Day 158-11

And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. (1 Kings 15:12)

How?  Gill:

And he took away the Sodomites out of the land,.... Which were in the times of Rehoboam, 1Ki_14:24, and continued in his father's reign; those he took away, either by driving them out of the land, or by putting them to death according to the law of God, Lev_20:13 even as many of them as he had knowledge of, for some remained, see 1Ki_22:46.

In this season of civilization it would be politically incorrect to even suggest such a thing as a holy standard.  To say something against someone who chooses to live a life style which is contrary to nature is considered, (ahem) evil.  It is a sad state of affairs, but well documented in the Word.

Evil = good, good = evil by the world's standard, what saith HE?

Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.  (Proverbs 17:3)

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  (Isaiah 5:20)

Those who practice lawlessness:

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  (Galatians 5:19-21)

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

Only by the saving grace of God can one turn from being a wicked, depraved individual.

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:  (Hebrews 3:7-8)

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  (Matthew 4:17)

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.  (Mark 1:15)

Today is the day of repentance...call out to those who are perishing...be not fearful or afraid, for what can man do to you?  Nothing...be more afraid of displeasing the one who stepped down from majesty on high, who sacrificially laid down HIS life, pouring out His blood for atonement to purchase you from the enemy.  Pour out your life unto Him, reaping rewards that were never made for this earthly abode.

But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days. (1 Kings 15:14)

All...his days.  His heart was perfect with the Lord.  O Lord, let these words be spoken of me, that my heart was more desirous of being in one accord with You more than anything else in the world.

And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.  (2 Chronicles 15:9)

They left their earthly inheritance to be in the place where God had chosen, Jerusalem.  What will we need to sacrifice in order to serve Him where He leads?  O God, help us to keep our eyes upon You, not upon the earthly things of this world.  Train us to savor that which will bring about a delicious aroma of You to all who see, hear and know us.  A savor of life unto life, to those who are Yours.

And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. (2 Chronicles 15:12-13)

Covenant...cutting or parting of flesh.  Not something to be undertaken lightly...how did they enter into a covenant with God?

Gill - And they entered into a covenant,.... Asa and all his people; that is, as Piscator remarks, they went between the pieces of the calf cut asunder, for the confirmation of the covenant, see Jer_34:18.

We, as an advanced civilization have lost the uniqueness and solemnity of what it means to be in a covenant.  Definitely a topic worth studying in depth.

And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.  (1 Kings 15:13)

He who loves father and mother more?  Maachah did not set a very good example.  Demoted, publicly humiliated by having her *idol* destroyed and burnt by the brook Kidron.  What else happened there?

I was actually thinking of when Moses burnt the golden calf and strawed it upon the water (different water), but just a preliminary search of the word, Kidron yielded this find:

2Ki 23:6  And he brought out the grove from the house of the LORD, without Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and stamped it small to powder, and cast the powder thereof upon the graves of the children of the people.

2Ch 29:16  And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron.

2Ch 30:14  And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron.

Jer 31:40  And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.

Kidron - H6939 - From H6937; dusky place; Kidron, a brook near Jerusalem

• H6937 - A primitive root; to be ashy, that is, dark colored; by implication to mourn (in sackcloth or sordid garments).

And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.  (Mark 3:33-35)

Would Christ say the foregoing about us?  Are we willing to confront even those closest to us?  Have we the fortitude of Asa?  O Lord, help Your people to be bold, courageous, willing to stand for You in a generation who are more concerned about serving self, versus laying down their lives for You.  God give us courage and moral fortitude to stand in this evil day.