Topical Bible: Rulers: Wicked: Asa, Imprisoning the Seer, and Oppressing the People

◄ Rulers: Wicked: Asa, Imprisoning the Seer, and Oppressing the People ►

Topical Encyclopedia

Asa's Reign and Initial Faithfulness

Asa, the third king of Judah, began his reign with a commitment to the ways of the Lord, seeking to reform the nation and rid it of idolatry. His early years were marked by religious reforms and a reliance on God, as evidenced by his victory over the Cushite army (2 Chronicles 14:9-15). Asa's initial faithfulness is highlighted in 2 Chronicles 14:2-5 : "Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandments."

Turning Away from God

Despite his promising start, Asa's later years were marked by a departure from his earlier devotion. In the thirty-sixth year of his reign, Asa faced a threat from Baasha, king of Israel. Instead of seeking the Lord's guidance, Asa formed an alliance with Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, by sending him treasures from the house of the Lord and the king's palace (2 Chronicles 16:1-3). This act of reliance on human alliances rather than divine intervention marked a significant turning point in Asa's reign.

Imprisoning the Seer

The prophet Hanani confronted Asa for his lack of faith, delivering a message from God that rebuked the king for relying on the king of Aram instead of the Lord. Hanani declared, "Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand" (2 Chronicles 16:7). Instead of heeding the warning, Asa reacted with anger and imprisoned Hanani, demonstrating a hardened heart and a refusal to accept divine correction (2 Chronicles 16:10).

Oppressing the People

Asa's spiritual decline was further evidenced by his oppressive actions towards his own people. The same verse that records Hanani's imprisonment also notes Asa's oppression: "At that time Asa oppressed some of the people" (2 Chronicles 16:10). This oppression likely stemmed from Asa's increasing reliance on his own strength and political maneuvers, rather than seeking the welfare of his subjects through obedience to God's commands.

Final Years and Legacy

Asa's final years were marked by illness and continued stubbornness. Even when afflicted with a severe disease in his feet, Asa did not seek the Lord but turned to physicians (2 Chronicles 16:12). His refusal to seek divine help in his time of need underscores the tragic shift from his earlier faithfulness to a reliance on human solutions.

Asa's reign serves as a cautionary tale of how a ruler, despite a promising start, can fall into wickedness through pride, reliance on human alliances, and a refusal to heed prophetic warnings. His actions, particularly the imprisonment of the seer and the oppression of his people, highlight the dangers of turning away from God and

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2 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.
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