Burning Mother's Idols - A Lesson from King Asa
Reading through the Old Testament, you encounter a lot of kings over the lands of Israel and Judah. It’s a bit difficult to keep them all straight, though some prove more memorable than others. In my recent reading, some details about King Asa jumped out at me in a way they haven’t before. I hope these observations are helpful. First, look at what the text says.
1 Kings 15:11–13
[11] And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as David his father had done. [12] He put away the male cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. [13] He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother because she had made an abominable image for Asherah. And Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron. (ESV)
2 Chronicles 15:16
[16] Even Maacah, his mother, King Asa removed from being queen mother because she had made a detestable image for Asherah. Asa cut down her image, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron. (ESV)
The Weight of Influence
Asa did not ask to be king. There was no grand tournament in which all the prospective royalty candidates would participate, compete, and eventually be narrowed down to a single, obvious victor, eager to take up the mantle. Asa became king over the people because he was next in line. He inherited the right, plain and simple. What’s important to note, though, is that the seemingly routine manner in which he ascended the throne does not make his rule any less serious or any less ordained by God in heaven. Forget the Disney version of royalty - the kind where princes and princesses can reject their inheritance to run off with a pauper in the name of true love. That’s not how things worked in the biblical world.
Asa ruled for 41 years, and those were 41 years of taking rulership seriously. Asa got to work. He made changes - changes that many people certainly hated. When you examine this king at a glance, it becomes quickly apparent that he took his role seriously. How seriously? Seriously enough to work against the stream to reverse the wickedness instituted by his ancestors (1 Kings 15:12).
Pause and consider yourself before we move on. What position has God, in his sovereign authority, placed you? Ask yourself questions like these: “What is my role? Whom do I influence? Whose life and position can I improve?”
For men, we are normally husbands, fathers and workers in the world. God places us into families and grants us the position of the head, or leader of the household. Men, that means that you are not to view your wife and children as simply fellow journeyers through life, but as people you are meant to serve through decisive and active leadership (even when they don’t like it). The same is true in the production of your vocation and workplace and your role in society broadly. This is the weight of influence.
Moms have tremendous influence over the next generation of humanity. They keep them fed, learning, and postured toward the living God on a daily basis. The position of influence is massively important.
Children have influence over their siblings and over other children in their church, neighborhood, school, etc.
God has given positions of influence to all of us. What are we doing with that influence?
What About Mom?
I imagine that Asa, once he started his actions of reform and return to true worship, had a moment of realization. He knew that, if he were to be consistent, he would have to confront his own mother. We don’t know a lot about this gal, but what the Bible tells us does not leave us impressed. She was in the position of “Mother Queen,” meaning she held great sway in the kingdom. She also had bought into the deceit of pagan religion and had forsaken the God of her ancestors. She did not just do this mentally or in the privacy of her heart, but allocated funds to construct a “detestable image for Asherah.”
Think of your own familial relationships with people who hold to a different worldview than yourself. Maybe, like Asa, your mother comes to mind. Perhaps a sibling, a grandparent, or a child. What is your attitude toward their rebellion? Do you adopt a “live and let live” strategy, meaning that you’ll avoid religious talk at Thanksgiving, keep conversation shallow, and breathe a silent sigh of relief when they finally back out of your driveway?
On the other end of the spectrum, have you adopted a combative posture, always looking for a brawl by way of argument, crusading for the next “gotcha” moment in a heated conversation? Consider Asa. He implemented serious reforms among the people. Should he let his mother’s idolatry slide, turning a blind eye to her wickedness simply because of his familial loyalty?
Right is Right
Asa feared God more than his mother. That alone is a lesson more Christians could stand to learn. I’m not picking on moms. It might be a father, a wife, a child, or anyone else who holds sway over our life, whose persona and reactions influence what we might say and do out loud versus in the privacy of our closets. Can you imagine the boldness it took for King Asa to approach his mother with this news?
“Mom, today is your last day as Queen Mother. We are returning as a nation to the worship of the true and living God, and you have set yourself against that plan. For the good of the people, I can’t let you lead anymore. I’ll need you to give me your signet ring and your scepter. You are not welcome in the royal court from this point forward, except by my invitation. Also, you should know that I plan on reversing the damage you’ve done. I’ll be confiscating that detestable image you commissioned. I’m going to smash and burn it, because God has forbidden such wickedness.”
