2 chronicles 15 and 16

Read 2 Chronicles 15 and 16 at Bible Gateway.

Hebrew paragraph divisions:

2 Chr 15:1-2 {s} The prophet to Asa: The LORD is with you while you are with Him
2 Chr 15:3-7 {s} Israel has been without God + teaching priest + law, but you be strong
2 Chr 15:8-9 {p} Asa removed the idols from the land/ the children of Israel came over to him in great numbers
2 Chr 15:10-19 {p} In the 15th year of King Asa, they gathered in Jerusalem to seek the Lord/ there was no war
2 Chr 16:1-5 {s} Asa made a treaty with Syria against Israel in the 36th year of his reign
2 Chr 16:6 {s} Asa + Judah took away the fortifications of Ramah/ built Geba + Mizpah
2 Chr 16:7-14 {p} The prophet rebuked Asa for not relying on the Lord/ Asa imprisoned him/ his death + burial

The strong themes:

2 Chr 14:8-15:9 {sx5+p} Asa relied on the LORD, not his army, and prevailed, for the Lord was with him
2 Chr 15:10-19 {p} In the 15th year of King Asa, they gathered in Jerusalem to seek the Lord/ there was no war
2 Chr 16:1-14 {s+s+p} The latter reign of Asa: he ceased relying on YHVH/ his death + burial

2 Chr 14:8-16:14 chiastic structure:

1a) 2 Chr 14:8-15:9 {sx5+p} Asa relied on YHVH, not his army, and prevailed, for YHVH was with him;

1b) 2 Chr 15:10-15, They gathered in Jerusalem to seek YHVH with their whole heart/ YHVH gave them rest all around;

1c) 2 Chr 15:16a, Maacah, his mother, he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image;

central axis) 2 Chr 15:16b, And Asa cut down her image, and made dust of it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron;

2c) 2 Chr 15:17a, But the high places were not taken away out of Israel;

2b) 2 Chr 15:17b-19 {p} The heart of Asa was loyal all his days/ There was no more war to the 35th year of his reign;

2a) 2 Chr 16:1-14 {s+s+p} The latter reign of Asa: he ceased relying on YHVH/ his death + burial.

1a.1) 2 Chr 16:1-6 {s+s} 36th year of Asa’s reign: Baasha fortified Ramah against Judah/ his treaty with Syria;
1a.2) 2 Chr 16:7-9, The seer: Asa foolishly relied on Syria instead of YHVH/ now he shall have wars;

central axis) 2 Chr 16:10-11 Asa’s rage/ imprisoned the seer + oppressed the people;

2a.1) 2 Chr 16:12a, 39th year of Asa’s reign: he became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe;
2a.2) 2 Chr 16:12b-14 {p} Yet he did not seek YHVH, but the physicians/ his death + burial.

What stood out to me today:

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” 2 Chr 16:9

But the high places were not removed from Israel. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was loyal all his days. 2 Chr 15:17

What is a loyal heart? (The KJV translates it as ‘perfect.’) The Hebrew is Strong’s H8003, shalem, from the primitive root Strong’s H7999, shalam; shin + lamed + mem. The ancient Hebrew pictographs are of the two front teeth + shepherd’s staff + water or chaos. The Ancient Hebrew Lexicon says that the shin had been transposed from a sin, a thorn, and the word picture thus painted was of the thorns (sin) from which the shepherd (lamed) drew the sheep, taking away from them that which was causing pain or trouble (mem), or of the thorns with which the shepherd surrounded the sheep, adding to them that which would prevent pain or trouble (for a shepherd surrounded the sheep fold with thorn bushes at night, in order to prevent predators from coming in among the flock).

So shalam means, taking away from, or adding to, whatever is necessary to make complete or whole. This word is also the root of shalom, the Hebrew word for peace or well being. This is why the lexicons say that “perfect” means, to be in a covenant of peace.

God made a covenant of peace with Israel at Mount Sinai (Exo 19:3-5). Israel would take YHVH for their God — they would worship Him and walk in His ways. And God would take Israel for His people — He would be their God, He would be the One who would deliver them from trouble and save them from destruction. He would be the One who would provide for their prosperity and heal their diseases. Asa took the idols out of Judah and returned Judah to their covenant of peace. Under Asa, Judah again worshiped YHVH. Thus when the great army came from Egypt under Zerah (2 Chr 14), God wrought a great deliverance for Judah. They were walking in their part of the covenant of peace, and God was walking in His part of the covenant of peace. This is why it troubled God, that the next time Asa needed deliverance, he relied on the king of Syria. The next time Asa needed healing, he relied on the physicians. Asa began looking to someone other than God to be his savior and deliverer.

So someone with a loyal or perfect heart toward the LORD, is someone who has taken the LORD for their God, to love Him, to walk in His ways, and to rely on Him. It does not mean that person is entirely without fault (the Webster’s definition of perfect.) It is someone who understands that they have a covenant of peace with his Maker and His God, and so when they face any trouble in life, they rely on Him. In fact, God’s eyes are searching the earth to find those who will rely on Him to show Himself strong on their behalf! God wants to bare His mighty right arm for our sakes!

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Rom 5:1-2