Dave Burnette's Commentary

2 Chronicles Chapter 15

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Ezra
Date Penned: (430 BC)
Overview: A History of God's Chosen People (c 1-36)
Theme: The Kingdom of Judah (c 10-36)
Message: Asa Rebuilds the Altar (v 1-19)

2 Chronicles 15 Commentary 

(15:1-2) Asa listens to the people of God - Asa wisely welcomed people who had a close relationship with God, and he listened to their messages. Azariah gave the armies an important warning and encouraged them to stay close to God. Keep in contact with people who are filled with God's Spirit, and you will learn God's counsel. Spend regular time in discussion and prayer with those who can help explain and apply God's message. Surround yourself with influences and people who encourage you to keep the commitments you make to God.


(15:3) Judah Follows the Lord While Israel Fails To Do So - Azariah said that Israel, the northern kingdom, was "without the true God." Eight kings reigned in Israel during the 41-year rule of Asa in Judah, and all eight were evil. Jeroboam, the first ruler of Israel, began this wicked trend by setting up idols and expelling God's priests (11:13-15). Azariah used Israel's problems as an example of the evil that would come to Judah if the people turned away from God as their northern brothers and sisters had.


(15:7) Judah is Rewarded for Obedience - Azariah encouraged the people of Judah to keep up the good work: "For your work shall be rewarded." This is an inspiration for us, too. Recognition and reward are great motivators that have two dimensions: (1) The temporal dimension. Living by God's standards and remaining faithful to him may result in acclaim here on earth. (2) The eternal dimension. We will experience the fullness of God's presence and eternal life if we are faithful to God now and throughout our lives. Permanent recognition and reward will be given in the next life. Be encouraged even if you feel your faith in God will not be rewarded here on earth. No matter what happens here, we will experience true freedom and wholeness in the kingdom of God.


(15:14-15) Judah Declares Allegiance to God - Many people find it difficult to commit themselves to anything. They are tentative, indecisive, and afraid of responsibility. Asa and his people were different--they had clearly declared themselves for God. Their oath of allegiance was punctuated with shouts and trumpet blasts! This decisive and wholehearted commitment pleased God and resulted in peace for the nation. If you want peace, examine yourself to see where you might lack total commitment to God. Peace comes as a by-product of giving your he wholeheartedly to God.


(15:16) Asa Follows God Over Family - The Ten Commandments tell us to honor our fathers and mothers, and yet Asa removed his "mother" (actually his grandmother) from the throne. While honoring parents and grandparents is God's command, maintaining loyalty to God is an even higher priority. Jesus warned that respect for parents should never keep us from following him (Luke 14:26). If you have unbelieving parents, you need to respect and honor them, but you must make devotion to God an even higher priority. (For more on this, see the note on Exodus 20:12 about how to treat parents.


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Generational Sins

 Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we Continue in the book of 2 Chronicles with Chapter 15 and we see Asa rebuilds the altar as he drives out the idols that his father failed to remove. In making application we see that we can have victory over past family failures. We don't have to continue in the sinful struggles of our past generations. Many of us have family sins that seem to continue from generation to generation. As Christians we don't have to follow in our fathers footsteps. There is freedom and victory in Christ as when HE moves in we see the chains broken of past. How about you? Do you see generational sin in your family? Let us learn from our text today and the example of Asa to be reminded that the sins of the past and our former generations are broken when we follow the Lord.

 

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2 Chronicles 15

2 Chronicles 15

 1And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:

 2And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.

 3Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.

 4But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.

 5And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries.

 6And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity.

 7Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.

 8And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD.

 9And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.

 10So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.

 11And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.

 12And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;

 13That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.

 14And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.

 15And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.

 16And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.

 17But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.

 18And he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.

 19And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.