Can anyone explain what this quote means, from a godly perspective or otherwise?

Question

They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul; and everyone who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. (2 Chronicles 15:12-13 NAB)

Answer 1

Basically, its saying that those who didn't believe in God were put to death. And it makes it sound like that's the way it should be. As someone who doesn't believe in God, I can't help but be a little insulted.

Answer 2

Taken out of context it's kind of a humdinger, huh?

Reading the chapter, though, we see that Azariah son of Oded (a prophet) received a message for King Asa. King Asa was encouraged to follow The Lord because "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" (2Chron 15:2) and also "For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law. 4 But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them." (2Chron 15:3-4)

Asa took it upon himself as ruler to remove all idols from the land and repair the altar and assemble all the people who had settled among his kingdom. Together they all decided under Asa's rule that because the Lord was with them - they would not accept anyone who was against the Lord God Almighty.

It was a man's decision out of honor for The Lord because The Lord and brought the land peace on all sides when they turned away from idolotry/etc and turned to The Lord.

Hope this helps - because it wasn't a directive by God.

Answer 3

Azariah was speaking to Asa who was attempting to reform the Jews into an organized society. He was explaining that Israel was "without a true God, a teaching priest, and the law". He said that if they would all truly seek the Lord he would protect and provide for them. Anyone who chose not to would suffer death with no regard as to their social standing. This is a type and foreshadow of why it is so very important to believe in Christ today.

Answer 4

The people make a solemn covenant with God. - The work of complete reformation appeared so difficult, that Asa had not courage to attempt it, till assured of Divine assistance and acceptance. He and his people offered sacrifices to God; thanksgiving for the favours they had received, and supplication for further favours. Prayers and praises are now our spiritual sacrifices. The people, of their own will, covenanted to seek the Lord, each for himself, with earnestness. What is religion but seeking God, inquiring after him, applying to him upon all occasions? We make nothing of our religion, if we do not make heart-work of it; God will have all the heart, or none. Our devotedness to God our Saviour, should be avowed and shown in the most solemn and public manner. What is done in hypocrisy is a mere drudgery.

Answer 5

This ought to say plenty about the inability of the law of God to give anyone a relationship with God. In fact, you will find that when Joshua was about to lead Israel across the Jordan, he admonished them, Jos 24:19 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he [is] an holy God; he [is] a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
Jos 24:20 If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.
Jos 24:21 And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.
Jos 24:22 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye [are] witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, [We are] witnesses.
Jos 24:24 And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.


The fact is that they DID NOT serve God, and they came back to Him time and again in repentance promising to better and renegging on the promise, like an addict and his drugs, they couldn't stay away from sin. Not even His wrath and severe punishments were enough to keep them from sin. The new testament teaches that if anyone puts himself under the law, he has made himself a debtor to do the whole law and will be cursed for ANY VIOLATION.

The new covenant is, quite frankly, superior in every way in that God's mercy and grace accomplish what punishment could not.

Tom

Answer 6

Greetings,
This is attributed to the fact that God was destroying nations and people that were worshipping false idols and gods. The nation of Israel was still receiving the land promised to them by God and all those people from those lands were to be destroyed plus any of the Israelites that had succombed to the gods and idols of these people and were not worshipping or praying to the God of their forefathers.The scriptures says that God is a jealous God and that there are no other gods but Him and by following the people of the lands that were given to them they were being disobedient to God and He was dealing severely with them.

From the King James

Answer 7

It says people entered to seek the Lord...but then it says those who didn't seek the Lord were murdered.

So did they enter to seek the Lord, or did they enter to buy souvenirs?

Or did some enter and some stay outside in the rain?

Answer 8

It means exactly what it says. Asa & his people entered into a covenant with God and persecuted & killed anyone who did not worship with them.

Answer 9

YES. It was wrote before the coming of the christ ,JESUS, and the new covenant is to follow and obey JESUS because they were not obeying GOD, but adoring the praise of man not the praise from GOD but GOD did not want to kill all the people but save it for eternal PRAISE ...judgement is coming and all will be judge by GOD , and the son ,JESUS THE CHRIST IS OUR LAWYER.... if you accept him of course..GOD BLESS,

Answer 10

It someone denies God, they will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven....