Day 144: 1 Kings 15:1-24, 2 Chronicles 13-16

Today's reading covers the reigns of Abijah and Asa, kings of Judah.

1 Kings gives the impression that Abijah was a pretty evil king:

He committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been. (1Kings 15:3)

However, Abijah seemed to think they were WAY closer to being obedient followers of God than the guys in the Northern Kingdom. This is Abijah's boast to Jeroboam:

“As for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him. The priests who serve the LORD are sons of Aaron, and the Levites assist them. Every morning and evening they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the LORD. They set out the bread on the ceremonially clean table and light the lamps on the gold lampstand every evening. We are observing the requirements of the LORD our God. But you have forsaken him. God is with us; he is our leader. (2 Chronicles 13:10-12)

I suppose this is a case of comparing yourself with the wrong standard. He feels pretty good because he's better than Jeroboam and the Israelites but when compared to David who came before him he doesn't measure up.

Then comes Asa. Asa was a good strong king who led many reforms:

Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands. He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the LORD gave him rest. (2 Chronicles 14:2-6)

However, toward the end of his reign he decided to make a treaty with a pagan king to protect him rather than put his trust in God. When Hanani the prophet confronted him about this he put him in prison...not the response that David would have made.

Asa was angry with the seer because of this; he was so enraged that he put him in prison. At the same time Asa brutally oppressed some of the people. (2 Chronicles 16:10)