HE SOUGHT THE PHYSICIANS INSTEAD OF THE LORD

By Charles N. Spence, Jr.

“So in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was very severe; yet, in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians” (2 Chronicles 16:12).

Up until the thirty-sixth year of his reign, you could not have asked for a better king in Judah, at that time, than Asa. “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord” (2 Chr. 14:2). In 1 Kings 15:11, the writer adds “. . . like David his father” (NASB). In his earlier years, Asa walked in the ways of King David. According to 2 Chronicles 14:4, Asa commanded the people to seek the Lord and observe His commands. When Asa warred with the Ethiopians, he put all his confidence in the Lord to help in that situation. Notice Asa’s words in 2 Chronicles 14:11, “And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!” This was truly a moving prayer from Asa. Such a prayer was able to move God into action, for verse 12 says, “So the Lord struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.”

As time passed and age came upon king Asa, his devotion to and trust in the Lord seemed to have waned. When Baasha, king of Israel came against Judah, Asa had a totally different strategy than he did when warring with the Ethiopians. Rather than call upon the Lord, he trusted in uncertain riches and man. Ben-Hadad, king of Syria had aligned himself with the king of Israel. However, Ben-Hadad had no loyalties, for he sold himself to the highest bidder. He took the bribe that Asa sent to him and turned on Israel (see 2 Chr. 16:1-6). The man who, once before, commanded Judah to seek the Lord was in violation of his own decree. He failed to seek the Lord on this particular occasion.

God, who is always aware of those among His people who turn from seeking Him, seeks to turn Asa’s heart back to Him. God does this by sending the prophet Hanani to Asa (2 Chr. 16:7-10). The prophet tells Asa of his foolishness. He informs Asa that God was not please with him because he put more confidence in the King of Syria than the Lord of heaven and earth. The prophet implies that, if Asa had remained loyal to the Lord, even Syria would not have escaped Asa’s hand. Asa’s foolishness was not without consequence; he was told that he would have wars. Rather than repent of his foolishness, Asa imprisoned the prophet. However, he couldn’t imprison the truth that the prophet spoke.

No longer than three years had passed before Asa was in trouble again. This time he was diseased (2 Chr. 16:12-13). The chronicler informs us, “His disease was severe, yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians” (NASB). This is not to say that there is anything wrong with seeking a doctor in times of illness. However, to do so at the exclusion of God is a serious offence. How soon had Asa forgotten the rebuke he received by the mouth of the prophet Hanani. Those who refuse to learn from the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11-12). To illustrate just how callous Asa’s heart had become, consider the words of the wise man in Proverbs 1:24-33. Typically those upon whom calamity, terror, destruction, distress and anguish fall will call upon and seek the Lord with diligence. Asa continued to alienate God further in his calamity. Once again, Asa’s failure to consider the Lord had consequences: two years later he died.

What a terrible ending to what started out to be a glorious life in the Lord. The Bible is clear in that no matter how long they have lived in service to the Lord, if the righteous turns from his righteousness, he shall die (Eze. 18:24). Asa died having forgotten God. If there is ever a lesson to be learned from these events, by the pen of the wise man, God has already revealed it. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones” (Pro. 3:5-8).

Those of us who are children of God must acknowledge Him all of our lives. We must trust and serve Him diligently, if we hope to court His favor. We can never think that we are independent of God. Tracy Young, a wise sister in Christ once said, “Children in the flesh, as they mature, become less dependent upon their parents; children of God, however, as they mature, become more dependent upon their heavenly Father.” Many Christians are leaning more and more on their own understanding and following after their own wisdom because they have ceased to grow in the Lord. Asa no longer desired to hear God’s word. That is why he was angry at Hanani and put him in prison. God’s people cannot afford to become stagnant. Peter tells us, “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Pet. 2:2). Asa had previously tasted of the goodness of God, yet he no longer desired to hear from him. As a result he died. Just as a baby who stops drinking his milk will die, so will the child of God who no longer feeds upon God’s word.

The apostle Peter’s words in 2 Peter 3:17-18 provide us with a fitting conclusion to this lesson. “You therefore, beloved, since you know these things beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”