Azariah prophesies about Israel’s coming apostasy. But which Israel is he speaking about...
Azariah prophesies about Israel’s coming apostasy. But which Israel is he speaking about: only the kingdom of Israel, contemporary with Asa, king of Judah, or the entire people, whose inner unity does not disappear even when they are outwardly divided? It seems that he is speaking about the whole people, for the apostasy of the Israelites is not only their sin; it is also a warning and a visible image of the dangers and temptations that threaten the inhabitants of Judah no less. The prophetic words foretell disasters, and yet we should note that Asa took courage when he heard them. A clear vision of problems, however difficult they may be, makes it possible to reach a definite decision and courageously set about putting it into practice. Thus Asa, having learned the will of the Lord, gathered the people to renew their covenant with Him.
One might ask: why make the covenant again if the people had made it long ago? But the people are not a single mass; they consist of particular, entirely real persons, and each stands directly before the Lord, who knows each one by name. It is therefore not enough to acknowledge that one’s ancestors once chose a religious tradition. In new generations, each of us independently confirms our choice before the Lord.