Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 15:11
And Asa did [that which was] right in the eyes of the LORD, as [did] David his father.
1Ki 15:11-15
Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord.
The character of Asa
In Asa, King of Judah, we have one of the most melancholy, yet perhaps one of the most marvellous instances on record in the Holy Scriptures of the depravity of our nature. What strikes us in this prince is not merely that sort of inconsistency which is, more or less, part of every mans character; that strange admixture of opposing principles and motives which may be said to influence the actions of the generality of men; neither is it–what is a still more common evil among men–the succumbing to the power of any one evil disposition which is not sufficiently counteracted by a corresponding virtue. It is his failure in that very point in which the chief of his virtues seemed to lie–his faith and perfect confidence in God.
I. The impossibility of mans arriving at a sinless state of perfection so long as he is clothed with this mortality. In Asa we have a proof that a man may be perfect before God, and yet have sin. In many things we offend all, and If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves–if we were to infer that a state of faultless perfection were attainable in this world from the fact that there are many who, like Noah, Abraham, or Asa, are said to have walked perfectly with God, it would he difficult to reconcile such an inference with the sins they are known to have committed. When we find such injunctions as this–Walk thou before Me, and be thou perfect. It is plain that the word perfect must be interpreted in that sense of general uprightness of character which it is only possible to apply to the best of men in this world. The main difference between the righteous and unrighteous–and this we ought chiefly to bear in mind–lies in habitual character. It is this which God principally regards, and not occasional sins, grievous though they be. The pith of all true religion, the grand substance of the doctrines of both Old and New Testaments, is summed up for us at the conclusion of both–the last words of the Old Testament being: Then shall ye return and discern between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not; while among the last utterances of the Holy Ghost speaking by St. John, are these: His servants shall serve Him–He that loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha. Thus the constant service of God is spoken of in both Testaments as the distinctive feature of the righteous.
II. The more practical lesson of caution in the manner of our daily walk. If Satan be suffered to exercise so great power over the hearts of the faithful servants of God, how watchful over our own hearts should we be! How necessary to each one of us the godly admonition of the apostle: Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall! And how are we to take heed lest we fall? By standing always in the grace of God–this is the secret of final perseverance; this is the secret of Asas heart being perfect all his days. It is a mere matter of history that the saving mercy of God is more generally shown to those in whom we find habitual goodness of heart to have pre-existed, or, more strictly speaking, by whom grace given has been constantly used and persevered in, than to those whose habit of life has been careless and negligent of Gods service. The case of a seemingly virtuous child being led astray might well presuppose a want of real hearty piety, or a degree of pride and self-confidence which has withdrawn the special care and love of God, and left that child a prey of his enemies. This is not, however, the case of a really righteous person fallen from his uprightness. In all this we have a strong caution. If habitual piety is never forgotten, and rarely goes unrewarded at last, how much ought we to be on our guard lest we lose aught of that piety, lest we slacken the fervour of our zeal, and suffer our love to grow cold, or even lukewarm; lest, in a word, we forfeit aught of that grace wherein alone we stand. (J. B. Litler, M. A.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
That which was right in the eyes of the Lord; as to the government of his kingdom and life, and the reformation and establishment of Gods worship.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did David his father. In his personal walk and conversation, in his government of the nation, and especially in the matters of his God, and of religion, he made David his pattern and example to copy after.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(11) Asa did that which was right.This reignhappily, a long onewas a turning-point in the history of Judah. Freed from immediate pressure by the victory of Abijah over Jeroboam, Asa resolvedperhaps under the guidance of the prophets Azariah and Hanani (2Ch. 15:1; 2Ch. 16:7)to renew the true strength of his kingdom by restoring the worship and trusting in the blessings of the true God, extirpating by repeated efforts the false worships introduced by Rehoboam and continued by Abijah, and solemnly renewing the covenant with the Lord, in the name of the people, and of the strangers from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon, who joined them. Of all this the text here gives but brief notice: the record in the Chronicles (2 Chronicles 14, 15) contains a detailed account. From the same record we find that he fortified his cities and strengthened his army, and that he was able to repel with great slaughter a formidable invasion from Egypt, under Zerah the Ethiopian, in his fifteenth year.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. Asa did that which was right Literally, Asa did the right. It is a relief amid these records of regal crimes and follies to find at times the record of a righteous sovereign.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 15:11 And Asa did [that which was] right in the eyes of the LORD, as [did] David his father.
Ver. 11. And Asa did that which was right. ] Right, for the matter of his obedience; uprightly, for the manner.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
right. Therefore his days “long in the land” (1Ki 15:23). Contemporary with seven Israelite kings.
idols = filthy idols.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Asa: 1Ki 15:3, 2Ch 14:2, 2Ch 14:11, 2Ch 15:17, 2Ch 16:7-10
Reciprocal: 1Ki 22:43 – he walked 2Ki 18:3 – according 2Ch 20:32 – the way 2Ch 21:12 – in the ways of Asa