Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

Following the victory over Zerah, Asa and his army returned to Jerusalem with all the spoils of victory.

In the interim, God was preparing Azariah to deliver an important message to Asa and the people.

Victories can be short-lived if we don’t remove things in our life that pull us away from God.

Introduction

Start with

THE SPIRIT’S WORK IN RELATION TO PEOPLE

There are two sets of passages in the Old Testament that relate to the Spirit.

One is, passages that relate to actual empowerment of the Spirit on the people in the Old Testament; like a prophet, a judge, a king, a Moses upon whom the Spirit comes for various kinds of purposes.

Task oriented, selective, and in all likelihood temporary.

In addition to those passages there is a set of passages about the Spirit that don’t speak of His actual work now, they speak of a future day when God is going to do a miraculous marvelous work.

The Spirit’s ministry to people in Old Testament times was not the same as it has been since the Day of Pentecost.

Whatever it was, the Lord made it quite clear it would be different after Pentecost.

The Spirit’s ministry to people in Old Testament times was not the same as it has been since the Day of Pentecost.

Whatever it was, the Lord made it quite clear it would be different after Pentecost.

Notice how repeatedly the Lord spoke of the “coming” of the Spirit (who was already present) in His conversation with the disciples in the Upper Room (; , ).

This indicates both that the Spirit was at work then and that His work would take on a different character after Pentecost.

When the Lord summarized that contrast He said the Spirit “abides (present tense) with (para) you and will be (future tense) in (en) you” (14:17).

While there is an alternative reading of the present tense in the second clause, i.e., is in you, most commentators prefer the future tense.

Notice how repeatedly the Lord spoke of the “coming” of the Spirit (who was already present) in His conversation with the disciples in the Upper Room (; , ).

This indicates both that the Spirit was at work then and that His work would take on a different character after Pentecost.

What can we learn about God’s plans by Him calling out Azariah?

Azariah is not otherwise known.

Azariah, who appears only here in Scripture, was empowered for his task by the Spirit of God (15:1a).

This was a standard way to indicate the divine credentials of the man speaking for God.

Verses 3–6 call to mind the unstable time of the judges.

How would you describe Israel during this time?

Isreal was marked by repeated cycles of apostasy, crying out for a savior, repentence, and return to God.

In Judges the term is used to show that divine authority has been given to individuals to lead or carry out tasks (Judg 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 15:14).

In Samuel it is used of both Saul (1 Sam 11:6) and David (1 Sam 16:13).

In Numbers the term is used to describe the oracles of the prophet Balaam (Num 24:2).

In Judges the term is used to show that divine authority has been given to individuals to lead or carry out tasks (Judg 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 15:14).

In Samuel it is used of both Saul (1 Sam 11:6) and David (1 Sam 16:13).

15:1–2a.

It recalled the way the Lord intervened in the days of the judges and kings—by Spirit-empowered leaders such as Othniel (Jdg 3:10) and Samson (Jdg 14:6) and Saul (1Sm 10:10; cf.

16:14).

15:2 See note on 2 Chron 14:4: 14:4 The theme of seeking God, present throughout 1–2 Chronicles, is especially prevalent in the account of Asa (see note on 2 Chron 11:16).

As Judah seeks God, they are rewarded with peace and prosperity (v. 7).

Asa eventually falls away from faith and does not end his life seeking God (16:12).

Azariah’s speech echoes David’s charge to Solomon ().

15:3 Most likely a reference to the days of the judges (Judg 21:25).

V. 3. Now Israel—They have long lived without the found knowledge and worship of the true God.

Israel is here understood of the whole nation of Israel in former times, and especially in the times of the judges: for then many times they were in a great measure, without God and his law, and teaching priests, as plainly appears from the book of the Judges; they were brought to all the exigencies and calamities following; and they sometimes turned to the Lord, and he was found of them.

15:3–6.

Azariah recalled first the “bad old days” when the nation was without the direction and protection of the true God in the form of His priests mediating His law (v.

3).

The description of the time indicated by Azariah seems best to fit the time of the Judges when the cycle of disobedience, distress, crying out to the Lord, and His deliverance was repeated several times over.

This was a time of repeated disturbances (v. 5) and every kind of distress (v. 6).

15:4 The period of the judges is characterized by a pattern: Israel would turn to apostasy and receive judgment, then they would turn back to God, who would raise up a judge to deliver them.

See note on Judg 2:11–15.

V. 5.

In those times—When Israel lived in the gross neglect of God and his law.

No peace—Men could not go abroad about their private occasions without great danger; as it was in the days of Shamgar, Judg.

5:6.

V. 6.

And nation, &c.—One part of the people of Israel destroyed the other by civil wars.

As all Israel are called a nation, so the several tribes of them are sometimes called nations.

V. 7. Be strong—Go on resolutely to maintain God’s worship and to root out idolatry, as you have begun to do; for this is the only method of preserving yourselves from such calamities as your predecessors have felt.

15:7 The courage Azariah calls for is not for battle, but for reforms.

David gave Solomon a similar charge when he told Solomon to build the temple (compare 1 Chr 22:13; 28:10).

15:7.

Asa was admonished to avoid such a sorry cycle of “revival and relapse,” and the phrase be strong and do not lose courage clearly recalled the words of the Lord to a leader who conquered and achieved victory, namely, Joshua (cf.

Jos 1:6; cf.

1Ch 22:13b).

Move to

Asa is coming back from a huge military victory.

What in verse 8 gives us insight into his character?

despite the victory and spoils, he remains humble and eager to follow the Lord.

Cities that he had taken in … Ephraim implies that there had been conflict between Judah and Israel prior to the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign.

15:8 Either Asa’s earlier removal of the foreign altars was incomplete, or the Chronicler’s presentation is not chronological (compare 2 Chr 14:3).

This suggests that Asa had clashed with the northern tribes prior to the conflict over Ramah (16:1–6).

There is no report of prior damage to this altar (built by Solomon; 4:1).

The omission is not surprising, since the Chronicler is not presenting an exhaustive history.

15:8 Cities that he had taken in … Ephraim implies that there had been conflict between Judah and Israel prior to the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign (16:1; c. 875 b.c.).

Asa’s assembling of the people is reminiscent of similar gatherings organized by David (1 Chr 13:2–5; 15:3; 28:1–8) and Solomon (2 Chron 1:2–3; 5:2–6).

15:9 Asa’s assembling of the people is reminiscent of similar gatherings organized by David (1 Chr 13:2–5; 15:3; 28:1–8) and Solomon (2 Chron 1:2–3; 5:2–6).

Asa removed idols (v.

8), restored altars (v.

9), and reinstituted sacrifices (vv.

10–11).

He then strengthened the relationship with those who had defected from the northern kingdom of Israel (v.

9).

He removed his own mother from power because she had encouraged idolatry (v.

16), and he added to the wealth and prestige of the temple (v.

18).

What do you make of the people who deserted Israel to come to Asa? What can we learn from this?

They saw God living in Asa through the example he displayed.

People will be drawn to the light of Christ hat we share with the world in a similar manner.

But central to his reforms was the covenant he established between the Lord and all Judah (v.

9a) and all those from the northern kingdom who saw that the Lord his God was with him (v.

9b).

This covenant of commitment to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and soul was the high point of Asa’s reign.

The Chronicler saw this as the reason Asa enjoyed many years of peace and success.

Application

What things in your own life keeps you from a right relationship with God?

What do you gain when you join fellow believers on Sunday?

Do others see Jesus in you?