The Prophecy of Azariah
Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded. 2Ch 20:142Ch 24:20Num 24:22Pe 1:21Jdg 3:102Sa 23:2 So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. Jas 4:82Ch 24:202Ch 15:41Ch 28:9Heb 10:38Jer 29:12-14Isa 55:6-72Ch 15:15 For many years Israel has been without the true God, without a priest to instruct them, and without the law. Neh 8:92Ch 17:8-9Lev 10:11Jer 10:10Ezk 44:21-23Hos 3:4Mal 2:7Mat 2:4-5 But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought Him, and He was found by them. Isa 55:6Deu 4:29-302Ch 15:15Hos 6:1Isa 65:1-2Hos 14:1-3Psa 106:44Rom 10:20 In those days there was no safety for travelers, because the residents of the lands had many conflicts. Jdg 5:6Psa 121:81Sa 13:6Mat 24:6-7Luk 21:25 Nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God afflicted them with all kinds of adversity. Luk 21:22-242Ch 12:152Ch 13:172Ch 33:112Ch 36:17Amo 3:6Isa 10:6Jdg 2:14 But as for you, be strong; do not be discouraged, for your work will be rewarded.” 1Co 15:58Jos 1:7Heb 10:35Jos 1:91Ch 28:20Gen 15:12Jn 1:8Psa 58:11
Asa’s Reforms
(1 Kings 15:9–15)
When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded 1the prophet, he took courage and removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. He then restored the altar of the LORD that was in front of the portico of the LORD’s temple. 2Ch 13:192Ch 8:122Ch 4:11Ki 11:51Ki 11:71Pe 4:32Ch 19:112Ch 29:18 And he assembled all Judah and Benjamin, along with those from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had settled among them, for great numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him. 2Ch 11:16Act 9:31Zec 8:21-231Ch 12:191Ki 12:191Ki 3:281Sa 18:282Ch 30:1-11
So they gathered together in Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign. Est 8:9 At that time they sacrificed to the LORD seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep from all the plunder they had brought back. 2Ch 14:13-151Ch 26:26-271Sa 15:151Sa 15:212Ch 1:62Ch 7:5Num 31:28-29Num 31:50 Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul. Act 24:142Ch 23:16Deu 10:122Ch 29:101Ki 8:482Ch 15:42Ch 34:31-322Co 8:5 And whoever would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, would be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman. Exo 22:20Deu 29:181Ki 18:40Act 26:22Deu 13:5-15Deu 17:2-5Psa 115:13Rev 20:12 They took an oath to the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting, trumpets, and rams’ horns. Neh 10:29Neh 5:13Psa 81:1-4 And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn it with all their heart. They had sought Him earnestly, and He was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side. 2Ch 14:72Ch 15:122Co 1:12Isa 26:82Ch 15:4Psa 119:111Psa 32:112Ch 15:2
King Asa also removed his grandmother 2Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a detestable Asherah pole. Asa chopped down the pole, crushed it, and burned it in the Kidron Valley. 1Ki 15:13-241Ki 15:101Ki 15:22Ki 23:152Ki 23:6Exo 34:132Ch 14:2-52Ch 34:7 The high places were not removed from Israel, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted all his days. 1Ki 11:41Ki 22:432Ch 14:3-52Ki 12:32Ki 14:4Deu 12:13-141Ki 3:2-42Ch 16:7-12 And he brought into the house of God the silver and gold articles that he and his father had dedicated. 1Ch 26:20-261Ki 15:14-151Ki 7:51
And there was no war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign. 1Ki 15:16-171Ki 15:311Ki 15:332Ch 16:1