How do you think Maacah took this news?
“I understand, sweetie. You’ve got to do what you think is best. I still love you. By the way, there are warm cookies in the kitchen I just made. Help yourself.”
I doubt it.
She likely through a fit of biblical proportions. She may have said some not-so-nice things to her son. She may have attempted a coup against him. We don’t know, but we do know the nature of evil, and evil does not like to be challenged.
Be courageous, Christian. Do not let fear for any person keep you from doing what is right. Do not allow the unhelpful traditions of those who came before you stifle your work for the Lord. Search the Scriptures. Welcome conviction. Do what is right.
Honor Your Mother
Notice that we have no indication at all that Asa sinned against his mother. He knew the Fifth Commandment, and apparently kept it in mind through this whole process. Rather than dishonoring her, he was in fact loving her with all his might by not allowing her to continue in sin. This is the right way to frame service to others - not that we let them “just be themselves” and steer their lives off the cliff toward hell, but that we truly seek their best, even in keeping them from sinning and leading others astray along the way.
Christian, take action in the arenas where God has placed you. In the home, promote godliness - whether unbelievers welcome such things or not. Parents, hold your children to a standard of righteousness, even when they don’t want to be righteous. Stop living in fear of your twelve-year-old.
Pastors, lead your church into truth, even when many Maacah-type people with big personalities try to lead the body in another direction. Remember what God has called you to do, and stop the sin in its tracks. Fear God more than the whispering man or the manipulative woman. You can, and must do all of this while obeying the Law of God. Again, the caring thing to do is to work to keep yourself and others from sinning, not to let sin grow and fester out of fear of confrontation.
Be Remembered Rightly
If you had these two options for your epitaph, which would you choose?
“Here lies ______. He got along with everyone and never pushed his opinions and faith where they weren’t welcome. He didn’t effect much change, but he sure was nice.”
“Here lies ______. He hated sin and fiercely loved the people in his life. He stood for truth, often saying hard things, even when few agreed with him. He always sought the best for those around him and strove to honor his God in word and deed.”
Consider the example of this righteous king. And for crying out loud, somebody please name their next kid Asa.
1 Kings 15:11–13
[11] And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as David his father had done. [12] He put away the male cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. [13] He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother because she had made an abominable image for Asherah. And Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron. (ESV)
2 Chronicles 15:16
[16] Even Maacah, his mother, King Asa removed from being queen mother because she had made a detestable image for Asherah. Asa cut down her image, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron. (ESV)
The Weight of Influence
Asa did not ask to be king. There was no grand tournament in which all the prospective royalty candidates would participate, compete, and eventually be narrowed down to a single, obvious victor, eager to take up the mantle. Asa became king over the people because he was next in line. He inherited the right, plain and simple. What’s important to note, though, is that the seemingly routine manner in which he ascended the throne does not make his rule any less serious or any less ordained by God in heaven. Forget the Disney version of royalty - the kind where princes and princesses can reject their inheritance to run off with a pauper in the name of true love. That’s not how things worked in the biblical world.
Asa ruled for 41 years, and those were 41 years of taking rulership seriously. Asa got to work. He made changes - changes that many people certainly hated. When you examine this king at a glance, it becomes quickly apparent that he took his role seriously. How seriously? Seriously enough to work against the stream to reverse the wickedness instituted by his ancestors (1 Kings 15:12).
Pause and consider yourself before we move on. What position has God, in his sovereign authority, placed you? Ask yourself questions like these: “What is my role? Whom do I influence? Whose life and position can I improve?”
For men, we are normally husbands, fathers and workers in the world. God places us into families and grants us the position of the head, or leader of the household. Men, that means that you are not to view your wife and children as simply fellow journeyers through life, but as people you are meant to serve through decisive and active leadership (even when they don’t like it). The same is true in the production of your vocation and workplace and your role in society broadly. This is the weight of influence.
Moms have tremendous influence over the next generation of humanity. They keep them fed, learning, and postured toward the living God on a daily basis. The position of influence is massively important.
Children have influence over their siblings and over other children in their church, neighborhood, school, etc.
