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 Ben-hadad 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 Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, 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.
THE OMNISCIENT HELPER
‘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.’
2 Chronicles 16:9
I. Notice, first, God’s continued inspection of all that passes on this earth.—We may affirm it as evident that nothing can happen on any spot of the peopled immensity which is not known to Him Who is emphatically the Omniscient. God is the First Cause, and on the first all secondary causes depend.
II. All the motions of Providence have for their ultimate end the good of those whose heart is perfect towards God.—(1) If God sent His own Son to deliver man from the consequences of transgression and to extirpate evil from the universe, we cannot doubt that the objects which engaged so stupendous an interposition must still be those to whose furtherance the Divine dealings tend. (2) It is not only in reference to the Church at large that we are warranted in thus speaking of God’s Providence. Of each member in this Church we may declare that God watches sedulously over him.
—Canon Melvill.
Illustration
‘Hanani referred to the story of the past; and, indeed, it is full of deep and solemn interest to us all. Let us not forsake the sacred policy of faith, which has brought God into our lives in so many difficult and anxious days. What He has done He is prepared to do. In Him is no variableness. Let us see to it that our heart is ever perfect towards Him; then He will prove Himself strong on our behalf. To be perfect is to refuse to harbour evil or mistrust; and to keep the whole nature open to God. His eyes miss no single soul that is right with Him. His eyes discover and His hand brings help. However lonely and obscure your life, and however weak your arm, if God is with you huge hosts vanish.’
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.