Exhortation, Januay 30

Four times in our sermon text, the writer reminds us that �there was war�Ebetween Israel and Judah. That phrase becomes a refrain throughout the chapter. Only once, however, do we read of a specific incident in that war that lasted several generations. During the reign of Asa of Judah, Baasha, king of Israel, enters Judah�s territory to fortify Ramah, located some five to ten miles Northwest of Jerusalem in the territory of Judah. With a regiment of Israelite soldiers stationed there, Baasha could control traffic in and out of Judah. This is a threat to Judah, and Asa cannot let it stand.

Confronted by this crisis, Asa sends a bribe to the Arameans, who attack Baasha from the north and force him to abandon the fortification of Ramah (vv. 18-21). A shrewd move, it might seem, but it does not display genuine wisdom. Prophets regularly condemn kings for relying on aid from Gentiles rather than on the Lord. Besides, he gets the money from his recently refurbished temple (v. 18), plundering his own temple and treasury. Later, the Arameans become one of the great enemies of the Northern Kingdom, and we know that they are supplied and egged on by Judah. Like Solomon, Asa supplies the enemies of Israel (cf. 1 Kings 10:29). 2 Chronicles 16:7-10 includes a prophet of Hanani that explicitly condemns Asa�s action: �Because you have relied on the king of Aram and have not relied on Yahweh your God, therefore the army of the king of Aram has escaped out of your hand.�E

Victory was in Asa�s grasp, and he lost it because he relied on man. It is perfectly consistent for Asa to rely on physicians rather than Yahweh when his feet become diseased (v 23; cf. 2 Chronicles 16:12). Relying on man is already an established pattern of life.

I want to draw two related conclusions to draw from this story. A little more than a week ago, several Christians with previous connections with Christ Church and NSA filed a complaint against NSA charging that the college is in violation of city zoning regulations. Our sermon text reminds us that employing Gentiles to attack Israel is not new. Drawing in the unbelieving world as a weapon to harass and destroy brothers is a common tactic, and has been for millennia. But it is wicked.

The second point is more directly relevant to us: When we are pressured in this way, we will be sorely tempted to respond in kind, calling in other unbelievers as weapons against our adversaries and their unbelievers. We must resist that temptation. As Jehu told Asa, relying on the king of Aram gave Asa a short-term victory but led to longer-term defeat. It is counter productive. The Lord is a warrior, the Lord is His name. He is our help, our defense, our strong tower. Our adversaries may rely on horse and chariot, but we must rely on the Lord our God, and humbly pray that He would vindicate us.

posted by Peter J. Leithart on Sunday, January 30, 2005 at 09:15 AM

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