God has given positions of influence to all of us. What are we doing with that influence?
What About Mom?
I imagine that Asa, once he started his actions of reform and return to true worship, had a moment of realization. He knew that, if he were to be consistent, he would have to confront his own mother. We don’t know a lot about this gal, but what the Bible tells us does not leave us impressed. She was in the position of “Mother Queen,” meaning she held great sway in the kingdom. She also had bought into the deceit of pagan religion and had forsaken the God of her ancestors. She did not just do this mentally or in the privacy of her heart, but allocated funds to construct a “detestable image for Asherah.”
Think of your own familial relationships with people who hold to a different worldview than yourself. Maybe, like Asa, your mother comes to mind. Perhaps a sibling, a grandparent, or a child. What is your attitude toward their rebellion? Do you adopt a “live and let live” strategy, meaning that you’ll avoid religious talk at Thanksgiving, keep conversation shallow, and breathe a silent sigh of relief when they finally back out of your driveway?
On the other end of the spectrum, have you adopted a combative posture, always looking for a brawl by way of argument, crusading for the next “gotcha” moment in a heated conversation? Consider Asa. He implemented serious reforms among the people. Should he let his mother’s idolatry slide, turning a blind eye to her wickedness simply because of his familial loyalty?
Right is Right
Asa feared God more than his mother. That alone is a lesson more Christians could stand to learn. I’m not picking on moms. It might be a father, a wife, a child, or anyone else who holds sway over our life, whose persona and reactions influence what we might say and do out loud versus in the privacy of our closets. Can you imagine the boldness it took for King Asa to approach his mother with this news?
“Mom, today is your last day as Queen Mother. We are returning as a nation to the worship of the true and living God, and you have set yourself against that plan. For the good of the people, I can’t let you lead anymore. I’ll need you to give me your signet ring and your scepter. You are not welcome in the royal court from this point forward, except by my invitation. Also, you should know that I plan on reversing the damage you’ve done. I’ll be confiscating that detestable image you commissioned. I’m going to smash and burn it, because God has forbidden such wickedness.”
How do you think Maacah took this news?
“I understand, sweetie. You’ve got to do what you think is best. I still love you. By the way, there are warm cookies in the kitchen I just made. Help yourself.”
I doubt it.
She likely through a fit of biblical proportions. She may have said some not-so-nice things to her son. She may have attempted a coup against him. We don’t know, but we do know the nature of evil, and evil does not like to be challenged.
Be courageous, Christian. Do not let fear for any person keep you from doing what is right. Do not allow the unhelpful traditions of those who came before you stifle your work for the Lord. Search the Scriptures. Welcome conviction. Do what is right.
Honor Your Mother
Notice that we have no indication at all that Asa sinned against his mother. He knew the Fifth Commandment, and apparently kept it in mind through this whole process. Rather than dishonoring her, he was in fact loving her with all his might by not allowing her to continue in sin. This is the right way to frame service to others - not that we let them “just be themselves” and steer their lives off the cliff toward hell, but that we truly seek their best, even in keeping them from sinning and leading others astray along the way.
Christian, take action in the arenas where God has placed you. In the home, promote godliness - whether unbelievers welcome such things or not. Parents, hold your children to a standard of righteousness, even when they don’t want to be righteous. Stop living in fear of your twelve-year-old.
Pastors, lead your church into truth, even when many Maacah-type people with big personalities try to lead the body in another direction. Remember what God has called you to do, and stop the sin in its tracks. Fear God more than the whispering man or the manipulative woman. You can, and must do all of this while obeying the Law of God. Again, the caring thing to do is to work to keep yourself and others from sinning, not to let sin grow and fester out of fear of confrontation.
Be Remembered Rightly
If you had these two options for your epitaph, which would you choose?
“Here lies ______. He got along with everyone and never pushed his opinions and faith where they weren’t welcome. He didn’t effect much change, but he sure was nice.”
“Here lies ______. He hated sin and fiercely loved the people in his life. He stood for truth, often saying hard things, even when few agreed with him. He always sought the best for those around him and strove to honor his God in word and deed.”
Consider the example of this righteous king. And for crying out loud, somebody please name their next kid Asa.
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