READING THE BOOK OF Second Chronicles CHAPTER Sixteen.
Our focused verse in 2 Chronicles Chapter 16 is:
At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. (2 Chronicles 16:7 NIV).
What should we do when we make mistakes?
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Historical Commentary.– The long annals of faithful service rendered by Asa were stained by some mistakes by not plasing all his trust in God. When, on one occasion, the king of Israel invaded the kingdom of Judah and seized Rama, fortified city located just eight miles from Jerusalem, Asa sought his release through a partnership with Ben-Hadad king of Syria. This lack of trust in God alone in a time of need was severely rebuked by the prophet Hanani, who appeared before Asa with this message: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand” 2 Chronicles 16:7. Instead of humbling themselves before God for having made this mistake, “Asa got angry with the seer, and put him in a prison house, because he was moved because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people that day. “(PR 83)
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Do not blame others for our mistakes.– King Asa, rather than apologize , and turn to to God, he made two mistakes: a) To get angry with Hanani and put him in prison, as if the prophet were guilty of his error. He acted differently than his predecessor David, instead of saying, I have sinned against the Lord, Asa rages at the messenger who was sent by divine command, b) “He oppressed some of the people “, Asa by losing the fear God, he also lost respect for others and abused innocent people.
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Find God.– “Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians.“. (Verse 12) Asa was tested to make amends and to rest fully trusting in God, but he preferred to rely on physicians than in God. The question remains unanswered and it is difficult to understand how a man who relied for 35 years on God and at the end of his life, after seeing the power and providence of God, he prefers to place his trust on man.
Prayer
God of mercy. We beg you to grant us the courage to admit our mistakes, humility to accept your warnings and honesty not to blame others for our mistakes. In the name of Jesus, amen.
By Dr. Franz Rios, Translated and adapted by Pablo J. Rios.
