2 Chronicles 15:12

And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;

And they entered {H935} into a covenant {H1285} to seek {H1875} the LORD {H3068} God {H430} of their fathers {H1} with all their heart {H3824} and with all their soul {H5315};

and they entered into a covenant to seek ADONAI, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and with all their being;

Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul.

And they entered into the covenant to seek Jehovah, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul;

Commentary

2 Chronicles 15:12 (KJV) describes a pivotal moment in the reign of King Asa of Judah, where the people made a solemn commitment to God. This verse encapsulates a profound spiritual revival and a renewed national dedication to the LORD.

Context

This verse is set during the reign of King Asa, a period marked by significant religious reform and military success. Following a decisive victory over the Ethiopian army (recorded in 2 Chronicles 14), and inspired by the prophet Azariah's message (see 2 Chronicles 15:1-7), King Asa initiated a widespread spiritual cleansing in Judah. He removed idols and repaired the altar of the Lord. The covenant mentioned in verse 12 was a direct response to this divine encouragement and the visible blessings of God, prompting the people to formalize their commitment to Him.

Key Themes

  • Covenant Renewal and Commitment: The act of "entering into a covenant" signifies a deliberate, solemn agreement. For the people of Judah, this was a national rededication, binding them collectively to seek God. It reflects a conscious choice to return to their spiritual heritage.
  • Wholehearted Devotion: The phrase "with all their heart and with all their soul" is central to this verse. It emphasizes complete, sincere, and undivided devotion to God, leaving no room for half-heartedness or compromise. This echoes the foundational command to love the Lord with all one's being.
  • Active Seeking of God: To "seek the LORD God" implies an earnest, diligent pursuit, not a passive waiting. It involves a proactive engagement with God through worship, obedience, and dependence.
  • National Revival: This covenant represented a widespread spiritual awakening across Judah, demonstrating that collective repentance and devotion can lead to national blessing and peace, as seen in the subsequent verses (e.g., 2 Chronicles 15:19).

Linguistic Insights

  • Covenant (Hebrew: berith): This term denotes a solemn, binding agreement, often initiated by God, establishing a relationship with specific obligations and promises. It is a recurring concept throughout the Bible, from God's covenant with Abraham to the new covenant prophesied by Jeremiah.
  • Seek (Hebrew: darash): This verb means to "tread, frequent, search, inquire, or diligently seek." It conveys an active, intentional, and thorough pursuit, indicating a deep desire to know and obey God.
  • Heart (Hebrew: lev/levav) and Soul (Hebrew: nephesh): These terms together signify the entirety of a person. Lev refers to the inner self, including intellect, will, and emotions, while nephesh encompasses the life force, desires, and being. To seek God with both means engaging every faculty of one's inner and outer life in His pursuit.

Practical Application

The commitment made in 2 Chronicles 15:12 serves as a powerful model for believers today:

  • Personal Dedication: Just as Judah entered a national covenant, individual believers are called to a personal, wholehearted commitment to God. Our faith should be marked by a sincere desire to seek Him with all our heart and soul, not merely fulfilling religious duties.
  • Active Pursuit: Seeking God is an ongoing, active process. It involves consistent prayer, diligent study of His Word, sincere worship, and living in obedience to His commands.
  • Integrity of Faith: The emphasis on "heart and soul" reminds us that our devotion should be genuine and complete, encompassing our thoughts, desires, and actions. It challenges us to align our inner life with our outward profession of faith.
  • Community Impact: When individuals within a community or church collectively renew their dedication to God, it can lead to spiritual revival and positive transformation, just as it did in Asa's Judah.
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Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 10:12 (4 votes)

    ¶ And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

  • Acts 24:14 (4 votes)

    But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

  • 2 Chronicles 23:16 (4 votes)

    And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD'S people.

  • 2 Chronicles 29:10 (3 votes)

    Now [it is] in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.

  • 2 Chronicles 15:4 (2 votes)

    But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.

  • Deuteronomy 4:29 (2 votes)

    But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find [him], if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

  • Deuteronomy 29:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ These [are] the words of the covenant, which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.