The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 346

Vere. 9-15.-Reformation. The morn.I condition of Judah was fea.rfu.l when As1, on.me to the throne. The apostasy of Solomon had inaugurated a retrogression which was aggravated in the reign~ follo'Ying, so tliat fo_r_ three generations the abominations of the heathens were mcreasmg. The condition of Israel was even worse, under the system introduced by Jeroboam, to.which the successors of that monarch tenaciously held. When the Holy Land was m such a state of degeneracy, what was the condition of the world at large I There was, therefore, the greatest need for reformation. I. OF THIS ASA BECAME THE SUBJECT AND SPECIMEN. Reformations have ever been inaugurated by individuals who have embodied e.nd exemplified their prin- ciples. Witness Luther in Germany, Knox in Scotland, &c. Such also was Asa. 1. He "did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord." (1) To do right in the eyes of the world is praiseworthy. For wicked men "know better; " and they have keen vision to discover inconsistencies in professors of religion (see Phil ii. 15: 1 Pet. ii. 11-15). (2) To do right in the eyes of good men is e. higher com- mendation. They have e. purer light, and consequently e. finer appreciation of moral qualities. Things which the world will allow they cannot e.pprove. (3) But to do right in the "eyes of the Lord" is the highest praise. He ree.ds the heart- surveys the motives-requires "truth in the inward parts." What a searching vision shall we pass under in the day of judgment I If that vision approve us now we shall then have nothing to fear. 2. In this he i8 compared with David. (1) David never followed idols. The one blur of his life we.a the me.tter of Uriah, of which he heartily repented. Who amongst us has nothing to repent of'l (2) David's loyalty to God was sincere e.nd fervent. What e. warm spirit of piety breathes in the Pee.Ima I Axe they not, even in our gospel age, e. fin.a vehicle for spiritual worship ? (3) De.vid was e. prophet. This A.sa was not. He had the grace, not the gifts, of the founder of his house. Gifts a.re not equ.e.Ily within the reach of a.ll; graces a.re. 8. Such commendation was eminently creditable to Asa. (1) He stands out in rema.rk1:1ble contrast to his father. Abijam was wicked; Asa. was good. The influence of the father was vicious; the son resisted it and was virtuous. (2) Asa's mother seems to have died early, for Maachah, the daughter of Absalom, who was his gre.ndmother, is here mentioned as his mother. Under the influence of Maachah, Abijah developed badly; notwithstanding that evil influence Asa developed well. (3) We must not ignore, but fully recognize, individual wora.l responsibility. The will cannot be compared to a po.i.r of scales which is mechani- ce.lly moved by weights. lL OF THIS ALSO BE BE0AME THE INSTRUMENT. This is God's order (1 John i. 8). What he felt he tried to promote. 1. Beginning with his own house. (1) He re- moved the idols which his father had made. He felt especially bound to do this in order to out off the entail of sin from his house. (2) He frowned also upon the idolatry of his grandmother. " She made an idol in a grove " (ilir!'io:? n1i?:l1J) a glory for an .Ashere. The word is used for terribleness or majestic glory Jer. xlix. 16. Setting an image in the cloud of glory was setting it on e.n nrk or chariot of cherubim to be worshipped. (See Psa. 1. 8, where ilille') is used for the cloud ot glory about Jehovah.) Asa demolished this nimbus, or glory, together with the Ashere, or idol, and probably threw the ashes into the Kedron in contempt (com- pare Deut. ix. 21; 2 Kings xxiii. 12; 2 Chron. xv. 16). (8) Furthermore, he re- moved Maachah from being queen (dowager). He thus merited the commendntiou of Levi (see Deut. :a.xiii. 9; see also Math. x. 87). 2. Then influencing the nation. (1) He removed the Sodomites out of the land. What prosperity ce.n there be in nnv ate.to where public immoro.lity is tolerated by the magistrates ? (2) He destroyed the high places of idolatry with their altars and idols, in the country and in 'the cities (see 2 Chron. xiv. 8, 5). (3) The high ple.ces used in the worship of Jehovah after the fashion of the patriarchs, he spa.red. For this be is bu\ lightly censured i  352 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS.