2 CHRONICLES LESSON 16
We will begin this lesson in II Chronicles 16:1 "In the six and
thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up
against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none
go out or come in to Asa king of Judah."
Asa was a good king, who did right in the sight of the LORD.
Jerusalem was in the hands of Judah, but the immediate surrounding
territory, such as this Ramah, belonged to Benjamin. It appears, from
this, that Ramah had been taken away from Benjamin by Israel. Baasha
was the grandson of Jeroboam, and was just as evil as he had been. His
intent, in building up Ramah, was to stop traffic in, or out, of
Judah.
II Chronicles 16:2 "Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of
the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and
sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,"
II Chronicles 16:3 "[There is] a league between me and thee, as
[there was] between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee
silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that
he may depart from me."
There was not the amount of gold and silver there had been in the
temple, before. The temple had been robbed of much of its treasure in
the last war. There seemed to be some, however, and Asa sent this to
make peace with Ben-hadad at Damascus, Syria. A league that must be
bought with silver and gold is not permanent. The loyalty of Syria
seemed to be with the highest bidder, whoever that might be.
II Chronicles 16:4 "And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and
sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they
smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store cities of
Naphtali." II Chronicles 16:5 "And it came to pass, when Baasha heard
[it], that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease."
This attack on the other cities of Israel was to get Baasha out
of Ramah, so that Asa could take it back. Ben-hadad made an agreement
with Asa and helped Asa get his land back. Baasha had to go home and
protect his own cities from destruction. He had no time to try to take
Asa's cities.
II Chronicles 16:6 "Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they
carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith
Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah."
It appears, that Baasha had left in such a hurry, he left his
building material behind. Asa built Ramah up, and then built Geba and
Mizpah as fortresses to ward off another attack from Judah's enemies.
II Chronicles 16:7 "And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa
king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king
of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of
the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand."
God did not want His people looking for help from the heathen
kings. He was their help. Hanani, the seer, was the father of Jehu.
God had intended to give the Syrians into the hands of Judah. Now, Asa
had stopped that by making an alliance.
II Chronicles 16:8 "Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge
host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst
rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand."
God was reminding Asa that it was not important how large the
army was that came against Judah. God had been with them before, when
they had been greatly outnumbered, and would have been with them
again. They needed to cry out to God, not to the Syrians. God was
their very present help. They did not need earthly help.
II Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro
throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of
[them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done
foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars."
God was disappointed and angry with the decision they had made
without consulting Him. If their hearts had been right with God, He
would have protected them from all of their foes. They were placing
their faith in the arm of man, instead of in their LORD. He would
allow the wars to come upon them, to teach them where their true
source of help was.
II Chronicles 16:10 "Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put
him in a prison house; for [he was] in a rage with him because of this
[thing]. And Asa oppressed [some] of the people the same time."
Asa did not want to believe what the seer had said. He classified
him as a false prophet, and threw him in prison. The people who Asa
oppressed had, probably, agreed with the seer. Their oppression was
for not siding in with their king.
II Chronicles 16:11 "And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and
last, lo, they [are] written in the book of the kings of Judah and
Israel."
We did read a great deal about Asa in the book of Kings, chapter
15, in the Bible. This is, possibly, speaking of some additional
record books.
II Chronicles 16:12 "And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his
reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease [was] exceeding
[great]: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the
physicians."
This is a help to all of us who have an illness in our body. God
wants to be consulted about every aspect of our lives. This indicates,
had Asa prayed to God, he would have been healed. We see, in this,
that Asa depended more in the flesh of mankind, than he did in the One
who was Creator of that flesh. God created us, so He is perfectly
capable of helping His creation in their troubles.
II Chronicles 16:13 "And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in
the one and fortieth year of his reign."
Asa made some mistakes, as we all do, but over-all he was thought
of as a good king. He did restore worship in Judah, and he did destroy
the idols. His weakness lay in the fact that he trusted strong earthly
leaders.
II Chronicles 16:14 "And they buried him in his own sepulchres,
which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in
the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds [of
spices] prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great
burning for him."
It appears, that he prepared a room where he could be buried in
his bed. It was very much like the mausoleums of our day. He was not
in a coffin, but in his bed in a sealed room. The "burning" was,
possibly, the spices and perfumes to cover the odor of the decaying
body.
2 Chronicles 16 Questions
1. Who came against Judah to build Ramah?
2. __________ was the grandson of Jeroboam.
3. What did Asa take out of the temple, to give to the king of Syria?
4. Why was he to give him the things of the temple?
5. Who had there been a league between before, that caused Asa to
want this league?
6. Who was king of Syria?
7. Where was he staying?
8. What did Ben-hadad do on the behalf of Asa?
9. What did Baasha immediately do?
10. What did Asa do with the building materials, that Baasha left in
Ramah?
11. What were Geba and Mizpah?
12. What was the name of the seer that came to Asa?
13. What message did he bring Asa from God?
14. Hanani was the father of _______.
15. What victory did God remind Asa of?
16. Who is God constantly watching to help?
17. What punishment would come to Asa for this mistake?
18. What did Asa do with the seer?
19. Why did he do the same thing to some of the people?
20. Where are more of the acts of Asa written?
21. What disease did Asa have in his 39th year as king?
22. Who did he seek for help?
23. When did Asa die?
24. What was he buried in?
25. What was the "burning" spoken of in verse 14?
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