King Asa

King Asa of Judah, the son of Abijam and the third king of Judah, reigned for 41 years (circa 911–870 BC) and is primarily recorded in 1 Kings 15:9-24 and 2 Chronicles 14–16. Asa’s reign is a powerful demonstration of God’s sovereignty, covenantal faithfulness, the necessity of true faith, and human dependence on divine grace. His rule was marked by a strong beginning in devotion to the Lord, yet it ended in spiritual compromise, illustrating both the blessings of obedience and the consequences of self-reliance.

Asa began his reign well, initiating religious reforms that sought to restore true worship in Judah. 2 Chronicles 14:2 states that “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.” He removed foreign altars, destroyed high places of idolatry, and commanded Judah to seek the Lord (2 Chronicles 14:3-4). These actions reflect the biblical call to true worship (John 4:23) and God’s grace in raising up faithful leaders to preserve His covenant people.

Just as God raised faithful reformers in church history, like Luther and Calvin, so too He raised Asa for a time to turn Judah back to true worship.

A defining moment in Asa’s early reign was his confrontation with the Ethiopian (Cushite) army, a vastly superior force (2 Chronicles 14:9-15). Asa cried out to the Lord, saying, “It is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power” (2 Chronicles 14:11). Victory came not by Asa’s strength but through his reliance on God. The Lord granted Judah a decisive victory, demonstrating the biblical principle that salvation and deliverance belong to God alone (Psalm 3:8).

Later in Asa’s reign, however, he began to rely on human wisdom rather than God. When threatened by King Baasha of Israel, Asa trusted in an alliance with the pagan king of Syria instead of seeking God (2 Chronicles 16:7). The prophet Hanani rebuked him, saying, “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and not on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand” (2 Chronicles 16:7). This moment illustrates the Reformed doctrine of total depravity—even godly leaders are prone to sin and self-reliance apart from God’s sustaining grace.

In his final years, Asa became hardened in his ways, refusing to seek the Lord even when afflicted with a severe disease (2 Chronicles 16:12). This serves as a warning against spiritual complacency and highlights the necessity of perseverance in faith—a key theme in Reformed theology (Hebrews 3:14).

Asa’s reign teaches that true faith and reliance on God lead to blessing, but self-reliance leads to downfall. His life echoes the call of the Reformation—salvation, strength, and wisdom come from God alone, and trust in human power leads to failure.