Do You Need Rest?

After King Abijah in 2 Chronicles, we read about his son Asa. Asa was a good king in both the 1 Kings account and here. He was a man who stabilized the nation and brought the people peace. How? He obeyed the Lord.

2 Chronicles 14:2 (ESV) And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. 

King Asa was a great king. But he points us to the ultimate king. That is, Jesus. And like Asa, Jesus does what is necessary to bring us back to God. He destroys our idols and commands our way to follow the Lord. Read:
2 Chronicles 14:3–4 (ESV) He took away the foreign altars and the high places and broke down the pillars and cut down the Asherim 4 and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment.

Moreover, Asa removed the altars in the cities.
2 Chronicles 14:5 (ESV) He also took out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the incense altars. And the kingdom had rest under him.

Think about the influence of a city. Its values will spread to the surrounding areas quickly. Asa knew this and brought great change to the great centers of Israel's life. 

In the next verses we see the results of Asa's obedience:
2 Chronicles 14:6 (ESV) He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, for the LORD gave him peace. 7 And he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side.” So they built and prospered. 8 And Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah, armed with large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin that carried shields and drew bows. All these were mighty men of valor.

Asa knew the Lord was the source of peace. The Lord is still that source of peace for us. But just because the Lord gives us peace does not mean we are exempt from attack.
2 Chronicles 14:9–10 (ESV) Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. 10 And Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up their lines of battle in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

The world is fallen and dark. There will always be an enemy ready to come against us. But Asa models faith and hope in the sovereign Lord of creation. He knows the enemy is not only attacking the nation, the enemy is coming against the Lord Himself. 

2 Chronicles 14:11 (ESV) And Asa cried to the LORD his God, “O LORD, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.”

We have to remember that the Lord takes the threats we face personally. I think of Zechariah 2:8:
Zechariah 2:8 (ESV) For thus said the LORD of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye

I think of Jesus' words to Saul on his way to Damascus:
Acts 9:4 (ESV) And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

We not only have a King who brings us back to God, gives us peace with Him but also fights our battles. The result for Asa and the nation? Victory in the Lord:
2 Chronicles 14:12 (ESV) So the LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.

And the end of the matter only further supplies the kingdom:
2 Chronicles 14:13 (ESV) Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar, and the Ethiopians fell until none remained alive, for they were broken before the LORD and his army. The men of Judah carried away very much spoil.

Asa's name means, "Physician. Healer." That is who our Savior is. He heals our souls and brings us back to God, brings us the peace we desperately need, and provides the victory we are made to have. If you need peace and rest, the Lord Jesus is waiting to provide. Come to the Healer and receive all He has for you.


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