DAWN
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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2014 October 28
King Asa of Juda Destroying the Idols (1625)
Francois de Nome (c. 1593 - c. 1644)
Baroque Style
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
Explanation: 2 Chronicles 15 contains a rebuke from the prophet Azariah to Asa, King of Judah; and it chronicles Asa's reforms in response to the rebuke. The painting above depicts Asa's iconoclasm, embellished by artistic license. [Traditional Patriarchal Timeline. Judges Period Chronology. Kings of Judah and Israel #1. Kings of Judah and Israel #2]. [Chronologically and Thematically Related Scriptures: 1 Kings 15:12-15].
When the Spirit of God came upon the prophet Azariah, he went to Asa (911-870 B.C.) and told him that the LORD would be with him and with Judah and Benjamin if they would be with the LORD; but if they forsook him he would forsake them. Azariah noted that, when Israel was without a teaching priest and without the law, the LORD turned to them when they turned to Him. And he noted that this happened in a time of great vexation and war. So he encouraged Asa and the people to "Be strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded" (1-7). Asa and the people responded by putting away the idols out of their midst. And religious refugees joined them from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon. They came to Jerusalem and made offerings to the LORD from the spoils of war (as recorded in the previous chapter). They then made a covenant to seek the LORD with all of their heart and to put to death any who did not. So they rejoiced greatly; and they were surrounded by rest (8-15). Also, Asa deposed his mother from her post as queen mother because of her idolatry; and they destroyed her idol and the grove in which she worshiped it. However Asa left the high places of worship; but his heart was perfect with the LORD; and war ceased for 20 years (16-19).
2 Chronicles 15
1 And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:
2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.
3 Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.
4 But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.
5 And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries.
6 And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity.
7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
8 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD.
9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.
10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.
11 And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.
12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;
13 That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
14 And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.
15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.
16 And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.
17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
18 And he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.
19 And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.
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