2 Chronicles 16:1-14 - The Eyes of the Lord See Loyalty

2 Chronicles 16:1-14

Asa’s Treaty with Syria (1 Kings 15:16–22)

1 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. 2 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, 3 ”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.”

4 So Ben-Hadad heeded King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel. They attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali. 5 Now it happened, when Baasha heard it, that he stopped building Ramah and ceased his work. 6 Then King Asa took all Judah, and they carried away the stones and timber of Ramah, which Baasha had used for building; and with them he built Geba and Mizpah.

Hanani’s Message to Asa

7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. 8 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. 9 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.” 10 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.

Illness and Death of Asa (1 Kings 15:23, 24)

11 Note that the acts of Asa, first and last, are indeed written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12 And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians.

13 So Asa rested with his fathers; he died in the forty-first year of his reign. 14 They buried him in his own tomb, which he had made for himself in the City of David; and they laid him in the bed which was filled with spices and various ingredients prepared in a mixture of ointments. They made a very great burning for him.

Asa trusted in his own wisdom to make a peace treaty with Syria to gain military might over Israel instead of trusting in the LORD God and finding peace in Him alone.  This was effective in stopping the war with their brethren of Israel but God then sent a prophet to Asa to point out that he had not been relying on the LORD, but on an earthly army.  He reminded the king of Judah to look at the past when God triumphed over their enemies and delivered them when he had trusted and obeyed the divine.  He reminded Asa and us that the LORD does look around the whole world to see who has a loyal heart set on Him and not their own power or strength or wisdom.  A loyal heart means literally one at peace in God, שָׁלֵם šâlêm, as it relies on and trusts by faith in His word and work because of His proven character and actions.  Asa did not take this message from God well and imprisoned the prophet.  When we hear someone show us God’s word and will to stop relying on self and lean wholeheartedly on Him, how do we react?  In humble submission and faith, or in continuing to pursue our own protection and victory?  May we always seek the Lord in humble submission of trust and reliance instead as we consider the example (1 Corinthians 10:11-12, 13) of Asa here and hope in God alone through Christ alone by faith alone.  The eyes of the Lord are omnipresent and He is watching us to see hearts finding loyalty in the peace of God beyond our understanding (2 Corinthians 10:17-18, 12:9, 10) to rely on against the enemy in His wisdom and strength.  The eyes of the Lord see our loyalty.