in the Law which God had given to Israel (Deuteronomy 17:2-5).
- Committing to keep this law was also an act of confession.
- In what would have been a very symbolic gesture, even Asa’s grandmother (The Queen Mother) was not exempt from this vow. She was removed from office and her statue destroyed.
- The “high places” were places of worship scattered around outside the cities of Israel and Judah. They would most likely have been places where pagan worship had occurred. Asa’s reforms fell short in that those places were not entirely destroyed.
Questions to consider:
- Given the nature of the worship and polytheism practiced in Judah at that time, what “risks” might it have looked like Asa was taking to declare loyalty to the Lord alone? In what ways was God’s grace on display in this time of revival for the nation?
- Even in a nation like Judah (Or Israel) following the Word of God in the fear of the Lord can be contrary to public opinion. How must the Christian today be resolved to follow King Jesus and seek His kingdom first in the midst of the world? Where is our allegiance? Who must we obey?
- How can the call to remove the “high places” be an example to us? What did the presence of those high places allow Judah to return to without much trouble? Are there any “high places” in your life or daily routine that need to go in order to help you pursue God with your whole mind?