1 Kings: Walk Before Me FaithfullySample

Even good kings are not enough to turn the nation to God. Asa is a rare good king of Judah, putting away the prostitutes and Canaanite religious paraphernalia. But … there is always a ‘but’ with the good kings. But he does not destroy the high places (15:14). The snare and enticement to idolatry remain. Asa’s heart is true to God, but he is not strong enough to reform the nation completely. 

Even the best kings can only deal with externals. What is needed is an internal heart transformation of the people. In the end, only the blood of Jesus, the greatest son of David, is powerful enough to accomplish that. 

The war between the brother nations continues. Asa gives away some temple treasure to Aram to buy a political alliance. In the short term this works (15:16–23), but political alliances in Israel’s and Judah’s history usually betray a lack of trust in the key alliance or covenant: that with God. These political alliances display a trust in human strength and discount the strength of God. We may not be involved in matters of international politics, but we are similarly tempted to place our trust in human strength and security rather than in God. We may turn to governments, banks, family or jobs for security, rather than being secure in God. 

After Asa’s death (15:24), the story returns to Israel. Jeroboam’s son Nadab continues in his father’s sins. A coup led by Baasha succeeds and the house of Jeroboam is put to death, as prophesied earlier by Ahijah (15:29). But Baasha’s reign too continues the sins of Jeroboam (15:34), so his line is also condemned by a prophet (16:1–4). 

Notice God can and does use evil people for his own purposes, such as to bring judgement. Habakkuk, for example, found this idea hard to grasp about the ruthless Babylonian invasion of Judah. Was Chairman Mao likewise used by God? His evil astonishingly oversaw a vast growth in the indigenous Chinese church, totally unexpected by Western Christians when missionaries were expelled around 1950. Could God be doing similar things today?

Reflection

Where are you looking for security for the future?