Thru the Bible in a Year
2 Chronicles 15–18
Some stories in Scripture don’t end the way we might hope. The lives of King Asa and King Jehoshaphat, detailed in 2 Chronicles 15–18, are powerful reminders that a strong start in faith does not guarantee a faithful finish. These chapters offer us a look at two men whose reigns were marked by seasons of both zeal and compromise, of courage and failure. And if we’re honest, their stories feel all too familiar. Our own walks with God can also be a mixture of devotion and detours.
Asa: A Flame That Flickered Out
King Asa began well. His reforms in Judah were bold and sweeping. Spurred on by the prophet Azariah (son of Oded), Asa led the people in removing idolatry, even deposing his own mother for her involvement in pagan worship (2 Chronicles 15:16). He renewed the altar of the Lord, gathered the people for covenant renewal, and inspired national revival. For much of his reign, he walked with the Lord and led with courage.
But Asa’s faith faltered when it was tested. When faced with the threat of Baasha, king of Israel, Asa sought help not from God, but from Ben-Hadad of Syria. This political move may have appeared wise by human standards, but it was spiritual compromise. The prophet Hanani rebuked Asa with piercing words: “Because you relied on the king of Syria and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you” (2 Chron. 16:7).
Instead of repenting, Asa grew angry. He imprisoned Hanani and began to oppress others. Even when afflicted with a severe disease in his feet, Asa refused to seek the Lord. It is a tragic turn. A king who began in courage and reform died distant from the God he once honored.
Jehoshaphat: Piety with Peril
Jehoshaphat’s reign followed Asa’s, and his early years were marked by spiritual strength. He fortified Judah’s cities, sought the God of his father, and walked in His commandments. In a rare and commendable move, Jehoshaphat sent officials, Levites, and priests throughout Judah to teach the Book of the Law (2 Chron. 17:7-9). His heart was oriented toward obedience, and God blessed him with peace and power.
However, Jehoshaphat’s legacy, like Asa’s, is complicated. Despite his piety, he allied himself with the wicked king Ahab of Israel. This partnership was ill-advised and spiritually dangerous. While he did show discernment in seeking a true prophet before going to war (2 Chron. 18:6-7), his decision to enter battle with Ahab nearly cost him his life.
Micaiah, a lone prophet of the Lord, warned of disaster, boldly proclaiming that Ahab would die in the battle. Yet Jehoshaphat ignored the warning and still went. Only divine intervention saved him. The king of Syria mistakenly targeted Jehoshaphat, thinking he was Ahab, and nearly killed him. Meanwhile, Ahab was fatally wounded, fulfilling Micaiah’s prophecy.
Lessons from Their Lives
These chapters challenge us to examine our own lives with sober humility. We see in Asa and Jehoshaphat the danger of spiritual inconsistency. Asa’s early reforms were commendable, but his refusal to rely on God later in life reveals how pride and fear can corrode even the strongest faith. Jehoshaphat teaches us that zeal for God must be paired with wisdom in relationships. Compromising partnerships, even for good intentions, can lead us into peril.
Their mixed legacies leave us with a sobering truth: our legacy isn’t determined by our intentions but by our ongoing surrender to God. As Paul writes in Galatians 3:3, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” The question echoes across the pages of these Chronicles.
End Well
To end well, we must stay soft-hearted and responsive to God’s correction. Asa rejected rebuke and grew bitter. Jehoshaphat ignored prophetic warning and compromised his safety. Their lives whisper to us: Don’t coast on past faith. Keep returning to the Lord. Keep listening. Keep obeying.
As D.A. Carson writes, “People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord.” This kind of grace-driven effort is what sustains a lifetime of faithfulness.
God’s Grace in the Gaps
Despite their failures, God’s hand was not absent. Even when Asa and Jehoshaphat stumbled, the Lord still worked within Judah. Reform happened. The Word was taught. Covenant was renewed. God’s purposes are not thwarted by human frailty. That is good news for all of us. When we falter, He is faithful. When we compromise, He corrects. And when we return, He restores.
Let their stories be both a warning and a witness. It matters how we finish. It matters who we listen to. And it matters that we walk in daily dependence on the Lord.
Related Article:
“The Rise and Fall of Asa” – The Gospel Coalition
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/rise-and-fall-asa/
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