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2 Chronicles Chapter 16 (ESV)

1 In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might permit no one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 2 Then Asa took silver and gold from the treasures of the house of the Lord and the king’s house and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, saying, 3 “There is a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending to you silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me.” 4 And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and they conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. 5 And when Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah and let his work cease. 6 Then King Asa took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had been building, and with them he built Geba and Mizpah.

7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. 8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, he gave them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.” 10 Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in the stocks in prison, for he was in a rage with him because of this. And Asa inflicted cruelties upon some of the people at the same time.

11 The acts of Asa, from first to last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but sought help from physicians. 13 And Asa slept with his fathers, dying in the forty-first year of his reign.

REFLECTION:

Both Judah and Israel did not learn the lesson of relying on God. Although God saved them from invasion of enemies repeatedly, they kept seeking help from pagan nations. Asa’s seeking help from Syria was the proof of spiritual decline of Judah. When Judah only relied on God’s protection, it defeated the army from Ethiopia but now it lost its trust in God and wanted to adopt human strategy to solve the crisis.  Hanani the seer rebuked Asa and Asa put Hanani in prison, revealing Asa’s condition of spiritual lowness. It is not a sin to solve problems through human relationships but it is an offence to God when you rely on man more than God’s instruction. Similarly, it was not a sin for Asa to seek treatment from a doctor when he was sick but he was wrong in seeking help from man only but not from God. Reflect what is the right attitude for Christians in facing illness?

PRAYER:

Come before God with humility. Pray for a difficulty that you or others are facing and ask God to help and to guide, and let you know how to seek help from other people. Pray for a friend or relative who is sick, ask God to give wisdom to the doctor for the best treatment, and to heal the person with mercy.

HYMN:

“You Hold Me Now” – www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWsxPk9kzdg