20140814 Thursday, August 14 2014
2 Chronicles 16: Asa's Physicians

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"He sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians"

When the LORD (Who was and is Jesus Christ - see Genesis 1: In The Beginning Was The Word and The Kingdom Of The LORD God) divided the united kingdom of Israel into "Israel" and "Judah" (see Israel In History and Prophecy: Israel and Judah), they became two independent kingdoms who thereafter were sometimes allied, while other times at war (see also Old Boys Versus Greenhorns). In the time of King Asa of Judah, "Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah."

"16:1 In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah." (2 Chronicles 16:1 KJV)

Asa had been a righteous and faithful king (see The History Of Idolatry). He had already known and experienced that the LORD will defend those who are right (see When The LORD Leads The Army). In his later years however, Asa, like many others, had become spiritually nearsighted (i.e. self-sighted) in his view of the world. He sought to buy "friends" (i.e. political and military harlots), which was foolish, but moreover he used "silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house" to rent their "love."

"16:2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, 16:3 There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me." (2 Chronicles 16:2-3 KJV)

Benhadad accepted the mercenary contract with Judah. He "sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel."

"16:4 And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. 16:5 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease. 16:6 Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah." (2 Chronicles 16:4-6 KJV)

When Hanani, a prophet of the LORD, confronted Asa (see also Who Has A Spirit Of Confrontation?) with "Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars," he "was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing." Asa was becoming a fool, and a tyrant: "Asa oppressed some of the people the same time."

"16:7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. 16:8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand. 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

16:10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time." (2 Chronicles 16:7-10 KJV)

Many have used (sometimes with tragic consequences) Asa's "sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians" as a reason to not seek the professional help of physicians, but it should be kept in mind that faith was often used in conjunction with the work of physicians (e.g. see Hezekiah's Healing, The Healing Of Naaman, The Healing Of A Soul At The Beautiful Gate, Healing Of The Waters, The Healing Spirit and Prayer and Fasting) and that one of the Gospel writers, Luke, was a physician (see the Fact Finder question below). Even during the 1,000 years after Christ's return (see The Kingdom Of The LORD God), "22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations" (Revelation 22:2 KJV).

So "Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign."

"16:11 And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

16:12 And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.

16:13 And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign. 16:14 And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great burning for him." (2 Chronicles 16:11-14 KJV)

Fact Finder: Was Luke a doctor who faithfully looked to the LORD?
See Luke: The World Of The LORD and Acts: Luke's Second Letter To Theophilus