Learn from Asa - Enter Rest

There remains therefore a rest for the people of G-d.
For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as G-d did from His.
Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.
Hebrews 4:9-11

Introduction

• Asa [alef-samech-alef, pronounced: ah-sah]
• 1 Chron 3:10: Great-grandson of Solomon; son of Abijah; father of Jehoshaphat.
• Ruled from ~955 BCE to 914 BCE (41 years)

Successes                                                            

• 2 Chron 14:2-3: Did what is good in the sight of HaShem
• 14:4: Commanded Judah to observe the Torah and Commandment
• 14:6-8: Built and fortified cities, strong army
• 14:9-15: By depending upon HaShem, defeated Ethiopian army against 2 to 1 odds
• 15:1-16: Because of the prophecy of Azariah, he:
• Took courage
• Removed idols
• Restored the altar of HaShem
• Assembled Judah, Benjamin, and from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon and offered an offering and made a covenant with HaShem.
• Covenant to seek HaShem with all their heart, and to put to death those who would not.
• Removed Ma’achah as Queen mother, cut down her statue to Asherah.
• Brought the dedicated things into the House of HaShem.
• 15:17: He was loyal all his days

Failures                                                           

• 16:1-4: Took gold and silver from Temple treasury and made a treaty with Syria.
• 16:5-10: When rebuked by Chanani, Asa persecuted some of the people.
• 16:12-14: When he became diseased in his feet, he did not seek HaShem.

Lesson from Asa                                                          

• Three times a variant of the word nuach [rest] is used in this passage. Root for “Noah” – same as Sabbath rest of Ex 20:11. Same as Deut 12:10, rest in the Land. Same root as Ps 95:11 xref Heb 4:9-11.
• 14:6: No war, nuach [rest]
• 14:7: Sought HaShem– result, nuach [rest]
• 15:15: All Judah made an oath to seek HaShem with all their hearts – result, He gave them nuach all around.
• Nuach is not the absence of activity. Asa fortified the cities. He acted zealously to obey G-d. Nuach was the absence of the calamity of conflict.

Summary                                                              

• When Asa “rested” and lived in HaShem’s strength; and acted obediently, he had great success and there was no war. When he trusted in himself, his treasure, and his doctors; he experienced war and disease.