Daily Manna 23 April
KEY VERSE: ““Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.” – (2 Chronicles 16:10)
READ: 2 Chronicles 16:1-14 (KJV)
1. In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
2. Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king’s house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
3. There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father; behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
4. And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.
5. And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.
6. Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.
7. And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
8. Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.
9. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly; therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
10. Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
11. And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
12. And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great; yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
13. And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
14. And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries’ art; and they made a very great burning for him.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
“When I hear of anybody losing his temper” says Charles Spurgeon, “I always pray that he may not find it again. Such tempers are best lost.” If only King Asa had heeded the timely warning of Spurgeon or better still Solomon, he might have ended differently the leadership race he started so well in Judah.
But the northern kingdom of Israel, given to idolatrous practices under the reign of Baasha, wanted to block themovement of people. This act was to hinder economic development and growth in Judah. Asa, instead of trusting in Jehovah, bought the help of the pagan leader, Benhadad king of Syria, against Israel, with the treasures left in the temple and the palace. As a result, Benhadad smote Ijon, Dan and Abelmaim, and the store cities of Naphtali. So Baasha had to cease building Ramah and Asa used the materials to fortify Geba and Mizpeh in Benjamin so as to guard against future invasion.
Hanani, the seer, reproved Asa for seeking help from Benhadad. Asa was angry that Hanani would seek to correct him. Instead of repenting, he put the servant of God in prison and oppressed some of the people. He ended his reign under a spiritual cloud. Diseased in his feet, after a reign of 39 years, “he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians.” He started well, but did not continue in his good works.
The Christian faith is a life of continuous trust in God. It is good to start well but more important to continue to please Him in our daily choices. At no time should a believer remove his focus from God to depend on man. And if you are rebuked and corrected because of sin, the right thing to do is to repent; do not to allow anger or pride to undo all the good things God has done in your life.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Whatever is done in anger ends in danger.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Romans 7-9
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Undone By Anger – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 23 April 2021
