Comment: Asa the king of Judah presents a case-study of a man whose initial years as king was marked by diligence in the service of God but who later backslided and died as an enemy of God and His people. When he was besieged by a large Ethiopian army he relied on God and was delivered. (2 Chronicles 14) But when the people of Israel came against him in the 36th year of his reign, he sought help from the king of Syria. God then sent Hanani to chastise him for seeking the help of men, saying: “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.” (2 Chronicles 16:9) Instead of accepting the correction and amending his ways, the king threw the Hanani into prison and oppressed some of the people at the same time. Hanani suffered for righteousness sake. In course of time Asa fell sick. But he would not even seek the Lord but depended on physicians until he died. The Bible says: “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Hebrews 10:35-36.