2 Chronicles 15 2

2 Chronicles 15:2 kjv

And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.

2 Chronicles 15:2 nkjv

And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.

2 Chronicles 15:2 niv

He went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. 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 Chronicles 15:2 esv

and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The LORD is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

2 Chronicles 15:2 nlt

and he went out to meet King Asa as he was returning from the battle. "Listen to me, Asa!" he shouted. "Listen, all you people of Judah and Benjamin! The LORD will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.

2 Chronicles 15 verses

2 Chronicles 15 2 Meaning

2 Chronicles 15:2 presents a pivotal prophetic message from Azariah the son of Oded to King Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. It declares a fundamental principle of divine relationship: God’s presence and responsiveness are conditional upon humanity's pursuit of Him. If they remain faithful and seek the Lord, He will be found by them, signifying His favor and aid. Conversely, if they abandon Him, He warns that He will, in turn, abandon them, implying the withdrawal of His protection and blessing, leading to adverse consequences. This verse encapsulates the Deuteronomic principle of blessing for obedience and curses for disobedience, emphasizing the reciprocity in the covenant between God and His people.

2 Chronicles 15 2 Context

This verse occurs early in the reign of King Asa of Judah. Following a decisive victory against the Ethiopians and Libyans, an event described in 2 Chronicles 14, the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded, a prophet previously unmentioned. Azariah then goes to meet Asa and his victorious army. This prophecy is a direct address meant to interpret the recent victory and set a course for the future of Judah. The historical context is a time of potential revival and reform after years of religious decline and idolatry under previous kings. The message served as both an affirmation of God's recent help and a crucial instruction for maintaining His favor, warning against future complacency or backsliding. It provided the theological basis for Asa's subsequent religious reforms detailed in 2 Chronicles 15:8-19. The underlying tension of Israel's history—oscillating between faithfulness and idolatry—is addressed directly, presenting a clear path to national prosperity or decline based on their relationship with the Lord.

2 Chronicles 15 2 Word analysis

• And he went out to meet Asa:
  • Significance: This emphasizes Azariah's direct approach, signaling a divinely commissioned and authoritative message delivered personally to the king. Prophets were often sent by God to convey messages directly.
• and said unto him, Hear ye:
  • Word: "Hear ye" (שִׁמְעוּ, shim'u) – This is a common prophetic imperative in Hebrew, meaning "Listen" or "Pay attention." It demands solemn attention to the important message about to be delivered, akin to "Hear O Israel."
  • Significance: It underscores the weight and divine origin of Azariah's words. It’s not a suggestion but a call to heed, a typical address from a prophet.
• all Judah, and Benjamin:
  • Significance: The message is addressed not only to King Asa but to the entire Southern Kingdom of Judah, comprising the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, which remained faithful to the Davidic line after the division of the kingdom. This indicates a national covenant responsibility.
• The LORD is with you, while ye be with him:
  • Word: "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH) – The divine covenant name, emphasizing God's personal and steadfast commitment to His people, and His absolute sovereignty.
  • Word: "with you" (עִמָּכֶם, immakhem) and "with him" (עִמּוֹ, immo) – The Hebrew preposition signifies presence, partnership, aid, and fellowship. It implies active engagement and support.
  • Words-group: "The LORD is with you, while ye be with him" – This establishes a profound principle of reciprocal relationship. God's abiding presence and active assistance (He "is with you") are directly contingent upon the people's faithfulness and alignment with Him (their being "with him"). It’s a statement of conditional divine immanence, not automatic presence regardless of human action.
  • Significance: It reinforces the covenant nature: God's blessing is not static but relational. It’s a call to active adherence, not passive presumption.
• and if ye seek him, he will be found of you:
  • Word: "seek" (דָּרַשׁ, darash) – Implies earnestly searching, diligently inquiring, consulting, resorting to, or pursuing with intention. It denotes active pursuit of God, often through worship, prayer, obedience to His commands, and reliance on His counsel.
  • Word: "found" (מָצָא, matsa) – Refers to discovery, being obtained or accessible.
  • Words-group: "if ye seek him, he will be found of you" – This promises divine responsiveness to sincere human spiritual effort. God is not hidden from those who genuinely desire to know and follow Him. It guarantees that seeking is not in vain.
  • Significance: It offers hope and a path to restoration and blessing. This promise underlines God's desire for relationship and His accessibility to those who pursue Him wholeheartedly.
• but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.:
  • Word: "forsake" (עָזַב, azav) – Implies to abandon, leave, neglect, or desert. It signifies a conscious turning away from covenant loyalty and devotion.
  • Words-group: "if ye forsake him, he will forsake you" – This is the severe warning, highlighting the consequence of infidelity. If God's people abandon their covenant obligations and relationship with Him, He will, in turn, withdraw His protective presence, favor, and assistance. This does not imply that God ceases to exist or care, but rather that He removes His covenant blessings and actively turns from His people's aid, often allowing the natural consequences of their rebellion to unfold.
  • Significance: It is a strong deterrent against idolatry, disobedience, and spiritual indifference. It emphasizes the justice of God within the covenant framework and the dire consequences of rebellion.

2 Chronicles 15 2 Bonus section

The immediacy and directness of Azariah's prophetic message demonstrate the continued active presence of the Spirit of God in Israel even during times of fluctuating national faithfulness. The phrase "the Spirit of God came upon Azariah" signifies divine empowerment for specific prophetic ministry, ensuring the message's authority. This message to King Asa, following a major victory, acted as a test and an opportunity for the king to deepen his commitment, rather than resting on past successes. It moved beyond simple thanksgiving to a proactive challenge for sustained righteousness. This type of conditional statement, with its promise of blessings for faithfulness and warnings of judgment for unfaithfulness, forms the backbone of the Mosaic Covenant, specifically reiterated throughout Deuteronomy, making Azariah's prophecy a re-affirmation of foundational covenant principles within the context of the Davidic line.

2 Chronicles 15 2 Commentary

2 Chronicles 15:2 encapsulates the central theological principle of the Chronicler's history: divine blessing and judgment are directly tied to the obedience or disobedience of the kings and the people of Judah. Prophet Azariah's message to Asa is a conditional promise and warning, serving as a divinely inspired blueprint for national well-being. It underscores that God's presence and intervention (His being "with you") are not automatic but are sustained by the people's active commitment ("while ye be with him"). This active commitment manifests in "seeking" the Lord—a comprehensive term implying sincere worship, adherence to His commands, reliance on His wisdom, and heartfelt prayer. The promise that He "will be found of you" assures His responsiveness, accessibility, and willingness to bless. Conversely, the warning is stark: "if ye forsake him, he will forsake you." This is not an abandonment of His immutable nature or promises but a withdrawal of His covenantal favor and active protection, leaving His people vulnerable to their enemies and the consequences of their rebellion. This prophecy validates Asa's prior victory, interpreting it as a result of divine favor due to his nascent reforms (implied adherence), and lays down the conditions for continued success, urging a sustained and national devotion to God. This principle can be observed repeatedly throughout biblical history: national prosperity under kings like David and Solomon (early reign) when seeking God, and national decline, exile, and suffering under kings like Ahab or Manasseh who abandoned God. For a follower today, it highlights the reciprocal nature of our walk with God—as we draw near to Him, He draws near to us; as we seek His face, we find His guidance and peace; but turning away brings distance and consequence.