2 Chronicles 15

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If Judah looks for God, they will find him

God's Spirit filled Azariah (Obed's son) and he went to tell Asa, “Asa, you and all of Judah and Benjamin need to listen: the Existing One is with you while you are with him. If you look for him, you will find him, but if you reject him, he will reject you. For a long time Israel didn't care about the true God, having a teaching priest, or observing the law, but when they turned to Israel's God the Existing One and sought him in their distress, they found him. During that time, anyone who came and went didn't have peace, because powerful disturbances afflicted everyone who lived here. They were broken into pieces. Countries and cities crushed each other, because God troubled them with all kinds of problems. But you should be brave! Don't let yourself be lazy, because your work will be rewarded.”

Judah seeks God wholeheartedly

When Asa heard Azariah's prophecy, he was strengthened and took down the detestable idols throughout Judah, Benjamin, and the cities in Ephraim's hillside, and he repaired the Existing One's altar that was in front of the Existing One's temple. He assembled everyone from Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who lived there (many moved there from Israel when they realized that his God the Existing One was with him). They assembled at Jerusalem in the third month of Asa's 15th year on the throne. They sacrificed 700 oxen and 7,000 sheep to the Existing One that day from the loot they brought in. They promised to seek their forefathers' God the Existing One with their entire heart and soul, and they decided that whoever refused to seek Israel's God the Existing One should be put to death (whether young or old, man or woman). They swore an oath to the Existing One with a loud voice, shouting and blowing trumpets and horns. Everyone in Judah celebrated the oath, since they swore it with their whole heart, sought him with all their desire, and found them. The Existing One gave them peace on all sides.

God gives Judah peace

Asa even removed Maacah (his mother) from being queen because she had made a detestable Asherah idol. Asa took down the idol, crushed it, and burned it at the Kidron brook. But the shrines remained in Israel. Nevertheless, Asa's heart was fully true for as long as he lived. He brought his father's sacred gifts and gifts of his own (silver, gold, and vessels) into God's house. And there were no more wars until the 35th year of Asa's reign.

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2 Chronicles 16

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2 Chronicles 14