2Ch 16:14 | KingComments | STEP | The whole history of Asa is described “in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel” ( ). It is also emphasized “from first to last”. This book is not included in the Bible. It is not, however, the case that his history has been lost. On the day everything will be revealed by God, He will use that book as a testimony for His judgment of the life of Asa. After his rejection of Hanani and others, Asa becomes diseased in his feet ( ). Why in his feet? Is this not symbolic for his walk? Asa is no longer walking in faith. In his old age he has gone his own way. The disease in his feet is a disciplinary means of the LORD to bring him back to the way of faith. Thus, the Lord can also ‘paralyze’ us, making us incapable of serving. He can take the power out of our walk of faith if we are not willing to turn to Him with repentance about our wrong walk. We may well pray: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” ( ). Asa reacts to the discipline, which is intended to make him repent, by making a new mistake. He doesn’t seek his help from the LORD, but from the physicians. In itself, it is not wrong that he seeks help from physicians. His fault is that he expects his help only from these people and not from the LORD (cf. ; ). Therefore his end is not like that of Paul, who can say at the end of his life: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” ( ). A good start does not guarantee a good end. Therefore we need endurance in the race that is set before us ( ). After a reign of forty-one years including a disease during the last two years, Asa goes to sleep “with his fathers” ( ). He is buried “in his own tomb which he had cut out for himself” in Jerusalem, here called “the city of David” ( ). We don’t know when he had that grave cut out. In any case, he wanted his body to be placed in a place connected with the name of David. It seems that he has relied on the promises made to David with a view to an everlasting kingship that will find fulfillment in the great Son of David. The people pay great tribute to him at his burial. They “laid him in the resting place which he had filled with spices of various kinds blended by the perfumers’ art”. Asa has not only taken care of a tomb, but also of a bed that doesn’t spread the death scent, but a wonderful scent. Perhaps he did so because he wants to be remembered by his people as someone who did good. He has done so for most of his life. The people seem to be aware of this and therefore make a very great fire for him (cf. ; ). Here we can think of burning incense.

‏ 2 Chronicles 16:14

The End of Asa

The whole history of Asa is described “in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel” (2Chr 16:11). It is also emphasized “from first to last”. This book is not included in the Bible. It is not, however, the case that his history has been lost. On the day everything will be revealed by God, He will use that book as a testimony for His judgment of the life of Asa.

After his rejection of Hanani and others, Asa becomes diseased in his feet (2Chr 16:12). Why in his feet? Is this not symbolic for his walk? Asa is no longer walking in faith. In his old age he has gone his own way. The disease in his feet is a disciplinary means of the LORD to bring him back to the way of faith.

Thus, the Lord can also ‘paralyze’ us, making us incapable of serving. He can take the power out of our walk of faith if we are not willing to turn to Him with repentance about our wrong walk. We may well pray: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” (Psa 139:23-24).

Asa reacts to the discipline, which is intended to make him repent, by making a new mistake. He doesn’t seek his help from the LORD, but from the physicians. In itself, it is not wrong that he seeks help from physicians. His fault is that he expects his help only from these people and not from the LORD (cf. 2Kgs 20:5-7; Psa 103:3). Therefore his end is not like that of Paul, who can say at the end of his life: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (2Tim 4:7). A good start does not guarantee a good end. Therefore we need endurance in the race that is set before us (Heb 12:1).

After a reign of forty-one years including a disease during the last two years, Asa goes to sleep “with his fathers” (2Chr 16:13). He is buried “in his own tomb which he had cut out for himself” in Jerusalem, here called “the city of David” (2Chr 16:14). We don’t know when he had that grave cut out. In any case, he wanted his body to be placed in a place connected with the name of David. It seems that he has relied on the promises made to David with a view to an everlasting kingship that will find fulfillment in the great Son of David.

The people pay great tribute to him at his burial. They “laid him in the resting place which he had filled with spices of various kinds blended by the perfumers’ art”. Asa has not only taken care of a tomb, but also of a bed that doesn’t spread the death scent, but a wonderful scent. Perhaps he did so because he wants to be remembered by his people as someone who did good. He has done so for most of his life. The people seem to be aware of this and therefore make a very great fire for him (cf. 2Chr 21:19; Jer 34:5). Here we can think of burning incense.