2 Chronicles 15 (October 2, 2025)

Asa's Religious Reforms

15:1 The Spirit of God came[a] upon Azariah the son of Oded, 2 and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 3 For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest and without law, 4 but when in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. 5 In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands. 6 They were broken in pieces. Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress. 7 But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”

8 As soon as Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded, he took courage and put away the detestable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities that he had taken in the hill country of Ephraim, and he repaired the altar of the Lord that was in front of the vestibule of the house of the Lord.[b] 9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were residing with them, for great numbers had deserted to him from Israel when they saw that the Lord his God was with him. 10 They were gathered at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. 11 They sacrificed to the Lord on that day from the spoil that they had brought 700 oxen and 7,000 sheep. 12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul, 13 but that whoever would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman. 14 They swore an oath to the Lord with a loud voice and with shouting and with trumpets and with horns. 15 And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around.

16 Even Maacah, his mother, King Asa removed from being queen mother because she had made a detestable image for Asherah. Asa cut down her image, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron. 17 But the high places were not taken out of Israel. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true all his days. 18 And he brought into the house of God the sacred gifts of his father and his own sacred gifts, silver, and gold, and vessels. 19 And there was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa.

Footnotes

2 Chronicles 15:1 Or was

2 Chronicles 15:8 Hebrew the vestibule of the Lord

Renewing the Covenant in Hope and Wholeheartedness

Summary

The Spirit of God came upon Azariah, son of Oded, who went out to meet Asa and declared:

He reminded Asa that in former times Israel had lived “without the true God, and without a teaching priest and without law” (15:3). In their distress, they turned to the Lord, who let Himself be found (15:4). He urged Asa:

Asa responded by courageously removing idols from all the cities of Judah, Benjamin, and even Ephraim, which he had captured. He repaired the altar of the Lord before the temple (15:8).

Then he gathered all Judah, Benjamin, and many defectors from Israel to Jerusalem. They offered 700 oxen and 7,000 sheep in sacrifice and entered into a covenant

Whoever refused would be put to death, whether great or small, man or woman (15:13). With shouting, trumpets, and horns, they swore the oath. All Judah rejoiced at the oath, for

Asa even removed his mother, Maacah, from her position as queen mother because she had made an abominable image for Asherah. He cut it down and burned it. Asa’s heart was “blameless all his days” (15:16–17). The chapter closes with the note that there was no more war until the 35th year of Asa’s reign (15:19).

Who is God?

God is near to those who seek Him and faithful to His covenant promises. He is not hidden from His people but makes Himself found by the humble (15:2, 4, 15). He rewards those who diligently seek Him, granting courage, rest, and joy. At the same time, He is jealously loving as He demands wholehearted devotion, not divided allegiance.

What is our guilt?

We often seek God half-heartedly, content with occasional prayers or selective obedience. Like Israel of old, we drift into seasons of living “without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law” (15:3). We tolerate idols. The idols come in the form of materialism, pride, or comfort. Rather than cutting them down, we rely on them. We fear the cost of full devotion. Therefore, we are unwilling to cut relationships, status, or financial security. Our sin is compromise: wanting God’s blessings while clinging to rival gods.

How does grace shine?

Grace shines in God’s readiness to be found by those who seek Him with all their heart. He does not hide from repentant sinners but welcomes them with rest and joy (15:15). This points us to Christ, the true King who purifies His people and renews the covenant by His blood. Where Asa cut down his mother’s idol, Christ came to destroy the works of the devil. Where Asa repaired the altar, Christ Himself became the true altar and sacrifice. In Him, the covenant promise is fulfilled: God is with us, and He gives us rest—not just for a season, but eternally.

Prayer

O Lord, you are near to the brokenhearted and faithful to those who seek you. We confess that our hearts are often divided, and we tolerate idols instead of tearing them down. Forgive us for our compromise and half-hearted devotion. Thank you for Jesus Christ, the true King, who gave Himself to renew the covenant and secure eternal rest for your people. Teach us to seek you with all our heart and soul, to walk in your presence, and to rejoice in your faithful promises. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.