Immanuel Lutheran Church ~ Mankato, MN
Fall 2000 Bible Study
Lesson 04 — October 1, 2000

ASA

1 Kings 15-16; 2 Chronicles 13-16

Outline of Sections:

I. Prologue:

Rehoboam’s son, Abijam (Abijah in Chronicles), became king after his father’s death. He reigned 3 years.

• God’s evaluation of Abijam as king ~ 1 Kings 15:3
• For David’s sake: God’s mercy toward David’s household ~ 1 Kings 15:4-5; cf: Nehemiah 9:17b & Deuteronomy 7:9.
• The battle with Jeroboam: 2 Chronicles 13:3ff
  v. 3 ~ Abijah had 400,000 men; Jeroboam had 800,000
  v. 4 ~ Abijah speaks to the enemy
  vv.9-12 ~ What part of Jeroboam’s sins does Abijah highlight? What part of Judah’s conduct does Abijah highlight? What seems to be Abijah’s emphasis in his complimentary speech about Judah…what seems to be missing?
  vv. 13-15 ~ Victory seized out of what might have appeared to be defeat (500,000 of Jeroboam’s 800,000 died). What are the two most significant phrases in these verse? s the most significant phrase in these verses that provides
  

II. Meanwhile in Israel (during Asa’s reign)… 1 Kings 15:25-16:29

During the 41 years of Asa’s reign, Israel was ruled by several kings—all of them wicked.

• In the 2^nd year of Asa’s rule, Nadab followed Jeroboam and ruled only 2 years. "He did evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his father…":(
• Baasha conspired against Nadab, killed him and destroyed all of Jeroboam’s household "according to the Word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servant Ahijah…" (1 Kings 15:29). Baasha and Asa were at war during all of Baasha’s 24 year reign. He did evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of Jeroboam… :(
• Because of Baasha’s wickedness and following Jeroboam’s sin, the Lord pronounced a judgment upon the house of Baasha like that which He had pronounced on Jeroboam. Baasha died and in the 26^th year of Asa’s reign Elah, the son of Baasha, became king and ruled for 2 years. "…all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah, his son, by which they had made Israel sin, in provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their idols…." :(
• Zimri, one of Elah’s commanders, conspired against him and killed him. Zimri killed all the household of Baasha—according to the Word of the Lord. Zimri became king in Asa’s 27^th year and ruled for 7 DAYS. When Omri besieged Tirzah, the city in which Zimri was living, Zimri committed suicide by burning his house down upon himself and he died " because of the sins which he had committed in doing evil in the sight of the Lord, in walking in the way of Jeroboam…" :(
• After the army heard that Zimri had conspired against Elah and killed him, it made OMRI, the commander of the army, king over Israel. However, another part of the people of Israel followed TIBNI and made him king, but the people with Omri prevailed. Omri became king in the 31^st year of Asa’s reign and ruled 12 years. "Omri did evil in the eyes of the Lord and did worse than all who were before him." :(
• In the 38^th year of Asa, Omri’s son, AHAB became king… (next lesson)

…visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children
to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me…

(Exodus 20:5)

III. Asa Rules in Judah

• Became king in Jeroboam’s 20^th year (1 Kings15:9)
• Son of Abijam, grandson of Rehoboam (1 Kings 15:10)

JOY! "He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did his father David" (1 Kings 15:11)

• BUILDING PROJECTS: 2 Chronicles 14:7 (cf:1 Kings 15:22) contrast with Abijah’s speech in 2 Chronicles 13:10ff
• BATTLE WITH ETHIOPIA: 2 Chronicles 14:9-15 ~ The Lord prospers His faithful people!
• GOD’S EVALUATION OF THE PAST & STRENGTHENING FOR THE FUTURE: 2 Chronicles 15:1-7
• ASA’S REACTION TO THE WORD OF THE LORD: 2 Chronicles 15:8-15

Strengths in the Lord:

1 Kings 15:12

1 Kings 15:13

1 Kings 15:15 (cf: 1 Kings 7:51)

2 Chronicles 14:4

Weaknesses in himself:

• Incomplete work: 1 Kings 15:14

  Are there similar circumstances of incomplete work in our Christian lives of today?

• Lack of trust 1 Kings 15:17-19

  See also: Exodus 23:32; Exodus 34:12-13; Isaiah 31:1

• Danger of strategic success: 1 Kings 15:20-22

 

• SAD ENDINGS:
• Rejection of rebuke: 2 Chronicles 16:7-10
• A different approach in death from that in life: 2 Chronicles 16:12-13

{WCE}

Coming Next Week….
Elijah (Ahab/Jezebel)
1 Kings 17-22; 2 Kings 1-2; 2 Chronicles 21