2 Chronicles 14:4

And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.

And commanded {H559} Judah {H3063} to seek {H1875} the LORD {H3068} God {H430} of their fathers {H1}, and to do {H6213} the law {H8451} and the commandment {H4687}.

He ordered Y'hudah to seek ADONAI, the God of their ancestors, and to obey the Torah and the mitzvah.

He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandments.

and commanded Judah to seek Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.

2 Chronicles 14:4 highlights King Asa's righteous leadership in Judah, initiating a period of spiritual reform and renewal. This verse encapsulates his core command to the people, setting the tone for his early reign.

Context

This verse is set early in the reign of King Asa of Judah (911-870 BC), who succeeded his father Abijah. Unlike some of his predecessors, Asa demonstrated a strong commitment to the Lord. His reign began with a concerted effort to cleanse the land of idolatry and pagan practices that had become prevalent. Prior verses in 2 Chronicles 14 detail his removal of foreign altars and high places. Verse 4 then reveals the positive command accompanying these negative reforms: a call to active devotion to God.

Key Themes

  • Seeking the LORD God: Asa's primary command was for Judah to actively "seek the LORD God of their fathers." This isn't passive acknowledgement but an earnest, diligent pursuit of God's presence, will, and favor. It signifies a desire for genuine relationship and dependence on Him. This theme resonates throughout Scripture, promising that those who seek Him wholeheartedly will find Him.
  • Obedience to God's Law: Complementing the call to seek God was the command "to do the law and the commandment." This emphasizes practical righteousness and adherence to God's revealed will, as given through Moses. It underlines the understanding that true devotion manifests in obedience, aligning one's life with divine standards.
  • Covenant Faithfulness: Asa's actions were a call for Judah to return to the covenant relationship established with their ancestors. By commanding them to seek the God of their fathers and obey His law, he was guiding them back to the foundational principles of their national identity and spiritual heritage.
  • Spiritual Revival: This command was a cornerstone of Asa's spiritual revival, aiming to restore the nation's focus from pagan worship back to the one true God.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "seek the LORD" translates the Hebrew verb darash (דָּרַשׁ), which means to inquire, search, frequent, or resort to. It implies a diligent, earnest, and often persistent pursuit, not just a casual glance. It suggests consulting God, going to Him for guidance, and depending on Him. The phrase "the law and the commandment" (Hebrew: torah u'mitzvah) refers to the comprehensive body of divine instruction given to Israel, encompassing both general principles (torah) and specific decrees (mitzvah).

Practical Application

2 Chronicles 14:4 offers timeless principles for believers today:

  • Personal Pursuit: Just as Asa commanded Judah, we are individually called to diligently seek the Lord with our whole heart. This involves prayer, studying His Word, and actively pursuing His presence in our lives.
  • Obedience as Worship: Our seeking of God is inextricably linked to our obedience. True love for God is demonstrated by keeping His commandments, as Jesus taught in John 14:15.
  • Spiritual Leadership: The verse reminds leaders (in homes, churches, or communities) of their responsibility to encourage and facilitate a genuine turning to God and adherence to His principles among those they lead.
  • Ongoing Reform: Like Asa, we must continually identify and remove "idols" (anything that takes God's rightful place) from our lives and actively replace them with a commitment to seeking and obeying the one true God.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Nehemiah 10:29

    They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;

  • Nehemiah 10:39

    For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where [are] the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.

  • 1 Samuel 3:13

    For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

  • 2 Chronicles 29:27

    And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began [also] with the trumpets, and with the instruments [ordained] by David king of Israel.

  • Amos 5:4

    ¶ For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:

  • 2 Chronicles 29:30

    Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.

  • 2 Chronicles 30:19

    [That] prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though [he be] not [cleansed] according to the purification of the sanctuary.

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