Session 5 1 Kings 15:9-22
listen for Asa’s bold moves as king.
9 In the twentieth year of Israel’s King Jeroboam, Asa became king of Judah,
10 and he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem.
His grandmother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.11 Asa did what was right in the LORD’s sight, as his ancestor David had done.
12 He banished the male cult prostitutes from the land
and removed all of the idols that his ancestors had made.
13 He also removed his grandmother Maacah from being queen mother
because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. Asa chopped down her obscene image and burned it in the Kidron Valley.
14 The high places were not taken away,
but Asa was wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his entire life.
15 He brought his father’s consecrated gifts and his own consecrated gifts into the LORD’s temple:
silver, gold, and utensils.
Family Practices and Commitment to God.
reread the verses and
name things that were “family practices”
when Asa came to power;
list these under the Family Practices heading.
Next name things Asa did that demonstrated his commitment to God;
list these under the Commitment to God heading.
describe the pagan worship practices Asa removed.
Looking at Asa is a strong reminder
that our past does not dictate our future.
Where we have come from does not have to dictate where we are going.
Note the word wholeheartedly in verse 14.
Invite a volunteer to read Mark 12:30.
Mark 12:30 NASB
AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD
WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL,
AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.´
Asa started his reign turning away from his family’s pagan worship practices,
and fully committing himself to God.
Next let’s see his response when challenged by a rival.