DOING THE RIGHT THING WHEN OTHERS AROUND YOU ARE DOING WRONG

PROCLAMATION

“In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king of Judah … Asa did what was right in the eyes of The Lord …”  1 Kings 15:9-11 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

When Asa, son of Abijah, son of Rehoboam, son of Solomon, son of David, became king of Judah, he did that which was right in the eyes of The Lord.  In his old age, King Solomon let his wives lead him astray.  He worshiped other gods and did evil in the sight of The Lord. (1 Kings 11:1-6)  After the death of Solomon, his son Rehoboam became king and rejected of the advice of the elders of Israel which led to the division of Israel with only Judah following the house of David.  Jeroboam, who had rebelled against King Solomon (1 Kings 11:26-40) became king of the northern tribes of Israel. (1 Kings 12:20)  He made two golden calves for the people to worship. (1 Kings 12:26-33)  Abijah became the king of Judah and he committed all the sins which his father Rehoboam had committed. (1 Kings 15:1-3)  When Abijah died his son Asa became king of Judah and he did that which was right in the eyes of The Lord. (1 Kings 15:9-11)  Nadab son of Jeroboam became king of Israel, the northern tribes, and he did evil in the eyes of The Lord. (1 Kings 15:25-26)  Baasha killed Nadab and became king of Israel (1 Kings 15:27-28) and he did evil in the eyes of The Lord following in the sinful ways of Jeroboam worshiping idols. (1 Kings 15:33-34)  Asa was the only king during this period who did right and followed the ways of The Lord.

APPLICATION

It is very hard to do the right thing and follow The Word of God when all of the people around you are doing that which is wrong.  Standing alone and doing right is difficult when the crowd is doing that which is wrong.  Today we are bombarded with influences which encourage us to sin and to turn away from the teachings of The Word of God.  There are many negative worldly influences including political leaders, movie stars, television personalities, co-workers, and friends that can exert a lot of peer pressure on us to behave in an ungodly manner.  We need to read and study The Word of God, to stay “prayed up,” and to associate with and encourage believers who are also struggling to do the right thing in the face of pressure to do that which is wrong.  The Lord God did not say that it would be easy, but He said that He would be with us and never leave us. (1 Kings 8:57 and Hebrews 13:5)