2 Chronicles 12-16: Forsaken and Forsaken

2 Chronicles goes into more details of the life of Asa, king of Judah tan is found in 1 Kings.  Both books say that Asa was godly and that he destroyed the altars to foreign gods and the high places.  1 Kings 15 says that when he was old his feet became diseased then he rested with his fathers.  That is only part of Asa's story. 

Early on, Asa called on the Lord.  When he went up to meet the vast army of Zerah, the Cushite, he cried out to God:  "LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O LORD, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you."  - 2 Chron. 14:11 NIV

After his victory, the Spirit of God to came upon Azariah, who went to meet Asa with these words: "The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you." - 2 Chron. 15:2 - NIV

This prompted Asa to get rid of all the idols and repair the altar of the Lord in the temple.  He called all of Judah and Benjamin and led them in entering into a covenant to seek the Lord God.  All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side. - 2 Chron 15:15 - NIV

What a magnificent reign Asa might have had, but it all came to an end in the thirty-fifth year when Asa decided to trust in Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, more than in God.  This was not hidden from God, as the seer Hanani told him.  "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war."  - 2 Chron. 16:9 NIV

This made Asa angry.  He put the seer in prison and started to brutally oppress the people.  Then his feet become diseased.  Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians. - 2 Chron 16:12 NIV

The one who had trusted so in God when he was young, who had kept Judah at peace for so long, at the end of his life chose to trust others rather than God.  The Lord was with him when he was with God.  When he sought God, he found him, when he forsake Him, he was forsaken.