Revival, 5785, and The Month of Chesvan

King Asa’s Revival and The Month of Chesvan. In the month of Chesvan the Tribe of Israel represented is Manessah. Gideon was from the tribe of Manasseh. Manasseh has a history of doing great exploits for God. Men from half of this Tribe fought with David and Ziklag because he was anointed King at Hebron. They were also present at King David’s coronation. These men were also those who defected from Israel, the Northern Kingdom and joined King Asa’s Revival as they came to Hezekiah’s Passover celebration. Then they stayed to remove the Idols in high places. Later they helped to repair the Temple under Josiah. 2 Chronicles 14-16
The revival took place in the southern Kingdom of Judah, during the reign of King Asa.
Background Information—The United Monarchy
The reigns of Kings Saul, David, and Solomon are traditionally dated between 1047 B.C. and 930 B.C. With the succession of Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, around 930 B.C., the country split into two kingdoms 1 Kings 12:1-20;.2 Chronicles 10:1-19).
► The Kingdom of Israel in the north
► The Kingdom of Judah in the south
The southern kingdom of Judah was ruled by the descendants of David and was made up of two tribes, Judah and Benjamin. The northern Kingdom of Israel was made up of the remaining ten tribes of Israel: Simeon, Reuben, Gad, Ephraim, Issachar, Naphtali, Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Dan.

This revival account is focusing on the southern Kingdom of Judah and its king, Asa, who came to power around 926 B.C.

Godly Kings and Ungodly Kings
Out of the kings that ruled the northern Kingdom of Israel, none were godly. Of the kings that ruled the southern Kingdom of Judah, there were five who were godly, and they were:
1. Asa (1 Kings 15:11)
2. Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:32)
3. Joash (2 Kings 12:2)
4. Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:5)
5. Josiah (2 Kings 23:25)
The spiritual condition of the nation when Asa came to the throne left him with many challenges.

► Idolatry was rampant. ► Perversity had filled the land, with idolatrous practices involving male and female prostitutes.
King Asa’s First Revival
During the first ten years of Asa’s reign he enjoyed relative peace, and he used that time to bring the nation back to God (2 Chronicles 14:1).
► Going from town to town, he removed all altars and high places of worship dedicated to foreign gods (1 Kings 15:12;.2 Chronicles 14:3).
Wisdom Exercised during Times of Peace
As Asa took these dramatic steps spiritually, God blessed him with peace. This peace enabled him to invest time in strengthening his kingdom (2 Chronicles 14:7).
► He fortified the land (2 Chronicles 14:7).
► He built up his army to 580,000 (2 Chronicles 14:8).

Military Victory at Mareshah
When an Ethiopian army marched against Judah, with 1,000,000 soldiers and 300 chariots–a force close to twice as large as Judah’s–Asa called out to God for help, and victory was given (2 Chronicles 14:9-15).
► The Ethiopians were chased all the way to Gerar (2 Chronicles 14:13).
► The Philistine cities surrounding Gerar were also destroyed, allowing the army of Judah to capture and carry “off a vast amount of plunder” (2 Chronicles 14:14-15).
King Asa’s Second Revival
When the army returned from the victory at Mareshah, the prophet Azariah greeted Asa and all the people, and reminded them that this success was from the Lord (2 Chronicles 15:1-2). Azariah also reminded them of the days under the previous kings, when “dark times” covered the land (2 Chronicles 15:3-6). And he ended with an encouraging word, that if they remain faithful, their “work will be rewarded” (2 Chronicles 15:7).
Asa took Azariah’s advice and for 5 years he doubled his efforts in removing idols and immoral practices throughout the land and cleaned out and restored worship in the Lord’s Temple (2 Chronicles 15:8).

Covenant with the Lord Reconfirmed
During Asa’s 15th year of ruling Judah, he gathered all the people to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the Lord and to enter into a covenant with Him (2 Chronicles 15:9-14).
Then they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. They agreed that anyone who refused to seek the Lord, the God of Israel, would be put to death—whether young or old, man or woman. They shouted out their oath of loyalty to the Lord with trumpets blaring and rams’ horns sounding. All in Judah were happy about this covenant, for they had entered into it with all their
heart.They earnestly sought after God, and they found him. And the Lord gave them rest from their enemies on every side. (2 Chronicles 15:12-15).

Dr. Jim and Debbie Laymon,

Wellspring Israel
509 Estill St
Grapevine, Tx. 76051

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