The story of the kings of Judah is the story of what successive kings did with the legacy they inherited from their fathers. Today’s text tells us that Asa inherited a fairly good legacy from his father Abijah, and significantly built on what Abijah had accomplished.

Asa is introduced as one who “did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God” (2 Chronicles 14:2). Benefiting from a period of peace, he institutes reforms within Judah, purifying Judah’s religious practices and urging the people to seek “the Lord, the God of their ancestors” (v. 4). This same phrase was used by his father Abijah before the battle with Jeroboam, to express his conviction that God was on Judah’s side (13:12).

It seems, however, that Judah has been less than perfectly faithful to God, so Asa sets about remedying this. He also strengthens Judah’s military defences. By his actions, he tells the people: God has granted us peace because we have sought Him, let us not neglect this opportunity (14:6–7).

A huge army under Zerah the Ethiopian invades from the South (v. 9). Asa calls upon God: numbers do not matter to You; grant us victory over this multitude (v. 11). God routs the Ethiopians, and Asa’s men pursue them, inflicting great losses and gaining much plunder (vv. 12–15). As Asa returns from battle, the prophet Azariah son of Oded draws a theological lesson from his victory (15:1–2): Seek God, and He “will be found by you” (hear your prayers); forsake God, and He will forsake you. During the time of the judges, Israel drifted from God and had no one to teach them God’s ways; those were troubled times (vv. 3–6). But you can do things differently. Be bold! God will reward you (v. 7)!

Asa takes courage, carrying out a more sweeping purge of idolatry than he has attempted previously: idols throughout Judah, Benjamin, and the hill country of Ephraim are destroyed, and the altar before the Jerusalem temple is restored (v. 8). He also summons the people to Jerusalem. They sacrifice many oxen and sheep from their victory spoils, and enter into a covenant, taking a solemn oath, to seek the Lord (vv. 10–13). Then they rejoice: they have sought God wholeheartedly, and He has indeed been “found” by them, as was promised (vv. 14–15).

Things are going well for Judah: God has delivered them, and this has drawn them yet closer to Him. Even Israelites from the northern tribes have come over to Asa because they have seen that God is with him (v. 9). There would have been two clear points of application from today’s text for the Chronicler’s hearers: they must be open to welcoming Israelites of northern descent into their community, as in Asa’s day; and they must keep seeking God. The mistakes of previous generations did not matter: God could still be found. “Do not give up, for your work will be rewarded” (v. 7): that was a message for the Chronicler’s own day.

See also 1 Kings 15:9–12.