1 Kings 15: 11-14 - Asa did what was right in the sight of the
Lord, as his father David had done. He
put away the male temple prostitutes out of the land, and removed all the idols
that his ancestors had made. He also
removed his mother Maacah from being queen mother, because she had made an
abominable image for Asherah; Asa cut down her image and burned it at the Wadi
Kidron. But the high places were not
taken away. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was true to the Lord all his days.
Israel and Judah stayed separated for some time…and many
kings took their turn on the two thrones to rule the people. In just this
chapter…five different kings are described between the two nations. Four of those kings were evil…continuing the
pattern of the king before them…but Asa brought a breath of revival to Judah.
Asa cleaned house of all the evil influences in his land….he
even demoted his own mother from being queen because she tried to dedicate a
graven image to asherah. Every idol was destroyed…every male prostitute was
driven out…because Asa knew that God would not be pleased with him if he left
them in his life.
It’s amazing to me how Asa knew how to please God. No
teacher…or praying mother…or friend is mentioned in this story that might have taught
him...so he must have taught himself. He must have studied his ancestor David…and
let God open up his heart to understand how all those idols had changed the
people’s hearts.
Asa did not have the full word as we know it today. He only had the words of Moses and Joshua...a
few of David’s songs…..and a few of the prophets up to that time. But it was enough….for him to realize the
other kings beside David had done it wrong….and he needed to clean house…keeping
his heart true to the Lord as long as he lived. Perhaps it was David’s Psalm
24:4…that began his journey with God…it says…. “The one who has clean hands and
a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.”
I have no excuses….for I have the whole Bible…and a savior
who loved me enough to die on a cross for my sins. I have verses like Matthew 5:8 that say… “Blessed are the pure in heart, for
they shall see God” And I have the
great words of Paul from Romans13:13-14….”Let us walk properly as in the
daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and
sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”
Father…thank
you for recording the great courage and heart of Asa….and reminding me this
morning that I need to stay pure in heart.
Help me clean house today in my heart.
Vacuum all the stuff right out of my heart that does not belong…that
binds me to the world and its pleasures.
Dust the chambers that have collected dust and are not showing your love
to others. Wash the windows of each part
of my heart so your light can shine through to others. Help me to ‘Spring Clean’
my heart…so it will be ready to do the work you have planned for it to do. Amen
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