NOVEMBER 27, 2025 – RIGHT AND DEVOTED

READ: 1 Kin. 15:9-15: … Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did his father David. And he banished the perverted persons from the land, and removed all the idols … And Asa cut down her obscene image … He also brought into the house of the Lord the things …

Whereas Abijah reigned only three years, his son Asa reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. A very different time dawned for Judah compared to the reigns of Rehoboam and Abijah. Asa is thought to have been about sixteen years old when he became king. Remarkably, with such a father and grandfather, Asa showed true faith. The Lord records that what he did was right, and that it matched the faith of his father David.

That meant active faith: he cleansed the land from idolatry against the established practices that his father had tolerated.

Cult prostitutes were expelled from the land, and all idolatrous objects were destroyed. This must have met with resistance, but in the Lord’s strength he persevered. Even his grandmother, daughter of Absalom, he deposed because of her idolatry. He cut down her idol and burned it.

The high places still remained, as under Solomon. But it is recorded that Asa’s heart was wholly devoted to the Lord.

Not only did he fight idolatry, he also brought offerings from his prosperity as consecrated gifts to the temple. In 2 Chronicles 15:8 we read that he also renewed the altar of the Lord.

That the Lord was with Asa became clear to others too: a large group of people from the northern kingdom fled to him (2 Chron. 15:9ff). Then Asa gathered his own people together with the refugees in Jerusalem, to swear a covenant together: they would seek the Lord with all their heart and soul, and those who did not would be put to death. On this occasion a sacrificial feast with great joy was held. And the Lord gave them rest all around (2 Chron. 15:10-15).

Do we also experience God’s blessing when we are faithful? How?

Sing: Ps. 89:8