February 12: 2 Chronicles 15:8-19

Revival Results in Renewed Spiritual Commitment

The test of REVIVAL is not what kind of emotional responses are produced, how many strange signs and wonders are on display, how many people can be assembled in one place, under one tent, in one huge arena, or how much press coverage it can garner. Revival is not about numbers; it is about heart. When the hearts of many turn to the LORD in deep repentance and soul-searching, they become very serious about what it means to follow the LORD. They seek to devote themselves to His worship, His service, and His kingdom. Asa took the message of Azariah to heart.

Revival leads to reformation. REFORMATION is the process of bringing religious practices and beliefs back into line with the word of God. The Old Testament portrays Israel as requiring reformation at several points in her history. God’s people continue to need to review their beliefs and practices in the light of God’s word.

Asa led the initiative to reform the nation.

“And when Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and removed the abominable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities which he had taken in the mountains of Ephraim; and he restored the altar of the LORD that was before the vestibule of the LORD.” (2 Chronicles 15:8, NKJV)

Idolatry was the besetting sin of Israel and the point at which all reforms had to begin by removing the idols and turning back to the true God.

He called for a gathering of worship and commitment.

“Then he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those who dwelt with them from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon, for they came over to him in great numbers from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him. So they gathered together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.” (2 Chronicles 15:9-10, NKJV, emphasis mine)

He led a covenant renewal and solemn commitment.

“And they offered to the LORD at that time seven hundred bulls and seven thousand sheep from the spoil they had brought. Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;” (2 Chronicles 15:11-12, NKJV)

Covenant is a contract or agreement between two parties. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word berith is always thus translated. Berith is derived from a root which means “to cut,” and hence a covenant is a “cutting,” with reference to the cutting or dividing of animals into two parts, and the contracting parties passing between them, in making a covenant (Genesis 15; Jeremiah 34:18, Jeremiah 34:19). – Easton’s Bible Dictionary

• This covenant was deliberately connected with these past covenants (to seek the LORD God of their fathers).
• This covenant was supported by the threat of punishment (whoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel was to be put to death) and with a public oath (they took an oath before the LORD with a loud voice).
• This covenant was made with all their heart and with all their soul. It was not a half-hearted or half-way covenant that no one could be held accountable to.
  • David Guzik
• This covenant has been superseded by the New Covenant, outlined in the New Testament. “When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear.” (Hebrews 8:13, NASB)

He dealt with sin within his own household.

He had the courage to remove the Queen Mother, his grandmother, from her position because of her idolatry.

“He also removed Maacah, the mother of King Asa, from the position of queen mother, because she had made an abominable image as an Asherah, and Asa cut down her abominable image, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron.” (2 Chronicles 15:16, NASB)

This revival, spurred on by the Word of the LORD, began a reformation of the nation that had far-reaching influence.

To be “Wesleyan” is also to be a reformer. As a response to the query—“What may we reasonably believe to be God’s design in raising up Preachers called Methodist?—Wesley replied, “To reform the nation, particularly the church, and to spread scriptural holiness over the land.” Therefore, simply put, to be a “true Wesleyan” is to reform the church and spread holiness.