1Ki 15:22 | KingComments | STEP | There is war between Asa and Baasha. This leads Baasha to turn Ramah into a fortress that must form a blockade between the two realms, so that his subjects cannot go to Judah. He does so in Ramah, on the border between Judah and Israel, about six and a half kilometers north of Jerusalem. What is the building of Rama all about? To take away the freedom to worship in Jerusalem. This freedom is also at stake in professing Christianity today. The question is how we react when Christians, fellow believers, want to prevent us from worshiping in the way God has shown in His Word. These hindrances may lie in the insistence on an unbiblical enlargement – the acceptance of methods or persons who are excluded from worship by God’s Word – or the insistence on unbiblical restriction – the hindrances of methods and persons who according to God’s Word should participate in worship. Then comes the trial. Baasha, the king of Israel, threatens him. Asa’s reaction is unfortunately not a prove of faith. He seeks support from the king of Syria and buys that support with the remaining treasures of the temple. He also appeals to a treaty made between their ancestors. Ben-hadad is bribed. However, he not only breaks his treaty with Baasha, but also deprives him of a number of cities. The consequence of the bribery of Asa is the loss of cities of God’s land. Asa succeeds in his aim. Baasha gives up his plan and withdraws. What Asa continues to do does not seem right either. He takes the things Baasha has used and with them he will strengthen some cities of his own realm. In the application we can ask ourselves whether God would want us to take means by which the enemy strengthens himself and attacks us, and use them to strengthen ourselves through them. When Jericho was conquered, the people were not allowed to take anything of it, but had to ban everything ( ). It is possible to use things we have conquered from the world for the Lord. But then these must first be dedicated to Him.

‏ 1 Kings 15:22

War Between Asa and Baasha

There is war between Asa and Baasha. This leads Baasha to turn Ramah into a fortress that must form a blockade between the two realms, so that his subjects cannot go to Judah. He does so in Ramah, on the border between Judah and Israel, about six and a half kilometers north of Jerusalem.

What is the building of Rama all about? To take away the freedom to worship in Jerusalem. This freedom is also at stake in professing Christianity today. The question is how we react when Christians, fellow believers, want to prevent us from worshiping in the way God has shown in His Word. These hindrances may lie in the insistence on an unbiblical enlargement – the acceptance of methods or persons who are excluded from worship by God’s Word – or the insistence on unbiblical restriction – the hindrances of methods and persons who according to God’s Word should participate in worship.

Then comes the trial. Baasha, the king of Israel, threatens him. Asa’s reaction is unfortunately not a prove of faith. He seeks support from the king of Syria and buys that support with the remaining treasures of the temple. He also appeals to a treaty made between their ancestors. Ben-hadad is bribed. However, he not only breaks his treaty with Baasha, but also deprives him of a number of cities. The consequence of the bribery of Asa is the loss of cities of God’s land.

Asa succeeds in his aim. Baasha gives up his plan and withdraws. What Asa continues to do does not seem right either. He takes the things Baasha has used and with them he will strengthen some cities of his own realm. In the application we can ask ourselves whether God would want us to take means by which the enemy strengthens himself and attacks us, and use them to strengthen ourselves through them. When Jericho was conquered, the people were not allowed to take anything of it, but had to ban everything (Jos 6:16-18). It is possible to use things we have conquered from the world for the Lord. But then these must first be dedicated to Him.