John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth , etc.] The eyes of his omniscience are everywhere, and the eyes of his mercy and goodness, of his care and providence, are here and there, and in every place throughout the whole world at once, (see Zechariah 4:10), to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him ; or, as in the margin, “strongly to hold” with such, to be on their side, take their part, strengthen them, support and supply them, and to protect and defend them who are sincere and upright in heart; whose graces are sincere and unfeigned, though not complete, nor they free from sin, and who, with the heart, sincerely believe in God, in which Asa at this time failed, though otherwise his heart is said to be perfect, ( 1 Kings 15:4), it was so in the general bent of it, and especially with respect to the worship of God, though there was something lacking in his faith at this time, as there often is in the best of men: herein thou hast done foolishly ; to trust in man, and not in the Lord, to part with his money, and lose the opportunity of having the whole Syrian army fall into his hands: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars ; which, though we read not of, was doubtless his case; some interpret it of his posterity.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Asa seeks the aid of the Syrians, His death.
--A plain and faithful reproof was given to Asa by a prophet of the Lord, for making a league with Syria. God is displeased when he is distrusted, and when an arm of flesh is relied on, more than his powe and goodness. It is foolish to lean on a broken reed, when we have the Rock of ages to rely upon. To convince Asa of his folly, the prophe shows that he, of all men, had no reason to distrust God, who had foun him such a powerful Helper. The many experiences we have had of the goodness of God to us, aggravate our distrust of him. But see ho deceitful our hearts are! we trust in God when we have nothing else to trust to, when need drives us to him; but when we have other things to stay on, we are apt to depend too much on them. Observe Asa' displeasure at this reproof. What is man, when God leaves him to himself! He that abused his power for persecuting God's prophet, wa left to himself, to abuse it further for crushing his own subjects. Tw years before he died, Asa was diseased in his feet. Making use of physicians was his duty; but trusting to them, and expecting that from them which was to be had from God only, were his sin and folly. In all conflicts and sufferings we need especially to look to our own hearts that they may be perfect towards God, by faith, patience, an obedience _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew כי3588 יהוה3068 עיניו5869 משׁטטות7751 בכל3605 הארץ776 להתחזק2388 עם5973 לבבם3824 שׁלם8003 אליו413 נסכלת5528 על5921 זאת2063 כי3588 מעתה6258 ישׁ3426 עמך5973 מלחמות׃4421
