King Asa 4of4: Man’s Reliance On God Is For God’s Glory, Part 2of2, Evans Olang

2Chronicles 16:1-14, “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. … 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”

If there was anyone who could have made use of God’s provision by allowing himself to be an outlet, channel, instrument by which God would glorify Himself was Asa. Yet in some of the later decisions he made in his life cost him dearly. The bible says vs. “9…In this you have done foolishly…” perhaps to indicate that what he did was not necessarily sin because even at the end he was still considered a righteous man, but because he chose some things God had provided over God being the object of his living he finished poorly.The heart center of a Christian life is found right in the middle of the bible, meaning from Genesis to Revelation after putting all books and chapters in place, it’s been said that Psalms 118:8 is found right at the center of the bible. The same distance between Genesis to Psalm 118:8 is the same distance from this verse to the book of Revelation. And it says “It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man”, Psalm 118:8.

Asa became angry when reproved, something he should have cherished. On the other hand, David humbled himself when reproved by Nathan and he repented allowing his relationship with God to be restored. In Asa’s anger, he put the seer in prison and those who held the same position as that of the seer. How well we are bent towards oppressing others who are instruments God uses to reprove us instead of accepting them as agents of change. Some become angry and leave or find ways to oppress the reprover. This rebuke was pungent and, from its truth and justness, ought to have penetrated and afflicted the heart of such a man as Asa. But his pride was offended at the freedom taken by the honest reprover of royalty, and in a burst of passionate resentment. If the Lord is no longer in charge, expect things to get out of control. That was the state of Saul when the presence of the Lord departed.

The Lord being gracious and slow to anger gave him another chance when he was sick, “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”. He ended up dying almost two years later. He shows that it is useless to seek the physicians unless we first seek God to purge our sins, which are the chief cause of all our diseases, and later use the help of the physicians as a means by which God also works.

Asa’s later days robbed God of the glory He would have enjoyed being God to Asa and his kingdom. Moses forfeited entering the promised land because He robbed God of the glory He would have enjoyed. Instead of speaking to the rock to provide water, he became angry at the Israelites and struck the rock twice. Read what happened, Numbers 20:12, “Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “BECAUSE YOU DID NOT BELIEVE ME, TO HALLOW ME IN THE EYES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

For the sake of God’s great name, we ought to make Psalm 118 our daily cry. Psalm 118:1 “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2 Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.” 3 Let the house of Aaron now say, “His mercy endures forever.” 4 Let those who fear the Lord now say, “His mercy endures forever.” 5 I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. 6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? 7 The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me. 8 It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in princes. 10 All nations surrounded me, But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. 11 They surrounded me, Yes, they surrounded me; But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. 12 They surrounded me like bees; They were quenched like a fire of thorns; For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. 13 You pushed me violently, that I might fall, But the Lord helped me. 14 The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. 15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. 16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. 17 I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the Lord. 18 The Lord has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death. 19 Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the Lord. 20 This is the gate of the Lord, Through which the righteous shall enter. 21 I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation. 22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord. 27 God is the Lord, And He has given us light; Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You. 29 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever”

God plagued both Asa and Moses’ rebellion and by this declared that it is nothing to begin well, unless we continue to the end, that is, zealous for God’s glory and put our whole trust in Him. God says, “23 And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes”, Ezekiel 36:23. You leave God out and you have no chance. And involving Him is not for your name sake but His “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.” , 2Chronicles 16:9. Blessings Ev

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