The Lord Is With You
2 Chronicles 15:2 - Obedience and faithfulness to God always results in His presence and blessing
The minor prophet Azariah speaking with King Asa. Image generated by ChatGPT (OpenAI) using the DALL·E model.
“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 NIV
After a string of New Testament verses, God has sent me to 2 Chronicles. This Old Testament book is the last of the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible (the Tanach), and it covers the history of ancient Judah and Israel from the time of Adam until the Edict of Cyrus in 539 BC when the Persian king decreed the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.
Chapter 15 is split into two main sections: the prophecy of Azariah (from which this verse is taken), and Asa’s reforms as a result of the prophecy. Azariah was a minor prophet, considered to be a “part time” prophet who had the Spirit of God work upon him on rare occasions. Think of Azariah as a layperson whom God used to bring words of encouragement to Asa. There is, of course, no “Book of Azariah” in the Bible.
Asa was the king of Judah at the time of Azariah’s prophecy, and he was known for his religious reforms and his continuing efforts to lead his nation back to the worship of Yahweh.
The verse begins with Azariah meeting with King Asa. This occurred after a time of military success for Asa, whose army had just been victorious over the Cushites (ancient Ethiopia). While Azariah begins his proclamation speaking directly to Asa, he also directs his prophecy to everyone in the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (which made up the Southern Kingdom of Judah), asking them to “Listen to me” in a tone of importance and urgency.
Azariah then makes a point of reflecting the covenant relationship between God and Israel, pronouncing “The Lord is with you when you are with him.” Obedience and faithfulness to God always results in His presence and blessing, and this was as true in Old Testament days as it is now.
The same truth of God’s Word is mirrored in the next part of the verse, “If you seek him, he will be found by you”. God has always wanted a relationship with His people, and if they seek Him, He responds!
The prophet finishes his statement with a warning: “but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.” Turning away from God has consequences, as is seen in the Old Testament in places like Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26. In those chapters of the Bible, disobedience to the covenant results in God withdrawing from His people and the eventual downfall of the nation. Both the Northern (Israel) and Southern (Judah) Kingdoms were eventually exiled as a result of being unfaithful to God and practicing idolatry.
In our time, abiding in Christ results in blessing and separation from Him creates spiritual barrenness. This is found in the words of Jesus in John 15:6, when He said “If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”
It wouldn’t be fair to us to stop here without knowing how Asa reacted to the prophecy. The King took the words to heart, removing all of the idols from Judah and Benjamin, assembling all of the people of the nations (and people who had moved there from other nations) before sacrificing a huge number of cattle and sheep to the Lord. Next follows a revival of their covenant with God (2 Chronicles 15:12-15)
“They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. All who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman. They took an oath to the Lord with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns. 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.”
After several more positive actions by King Asa, “There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.” (2 Chronicles 15:19). God always keeps His covenants!
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Father in Heaven, Thank You for this reminder that You are near to those who seek You with all their heart. Just as You spoke through the prophet Azariah to King Asa, speak to me daily and remind me that Your presence and strength are found when I walk closely with You. May I never forget the lesson here — that You are faithful to those who remain faithful to You. Keep my heart humble and my spirit open to your leadership, so I may always walk in Your will. AMEN.
Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.
BibleHub was accessed on August 18, 2025 for commentary on 2 Chronicles 15:2