2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 16: The LORD looks to strengthen hearts

Begin in prayer

Before we hear how Asa trusted the king of Syria, let us pray. Ask God to teach us whom to rely on, and to show us Jesus, who always pleased the Father.

Yahweh’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.

Psalm 34:15

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that Your eyes run through the whole earth, and show us Jesus, whose heart was right toward You. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, Baasha king of Israel builds Ramah to shut Judah in. Asa takes silver and gold from the LORD's house and the king's house and sends it to Ben Hadad, king of Syria. Ben Hadad attacks cities of Israel, Baasha stops building, and Asa uses the stones and timber to build Geba and Mizpah. The seer Hanani tells Asa that he relied on the king of Syria and not on the LORD. He says the eyes of the LORD run through the whole earth to strengthen those whose hearts are His. Asa is angry and puts Hanani in prison, and later he is diseased in his feet and seeks only the physicians.

As you read 2 Chronicles 16, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD's eyes run through the whole earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully His.

In chapter 14 Asa cried to the LORD against a million Ethiopians, and in chapter 16 he trusts a king. Baasha of Israel built Ramah, to keep anyone from going in or out of Judah (verse 1). Asa did not ask the LORD for help, and sent silver from His house to Syria (verses 2 and 3). Hanani the seer told Asa, “you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on Yahweh your God.” He reminded Asa that the LORD gave him the Ethiopians because he had relied on Him (verse 8). He said the LORD's eyes run through the whole earth, to strengthen those whose hearts are fully His (verse 9). The LORD looks for hearts that rely on Him. Asa was angry and put the seer in prison, and in his disease he sought only physicians (verses 10 and 12). This shows that the LORD helps those who rely on Him, and Asa's mistake was to rely on a king.

How does 2 Chronicles 16 show us that the LORD's eyes run through the whole earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully His?

Asa trusted the king of Syria and not the LORD.

Baasha built Ramah so that no one could go in or out of Judah (verse 1). Asa took silver and gold from the LORD's house and sent it to Ben Hadad (verse 2). He asked Ben Hadad to break his treaty with Baasha (verse 3). Ben Hadad did it, and Asa used the stones of Ramah to build Geba and Mizpah (verses 4 to 6).

The LORD's eyes run through the whole earth to strengthen hearts.

Hanani said that because Asa relied on the king of Syria, Syria's army had escaped his hand (verse 7). He reminded him of the Ethiopians, a huge army, whom the LORD delivered into his hand (verse 8). He said the LORD's eyes show Himself strong for those whose heart is perfect toward Him (verse 9). He said Asa had done foolishly and would have wars (verse 9).

Asa was angry, and in his sickness he did not seek the LORD.

Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prison, and he oppressed some of the people (verse 10). In his thirty-ninth year Asa was diseased in his feet (verse 12). The text says “he didn’t seek Yahweh, but just the physicians” (verse 12). Asa died in the forty-first year, and they buried him in his own tomb in David's city (verses 13 and 14).

Jesus had a heart that was perfect toward the Father.

Jesus said that He always does what pleases His Father (John 8 verse 29). Paul says God made Jesus, who knew no sin, to be sin for sinners (2 Corinthians 5 verse 21). The LORD looks for a perfect heart, and Jesus is the one who had it.

Memorise

For Yahweh’s eyes run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

2 Chronicles 16:9

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, my heart is not right before God, so will I rely on Jesus?

Hanani told Asa, “you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on Yahweh your God.” He said the LORD's eyes look for hearts that are His. Only one man ever had a heart perfect toward God. Jesus said that He always does what pleases His Father (John 8 verse 29).

Our hearts are not perfect, and the eyes of the LORD see it. God made Jesus, who knew no sin, to be sin for sinners (2 Corinthians 5 verse 21). At the cross He suffered for His people, and His one sacrifice paid it fully. He rose from the grave alive.

So turn to Him. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him will be forgiven, and God will count that person righteous in Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD's eyes look for hearts that rely on Him, and that only Jesus had a perfect heart. Parents, verses 10 to 14 tell of Asa's anger and his sickness, and the text says he did not seek the LORD. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that His eyes are on those who rely on Him, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

When I said, “My foot is slipping!” Your loving kindness, Yahweh, held me up.

Psalm 94:18

Father, thank You that Your eyes run through the whole earth to strengthen those who rely on You. Thank You for Jesus, whose heart was right and who died for sinners. Please give each of us a heart that rests in Him. Amen.