The “Times” after Solomon, 1 Kings 15:9-15

The lineage of David’s descendants that rules on his throne begins thus: David … Solomon (1 Kings 1-11) … Rehoboam (14:21-31) … Abijam (15:1-8) … Asa (15:9-24).  In today’s passage about Asa there are 4 terms that give us a clear understanding of the times and of what was important for the Davidic kings.

·        15:12: perverted persons.  In the worship of Israel God’s people were forbidden to have ritual harlots (Heb. qadeshah, feminine term) of the daughters of Israel or a perverted one (Heb qadesh, masculine term) of the sons of Israel (Deut. 23:17).  Religious prostitution (harlotry) and sodomy (homosexuality) was common in the religions of Canaan, the people God removed from the land given to Israel.  Religious sodomy had become common in Judah in the time of Rehoboam, Solomon’s son (14:24).  In other words, from the introduction of idolatry in Solomon’s time it didn’t take long for the chosen people to become degenerate.  King Asa removed this.

·        15:13: obscene image of Asherah.  Asa’s grandmother Maachah had become influential in Israel (she was mentioned with her son Abijam in 15:2), especially in introducing Canaanite idolatry into Judah’s culture.  An obscene image is an idol.  Her idol was in a grove of trees, another common aspect of Canaanite religion, involving the worship of Astarte, the goddess consort of the male god Baal.  Israel had been told, when they entered the land, they were to destroy these groves and not use them in or plant them for their own worship (Ex. 34:13; Deut. 7:5; 12:3; 16:21).  Asa destroyed this image and removed his grandmother from her place of influence.

·        15:14: high places (Heb. bamah).  These were places for idolatrous worship, established by Solomon to accommodate his foreign wives (11:7-8) with more added in the time of Rehoboam (14:23).  Sadly, Asa did not destroy these places, although he did remove the idols from those places (15:11).  It would not be until the time of Hezekiah that a king of Judah would finally remove the places for worship themselves (2 Kings 18:4).  These high places would be a constant Achilles heel for the people of Judah.

·        15:14: loyal.  The root meaning is to be at peace.  It is accurately translated complete or whole as well as loyal to the Lord.  Note it’s use in 1 Kings:

o   8:61: Solomon commanded the people to be loyal to the Lord.

o   11:4: But Solomon himself was not loyal to the Lord his God.

o   15:3: Neither was Abijam.

o   15:14: But Asa, in his heart, was loyal to the Lord.

Asa had been handed a wicked nation, one that was led in its wickedness by the kings that preceded him.  To God’s glory he did not repeat those sins.  He took a stand in leading the people aright.  The Proverbs say: Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people (14:34).  “Any” people.  Not just Israel but our own country as well.  Let us pray for bold, righteous leadership.